Kansas has received an unprecedented $300 million gift from donor David Booth, believed to be among largest single gifts in history of college sports




Imagine having a chunk of disposable income so substantial that it could have a gigantic impact on medical research or a philanthropic goal and you toss the money at a modern day gladiatorial sport known for its contribution to CTE🤣🤣🤣
 

Did a quick read and he has donated half his wealth. Seems like a smart guy (finance) who has chosen to give much back. U of C business school named after him after another large donation.
 


This guy thinks he's T. Boone Pickens.

According to Oklahoma State, Pickens donated $652M to OSU in his lifetime, split between academics and athletics. His largest one-time gift was $165M (in 2007). He also helped design (and personally financed) a life insurance program for mega-donors that led to lawsuits with the insurance company and ultimately cost the university more than $30M. We should all aspire to be this magnanimous and conniving.
 


I think I read $75 million is going towards the stadium/stadium district and the balance to create a revenue stream for KU athletics. For so long, donors were pushed for brick and mortar projects. But the push now is for athletic endowments.
 

Imagine having a chunk of disposable income so substantial that it could have a gigantic impact on medical research or a philanthropic goal and you toss the money at a modern day gladiatorial sport known for its contribution to CTE🤣🤣🤣
Imagine thinking it's any of your business how people want to spend their own money.
 



Imagine thinking it's any of your business how people want to spend their own money.
Imagine browbeating someone for using a message board for its intended purpose😘
 

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Imagine having a chunk of disposable income so substantial that it could have a gigantic impact on medical research or a philanthropic goal and you toss the money at a modern day gladiatorial sport known for its contribution to CTE🤣🤣🤣
Normally I would agree, but it sounds like this guy has given lots and lots of money towards charitable causes. I wouldn't say EVERY cent this guy donates has to be for a selfless cause.
 


Imagine having a chunk of disposable income so substantial that it could have a gigantic impact on medical research or a philanthropic goal and you toss the money at a modern day gladiatorial sport known for its contribution to CTE🤣🤣🤣
Imagine someone complaining about a person giving away $300M (BTW, Bezos makes more than that every two weeks).
 
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Imagine having a chunk of disposable income so substantial that it could have a gigantic impact on medical research or a philanthropic goal and you toss the money at a modern day gladiatorial sport known for its contribution to CTE🤣🤣🤣
I had similar thoughts. Imagine what an endowment of the size could do for childhood cancer research or some other important research area. Instead, it’s about buying championships?
 

I had similar thoughts. Imagine what an endowment of the size could do for childhood cancer research or some other important research area. Instead, it’s about buying championships?
Last year about $60B was spent on cancer research in the US, $223 billion world-wide. $300M isn't going to swing the pendulum much on cancer research but it can make a huge difference to a college sports program.
 

I probably spend the equivalent amount compared to this guy, on fishing. Should my fishing budget go to cancer research?
If it's important to you, sure. I won't shit on you if you don't, though, because your dollar likely goes a lot less further than his (assuming you're not a multimillionaire) and your fishing expenses go a long way to maintaining your mental health and wellness in a world where most people are grinding for 40-60 hours a week to pay for a mortgage/rent, bills, food, etc. to stay afloat and only have a limited amount to spend on what's important to them, not millions.
 

Last year about $60B was spent on cancer research in the US, $223 billion world-wide. $300M isn't going to swing the pendulum much on cancer research but it can make a huge difference to a college sports program.
A better example would be fibromyalgia or other rheumatic illness research, which receive pennies compared to other major medical research fields but impact a huge chunk of the population. $300 mil would be a substantial gift and if it led to a cure or better treatment options, would get this guy even more money than a Kansas natty.
 

If it's important to you, sure. I won't shit on you if you don't, though, because your dollar likely goes a lot less further than his (assuming you're not a multimillionaire) and your fishing expenses go a long way to maintaining your mental health and wellness in a world where most people are grinding for 40-60 hours a week to pay for a mortgage/rent, bills, food, etc. to stay afloat and only have a limited amount to spend on what's important to them, not millions.
Where do you draw the line? What is the acceptable amount to spend on college sports and at what point does it need to go to medical research? Should college sports exist at all? Pro sports? Yachts?Golf courses? Vacation properties? All that money could go to Fibromyalgia. How about movies and TV? Lots more money there for cancer or misophonia (there is no cure for misophonia, and my wife gets pissed every time I eat potato chips - it sucks).
 






A better example would be fibromyalgia or other rheumatic illness research, which receive pennies compared to other major medical research fields but impact a huge chunk of the population. $300 mil would be a substantial gift and if it led to a cure or better treatment options, would get this guy even more money than a Kansas natty.
I detect subtle hints of a wannabe tyrant.
 

Anyway, good for KU. I wish KU and the donor all the success and happiness. I give a significant portion of my earnings to charity and no doubt many soft tyrants would second guess the object of my bounty and the same can be said for any charitable giving by any donor. Someone else always knows better than the donor. If wouldn't surprise me to learn at all that those who are prone to scrutinize are much less likely to be charitable themselves.
 

Where do you draw the line? What is the acceptable amount to spend on college sports and at what point does it need to go to medical research? Should college sports exist at all? Pro sports? Yachts?Golf courses? Vacation properties? All that money could go to Fibromyalgia. How about movies and TV? Lots more money there for cancer or misophonia (there is no cure for misophonia, and my wife gets pissed every time I eat potato chips - it sucks).
"Where do you draw the line?" is a lazy, straw man follow-up that tries to oversimplify what was a pretty well thought out response.

I enjoy how angsty this gotten a few of you because it makes it clear I'm striking a chord even though my original comment was initially intended to be a one off for a laugh or two. Y'all should understand, whether you agree or not, that the general idea is that affluent people spending buku dollars on frivolous things (and making it a public display no less) while the spending power of a dollar gets worse and worse every year and the majority of us are working our asses off to get by, is fucked up.
 


"Where do you draw the line?" is a lazy, straw man follow-up that tries to oversimplify what was a pretty well thought out response.

I enjoy how angsty this gotten a few of you because it makes it clear I'm striking a chord even though my original comment was initially intended to be a one off for a laugh or two. Y'all should understand, whether you agree or not, that the general idea is that affluent people spending buku dollars on frivolous things (and making it a public display no less) while the spending power of a dollar gets worse and worse every year and the majority of us are working our asses off to get by, is fucked up.
I don’t think anyone is filled with angst over your position. I think it lacks context though. If it was all the money he gave away then it does seem frivolous, if it is a small sliver in his charitable giving then it is entirely understandable .but we don’t know either way.
 

I don’t think anyone is filled with angst over your position. I think it lacks context though. If it was all the money he gave away then it does seem frivolous, if it is a small sliver in his charitable giving then it is entirely understandable .but we don’t know either way.
Sure, I'll buy that
 





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