Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Christie Herrera released the following statement on the passing of extraordinary businessman, philanthropist and cofounder of The Home Depot, Bernie Marcus:
“Bernie Marcus loved this country. A hardworking entrepreneur who became one of the most successful U.S. businessmen, Bernie was the American dream. Through his incredible generosity and philanthropic leadership over three decades, he empowered Americans to take hold of opportunities to share in that dream.
“Bernie was the consummate doer. When he saw a problem or a need, he took it upon himself to figure out how to solve it. His work at The Marcus Foundation is a true testament to his values, strength of character and his tireless commitment to improving, and in many cases, saving lives. From Construction Ready to the Boulder Crest Foundation to the Marcus National Blood Services Center in Israel, it is impossible to truly quantify the amount of good Bernie’s generosity helped make possible.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to have Bernie and his team as a part of Philanthropy Roundtable’s community as we work to advance liberty, opportunity and personal responsibility through effective, values-driven philanthropy. His charitable giving is a shining example of why it’s so important to stand up for and invest in what you believe in and how you can and should be as savvy with your giving as your business endeavors.
“To be a successful entrepreneur—or a great one like Bernie—you have to be both creative and strategic. And, it’s the same for being an effective philanthropist. I’m so grateful that God gave us Bernie Marcus as an example of exactly how to do that well. I know his foundation will continue to do critical work carrying on his amazing charitable legacy, and the Roundtable will be here to cheer them on as they realize his vision. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Billi and his family. May Bernie’s life continue to serve as an inspiration for us all.”
According to The Marcus Foundation, it has given more than $2.7 billion through 3,500+ grants since its founding. In 2012, Philanthropy Roundtable honored Bernie Marcus with its William E. Simon Prize (now Simon-DeVos Prize) for Philanthropic Leadership. In 2021, the Roundtable interviewed Bernie about his life and charitable giving in our inaugural “Doers to Donors,” episode, which you can watch here.
The Roundtable has featured a number of Bernie’s charitable endeavors over the years through his work at The Marcus Foundation. See highlights below:
