The late Jack Bendat’s family foundation has donated $1.5 million for respiratory research at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.
The late Jack Bendat’s family foundation has donated $1.5 million for respiratory research at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.
The Bendat Family Foundation will invest $1.5 million for medical research into respiratory illness over the next five years, to be matched by the hospital.
The $1.5 million donation would ensure the Bendat Respiratory Research and Development Fund continues, according to the St John of God Foundation.
Mr Bendat died in February 2022, aged 96.
The US-born businessman is perhaps best known as the long-time owner of the Perth Wildcats basketball team and for his philanthropy.
Mr Bendat moved to Perth in 1966 and teamed up with Kerry Stokes for a range of projects over the years, including developing shopping centres and investing in the television industry.
The Bendat Family Foundation is now led by former Wildcats general manager Nick Marvin, who is listed as the sole director of the organisation.
St John of God Foundation chief executive Bianca Pietralla said the research partnership would build on some of the field’s top minds.
“We are so honoured and grateful to continue our long-standing partnership with the Bendat family, who have long shared in our vision to transform health care and care for our communities,” she said.
The foundation’s plans for the next five years include the expansion of the country’s first thoracic surgery database and developing it for sites in Australia and New Zealand.
The funding will boost higher degree research for medical topics including interstitial lung diseases, and other connective tissue diseases that disproportionally affect young women.
St John of God Subiaco hospital Postgraduate Medical Education director Eli Gabbay said the funding would give hope to current and future patients.
“The impact of this research, co-funded by the Bendat Family Foundation and St John of God Subiaco Hospital, will be felt for generations to come,” he said.
Professor Gabbay is also chair of the Bendat Family Respiratory Research and Development Fund.
The Bendat Family Foundation said the donation would hopefully inspire others to give to areas of need in Western Australia.
