San Diego Philanthropist John Moores Gives $2.1 Million to Scripps Research

San Diego philanthropist, businessman, and community leader John J. Moores has contributed the first gift donation of $2.1 million to The Scripps Research Institute's new $50 million initiative to recruit new world-class researchers and to sustain and expand the work of current scientists at the renowned La Jolla, California- and Palm Beach County, Florida-based biomedical organization, the institute announced today.

Moores, chairman and owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team, has served as a member of the Scripps Research Board of Trustees since 1997 and as chair of the Board since 2006.

"The Scripps Research Institute has been in the lead in establishing the scientific foundation that is essential to improve human health," Moores said. "It has the ability to accelerate discoveries that may lead to breakthroughs in HIV/AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and more. But it needs to recruit the next generation of researchers now. I hope my support will encourage the community and my fellow institute trustees to join me in developing and sustaining Scripps Research's most vital resource—its scientific talent."

"The Scripps Research Institute is incredibly fortunate to have John as a long-time supporter of our work and active leader in our governance," said Scripps Research President Richard A. Lerner. "As research dollars shrink and the economy remains unsettled, biomedical research and the institute will need the generosity of engaged philanthropists such as John to step forward. His generous gift will permit us to continue to attract the very best scientific minds to Scripps Research and San Diego and to support their work."

Lerner noted that the State of Florida has invested more than $300 million in recruitment and start-up funds and Palm Beach County an additional $200 million for facilities for the institute's new campus in Jupiter, to officially open in February 2009.

"Now it's time for people in San Diego, throughout California, and across the nation to help us attract and support the young researchers who will make a difference in all of our lives," Lerner added.
 
Moores has contributed more than $22 million to the institute over the years, including a $4 million gift in 2005 to establish the Worm Institute for Research and Medicine (WIRM) to combat the painful, disfiguring, and debilitating diseases borne by worms that afflict hundreds of millions of people in much of the world. This contribution was an extension of his long-term interest in these conditions. He founded the River Blindness Foundation in 1989 to distribute a treatment for that disease in developing countries, principally sub-Saharan Africa. In 1997, the foundation was absorbed into The Carter Center, where Moores serves as chairman of the board.

Moores is also one of the founders of Scripps Research's Institute for Childhood and Neglected Diseases. His generosity continues to help make it possible for Scripps Research to access the knowledge amassed by sequencing the human genome for deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying human disease.

About John J. Moores

John J. Moores is a business leader, prolific philanthropist, and committed volunteer trustee of numerous institutions, including The Carter Center, where he succeeded President and Mrs. Carter as chairman of the board, The Scripps Research Institute, which he has served and supported for many years, and the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, a biomedical research consortium focused on stem cell research that includes Scripps Research, The Salk Institute, UC San Diego, and the Burnham Institute, where he serves as co-chairman of the board.

Moores is a native of Texas and received two degrees from the University of Houston. He worked as a computer programmer for several companies, including IBM and Shell Oil, while completing his education. In 1980, Moores founded BMC Software. He wrote software products at BMC that improved mainframe computer operating system performance and built BMC into a significant player in the software industry. He served as chief executive officer of BMC until 1987 and chair until 1992. He continues to be active in providing his creative talents for the development of computer software for many start-up software companies.

Currently, he is owner and chair of the San Diego Padres Baseball Club, which he acquired in 1994, and JMI, Inc., an investment firm.
In addition to his generosity to Scripps Research, Moores has made major gifts to the University of California at San Diego, San Diego State University, the University of Houston, The Carter Center, St. Vincent de Paul of San Diego, San Diego Zoo, The Children's Clinic of the Californias in Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego Center for Children, among many other organizations.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

"I hope my support will encourage the community and my fellow institute trustees to join me in developing and sustaining Scripps Research's most vital resource—its scientific talent," says philanthropist, businessman, and community leader John Moores.