Venture billionaire gives 250 million dollars to disabled study

Reports Wednesday said that Bill Coleman, chairman and co-founder of software maker BEA Systems, and his wife, Claudia were inspired to make the huge gift by the struggles of their mentally disabled niece.

The donation is the largest gift ever to a public university and will be used to establish the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, an interdisciplinary research centre that will draw experts from the health and computer sciences, psychology, engineering and special education fields.

One of the principle ideas is to adapt existing technology, from cellular phones, hand-held Global Positioning System units and personal digital assistants, to help people with mental disabilities lead more independent lives, Coleman said.

"We have the technology to give them their independence and bring these people back into society," he said. Such devices are expected to be increasingly important as the United States population ages and more people suffer from age-related diseases such as debilitating strokes and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Coleman reportedly adapted business practices from venture capitalists to ensure the money is used wisely, another example of the growing popularity of so-called venture philanthropy among high tech magnates.

He supplied the university with several hundred thousand dollars in seed money to survey the research fields and then about 3 million dollars to figure out exactly how the larger gift might have the greatest effect. He also insisted that the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities retain ownership of any new developments, so it can plow royalties or other earnings back into research.

"Making a lot of money and making a business that will last is certainly fulfilling," Coleman said. "But this is the most gratifying thing I've ever done."

(dpa)