In a recently published op-ed in The Atlanta Journal Constitution entitled “A year after Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus died, his legacy endures,” Senior Program Director at The Marcus Foundation, Marcus Ruzek shares a moving memorial piece recounting his relationship with Bernie Marcus and the legacy he leaves behind.
“Communities like Philanthropy Roundtable are places for generous Americans, like Bernie, to come together and solve our nation’s toughest problems. To honor his legacy and carry forth his work, I hope that philanthropists – each of you – will heed his call to step up, kick up some dust, and keep building,” said Ruzek.
Bernie Marcus’ entrepreneurial philanthropy invested in medical research, free enterprise, and support initiatives for veterans and child and youth development. He explains how the “do it yourself” approach is more than just a phrase but a way of life in his book “Kick Up Some Dust.” Marcus embodied the very spirit of philanthropy, and his passion for creating meaningful impact lives on.
Below are excerpts from the article entitled “A Year After Home Depot Co-Founder Bernie Marcus Died, His Legacy Endures”:
“When Bernie Marcus passed away on Nov. 4, 2024, at the age of 95, the country lost far more than the co-founder of The Home Depot. We lost a man who believed that free enterprise, personal grit and a deep sense of purpose could be used to repair the world.”
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“But unlike many philanthropists who simply write checks, Bernie took a different approach. He treated philanthropy like a business. He sought out problems the way he once sought out market opportunities, demanding results and refusing to accept inefficiency. ‘I worked very hard for this money. I’m not just giving it away, I expect a return. The return is impact,’ he said.
He called it entrepreneurial philanthropy. He didn’t donate to causes; he invested in solutions. He didn’t fund organizations; he built movements. Whether it was making autism a national priority by helping launch Autism Speaks, transforming the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s emergency response capabilities with a cutting-edge operations center, or building the world’s largest aquarium in landlocked Atlanta, Bernie brought a founder’s mindset to philanthropy.”
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“One of Bernie’s most defining philanthropic missions is transforming care for veterans.”
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“He helped launch the Marcus Institute for Brain Health in Colorado and developed the Warrior PATHH program at Boulder Crest Foundation. Then, seeing the results, he scaled again creating the Avalon Action Alliance, a national network of programs for veterans and first responders that now serves thousands of people each year.
Saving lives, restoring families, and giving our defenders back their futures.
Bernie’s giving wasn’t about charity. It was about fixing broken systems that failed people who deserved better.”
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“He was never content with the status quo. ‘You can’t be satisfied with where you’re at because you have to think about all the lives you’re not saving.’
That’s the standard he set. And it’s the one we still carry at The Marcus Foundation. Bernie’s legacy isn’t just etched in granite, measured in grant totals, or even the millions of lives he touched. It lives on in a philosophy. One that challenges the next generation of leaders to think bigger, move faster, and never settle for anything less than solving the problem.”
Please continue reading at the The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
