Late Qualcomm Founder Franklin Antonio Donates $200M to SETI To Support Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
Franklin Antonio, the late founder of Qualcomm, has continued supporting SETI even after he passed away. The nonprofit confirmed that they received a huge amount from the generous philanthropist.
Late Qualcomm Founder Made $200M Donation To SETI.
SETI Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and performing other scientific works, confirmed that Antonio left them a huge donation to support its operation for years. SETI president and CEO Bill Diamond said the institute has an annual budget of $25 to $30 million, and Antonio's donation was nearly ten times what they need for a year.
Diamond said they wanted to invest the money and treat it like an endowment so they could support various institute programs, including the SETI research.
According to the institute, most financing for SETI projects comes from private donors and benefactors like Antonio, who had worked with SETI for many years before passing away on May 13 of last year at the age of 69. According to the organization, SETI programs are only eligible for minimal federal funding.
Antonio's generosity extended to another nonprofit, the Summer Science Program (SSP), which offers advanced science immersion experience to outstanding high school seniors. Just like SETI, SSP received $200 million from Antonio.
Michael McKay, chair of the board of the Summer Science Program, said they were lucky to witness Antonio's success in science, technology, and business, and his legacy will inspire generations of STEM and business leaders.
Frank Steslow, CEO of the Summer Science Program, said they were grateful and humbled by Antonio's generous gift. Steslow added that the bequest from Antonio's estate "will profoundly improve our ability to accelerate the social and intellectual development of our next generation of scientists."
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Who Is Franklin Antonio?
Franklin Antonio was a University of California San Diego alumnus from 1974. He was the co-founder of Qualcomm and was known as a generous philanthropist.
There were no details as to when, where, or how the 69-year-old scientist and businessman died. However, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon announced his demise to the Qualcomm workers in an internal message in May 2022.
"I'm very sad to share that Franklin Antonio, EVP & Chief Scientist, Emeritus, has passed away," Amon's announcement read.
He also noted that Antonio was one of Qualcomm's founders and was its longest-serving employee. He was reportedly involved in the company's early technology breakthroughs, and Qualcomm wouldn't be where it is today without his knowledge, expertise, and experience.
Irwin Jacobs of La Jolla, an American electrical engineer, businessman, co-founder, and former chairman of Qualcomm, also mourned Antonio's passing. According to him, Franklin's death was "really tragic" because the latter was his student at the University of California San Diego, and he was the "best undergraduates" he ever encountered.
He remembered Antonio as someone "very sharp and helpful." Antonio was reportedly a "different kind of person" who didn't respond to foolish remarks gently. However, he would often use Antonio as an example of the type of person one needs in a company.
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