- Person
- Michael Bloomberg
- Lived
- b. 1942
- Field
- Financial data & media
- From
- American
The story
Road traffic crashes kill more than a million people every year and injure as many as 50 million. They are the leading cause of death for people aged 5 to 29, and more than 90 percent of road deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where laws are often weak, enforcement is limited and streets are designed only for cars.
Bloomberg Philanthropies' public health programme, led by the epidemiologist Kelly J. Henning, concentrates on a few large causes of death and disability. Alongside tobacco control, two of its main targets are road crashes and polio. In 2009 the foundation partnered with the World Health Organization, donating 125 million dollars to reduce traffic-related deaths. Its road safety initiative works to strengthen road safety laws, improve police enforcement and vehicle standards, and redesign streets to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
Bloomberg renewed and expanded the effort with further commitments in 2014, 2020 and 2026. The foundation says it has committed 865 million dollars to road safety since 2007, and the latest funding is intended to expand road-safety and cycling interventions to 13 countries and more than 30 cities. Its work on road safety laws currently covers 14 countries. In 2024 it held its first Excellence in Road Safety Awards, chosen from nominations across 18 countries, honouring agencies in Argentina, Colombia, Tunisia and Vietnam for large-scale, evidence-based programmes.
On polio, Bloomberg Philanthropies gave 100 million dollars in March 2013 to help the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation eradicate the disease worldwide. A further 100 million dollars was pledged to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative at an event in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, continuing its long support for the global campaign.
These causes are less visible than many others, but their toll falls heavily on children and young adults. By funding proven measures, from safer crossings to vaccination campaigns, the foundation aims to prevent deaths on a very large scale.
Why it matters
Bloomberg's support helps make streets safer for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and brings the world closer to ending polio.
About Michael Bloomberg
Fired from Wall Street in 1981, he built the Bloomberg Terminal and a global news empire, then served three terms as New York’s mayor and became one of the world’s largest philanthropists.
More about Michael Bloomberg
- Michael Bloomberg's plan created 160,000 affordable homesAs mayor, Michael Bloomberg increased funding for affordable housing through a plan that created and preserved an estimated 160,000 affordable homes in New York.
- Michael Bloomberg helps mayors govern betterThrough the Mayors Challenge and the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, Michael Bloomberg has rewarded city innovation and trained hundreds of mayors.
- Michael Bloomberg made New York's workplaces smoke-freeIn 2003 Mayor Michael Bloomberg banned smoking in all New York City indoor workplaces, including bars and restaurants, and many cities and states followed.
- Michael Bloomberg helped protect children from drowningSince 2012 Bloomberg Philanthropies has funded drowning prevention in Bangladesh through childcare and swimming lessons; child drowning deaths fell by 80%.
- Michael Bloomberg helped close coal plants across AmericaIn 2011 Michael Bloomberg gave 50 million dollars to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign, expanding its push to replace coal-fired power plants with clean energy.
- Michael Bloomberg backed America's Black medical schoolsMichael Bloomberg gave 100 million dollars in 2020 and 600 million dollars in 2024 to America's four historically Black medical schools.
- Michael Bloomberg made Johns Hopkins medical school freeIn 2024 Michael Bloomberg gave 1 billion dollars so that medical school at Johns Hopkins would be tuition-free for students from families earning under 300,000 dollars.
- Bloomberg gave over a billion dollars to fight tobaccoMichael Bloomberg’s foundation has committed more than $1.6 billion since 2007 to reduce tobacco use, making it the developing world’s biggest funder of tobacco control.
Michael Bloomberg in the news
- September 24, 2026Bloomberg Philanthropies expands free school eye care to seven more US cities
- August 19, 2026Michael Bloomberg gives $155 million for a public science hall in Boston
- June 22, 2026Bloomberg commits about $590 million to oceans, clean energy and cleaner city air
- April 28, 2026Bloomberg pledges $350 million more to cut road deaths in 13 countries
- March 10, 2026Michael Bloomberg tops the Philanthropy 50 for a third year with $4.3 billion in gifts
- February 24, 2026Bloomberg Philanthropies awards $1 million each to 24 cities in Mayors Challenge
Sources
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Wikipedia
- Improving Road Safety Bloomberg Philanthropies
Another act of tikkun olam. This is part of tikkun olam, the Jewish idea of repairing the world, and every one of us can add to it.