Jenny Widén
This is money that does a lot of good, money that originated in a family business in Småland – and in a personal life experience that shook her whole existence.
It started with worrying. She still remembers sitting in front of her computer, googling “kidney disease”. A world she had no prior insight into opened up; what does a sick kidney and dialysis entail for a human being? What was obvious was that her son Magnus was seriously ill and with that realisation came the feeling of grief and powerlessness – and a need to do something. At this point in our conversation, Ingrid tells us that after many years of waiting, her son had a kidney transplant and is well today.
Living close to disease means understanding something about the fragility of life. In Ingrid’s case, that experience led to a profound commitment. With the support of family friend John Bjerker, who is currently chair of the two foundations the donations have resulted in, Ingrid Asp in 2005 took the first step to support research at Linköping University.
Her donations became her own university
Jenny WidénToday, her generosity has led to the establishment of the Ingrid Asp Kidney Research Center and the Ingrid Asp Psoriasis Research Center. Psoriasis is also present in the family.
When Ingrid Asp decided to donate money to kidney research, she contacted several universities. Linköping University was the fastest to reply, inviting her to a personal meeting. The university management wanted to meet Ingrid, listen and understand her commitment.
Over the years, her ties to LiU have strengthened. Ingrid Asp is an active donor who keeps in touch with the researchers and receives ongoing updates on projects and progress. She is not looking to direct the research, but is grateful that she can be part of the journey, to follow and learn. The way she puts it is that her donations have become her own university in life.
Deep friendship between donor and researcher
Jenny Widén
The explanation for why it was possible for Ingrid Asp to donate such large sums can be found in the small community of Södra Vi, home to the Ljunghäll die casting foundry. It was founded in 1917 by Ingrid's grandfather, as a forge outside Anderstorp, also in Småland. Ingrid grew up with the foundry as a natural part of life. She worked there for many years, in charge of exports, travelled all over the world and learned languages on her own. When the family business was sold in 2003, she was given the opportunity to use her share of the profit for something bigger.
Seeks to inspire people to let capital work
It is obvious that Ingrid Asp’s actions are driven by more than philanthropy. It is about making sense of what is difficult. About doing something constructive with grief. The way she puts it is that disease can upset life, for one person – and for a whole family. That is why she wants to contribute. To her, giving is a way of taking responsibility. A way of creating meaning – for yourself and others.
Initially, she was an anonymous donor. But after a few years she came forward, hoping to inspire more people to let capital work in a meaningful way. According to her, there is so much capital just sitting there – and so many diseases for which there is yet no cure. And this has yielded results – several organisations and individuals have stepped in to support current research by donating to Ingrid’s existing foundations.
Jenny Widén
