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Philanthropic Destiny G rant Oliphant became CEO of the Conrad Prebys Foundation, with its $1.13 billion in assets, in 2022. His trajectory into philanthropy, unbeknownst to him at the time, began on April 4, 1991. It was the day United States Senator from Pennsylvania John Heinz died in a plane crash. Oliphant, then 30, was Heinz' press secretary. He was supposed to have been aboard the twin-engine Piper Aerostar airplane that collided with a helicopter. "I had made a decision to go with him on that trip, and at the very last minute, I decided that I wouldn't," Oliphant says. "Thinking about the plane crash is sobering," he adds. He's sitting for an interview in an airy, pristine office within the Prebys Foundation's headquarters in Little Italy. He's dressed in a dark suit and white shirt with prominent blue buttons, sans a tie. In conversation, it's plain to see he is contemplative and reflective, while simultaneously empathetic and likeable. Grant Oliphant Focus philanthropy New CEO Grant Oliphant has the Conrad Prebys Foundation embracing wide-ranging issues BY RON DONOHO ranchandcoast.com 68 JULY 2025 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE