Sanders later used his stock holdings to create the Colonel Harland Sanders Trust and Colonel Harland Sanders Charitable Organization, which used the proceeds to aid charities and fund scholarships. His trusts continue to donate money to groups like the Trillium Health Care Centre; a wing of their building specializes in women's and children's care and has been named after him.[35] The Sidney, British Columbia based foundation granted over $1,000,000 in 2007, according to its 2007 tax return.[citation needed]
Sanders was diagnosed with acute leukemia in June 1980.[8][36] He died at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky of pneumonia on December 16, 1980 at the age of 90.[37][38][39] Sanders had remained active until the month before his death, appearing in his white suit to crowds.[29] His body lay in state in the rotunda of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort after a funeral service at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Chapel, which was attended by more than 1,000 people. Sanders was buried in his characteristic white suit and black western string tie in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
By the time of his death, there were an estimated 6,000 KFC outlets in 48 countries worldwide, with $2 billion of sales annually.[40]