With a generous $2 million grant from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, the Cancer Has Met Its Match campaign benefitting Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is near its $20 million goal. The grant from Piper Trust, in support of the campaign, provides funding for capital, programs and services that will impact patients, their families and the community.
Launched in January 2011, the Cancer Has Met Its Match campaign has attracted support from more than 1,000 individual, corporate and foundation donors that share an interest in fighting cancer. The campaign has been on a path to success since its inception thanks to the involvement of dozens of dedicated community and business leaders who comprise the campaign cabinet.
In particular, Richard Adkerson, president and CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, has been invaluable as the chair of the campaign, while Arizona Cardinals’ star receiver Larry Fitzgerald has taken an active role as honorary chair. Additional outstanding leadership has been provided by co-chairs Steve Rizley, senior vice president of Cox Communication and Kari Yatkowski, founder of Corporate Citizen.
Located in Gilbert, Ariz., the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, part of the Phoenix-based nonprofit Banner Health system, relies on philanthropic support to fund education and outreach activities, patient support programs, the latest technology and more. Another significant gift received in Fall 2012 from the James M. Cox Foundation will fund the creation of the Center for Cancer Prevention and Integrative Oncology, which will incorporate traditional cancer treatments with evidence-based integrative therapies, such as acupuncture, yoga or meditation, to aid pain and stress management.
The Cancer Has Met Its Match campaign seeks to raise the remaining $311,000 by June 30, 2013. A second fundraising effort will follow to secure support for additional capital and programmatic efforts associated with the ongoing expansion of Banner MD Anderson. Work is currently underway on a 130,000-square-foot expansion project at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center which will double the total clinic exam rooms to 60, add three linear accelerators used in radiation treatment and include 13 additional infusion bays. It will also expand the Laboratory Intake Center and Welcome Center, as well as the Cox Center for Integrative Oncology and Cancer Prevention.
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About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
A private independent foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust honors Virginia Galvin Piper’s philanthropic commitment to changing lives and strengthening community in Maricopa County (Arizona). By investing in nonprofits and encouraging strategic planning for the future, Piper Trust strives to make Maricopa County a stronger, more nurturing, vibrant community. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $300 million in local nonprofits and programs. The Trust had total grants paid of $21.9 million in fiscal year 2012. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations. For more information, visit www.pipertrust.org.
About Banner Health Foundation
Banner Health Foundation secures and stewards charitable contributions to advance Banner Health’s mission of making a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care. Charitable contributions are invested locally to support programs and services in Banner’s nonprofit hospitals and health care facilities throughout Arizona. Established in 1978, Banner Health Foundation is supported by the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations and thousands of active volunteers.
About Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
The Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center on the Banner Gateway Campus delivers cancer care to patients in Arizona through the collaboration of Banner Health and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner MD Anderson Cancer center offers focused disease-specific expertise in the medical, radiation and surgical management of the cancer patient; an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to patient care; access to clinical trials and new investigative therapies; state-of-the-art technology for the diagnosis, staging and treatment of all types of cancer; oncology expertise in supportive care services.
