News Releases
4-20-07
WICHITA, Kan.— Knowing firsthand what it takes to battle cancer, a Kansas philanthropist with a vision for the future has made a gift of $1 million to support cancer research by funding a professorship at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.
Officials with KU Endowment and the Kansas Masonic Foundation today announced the gift from Franklin and Beverly Gaines to the Partnership for Life fundraising campaign to benefit the University of Kansas Cancer Center.
Franklin Gaines, an esophageal cancer survivor, is the CEO and chairman of the board of directors for the First National Bank in Fredonia, Kan. Appointed by Gov. Sebelius to the Kansas Board of Regents in 2003, Gaines is a former state representative and senator.
“When I received my diagnosis about 13 months ago, I traveled to Mayo Clinic for my care and treatment, but not everyone can afford to do that. I heard Chancellor Hemenway speak to the Board of Regents about how having an NCI-designated cancer center would benefit our entire state. This is an extremely important endeavor that will allow people in Kansas to receive their care without traveling far away and so I am very happy to help get KU closer to their goal,” Gaines said.
The gift will create an endowed professorship for the University of Kansas Cancer Center and support the cancer initiatives at the KU Wichita campus. The Franklin D. and Beverly J. Gaines Professorship will be used to support the medical director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center oncology outpatient unit. This physician will be responsible for developing the research program that will enroll patients in phase I clinical trials in Wichita. The physician will also be an integral member of the University of Kansas Cancer Center phase I drug program and the drug discovery and experimental therapeutics program for the Midwest Cancer Alliance.
The gift puts Kansas Masonic Foundation over two-thirds of the way in its goal to reach $15 million in its Partnership for Life fundraising campaign to support the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute, the research arm of the University of Kansas Cancer Center.
“This gift is a demonstration of Frank and Beverly Gaines’ commitment to helping others across Kansas and the region,” said Jeff Sowder, president of Kansas Masonic Foundation. “It is because of gifts like this that the Partnership for Life campaign will be successful in its quest to assist KU in its efforts to bring an NCI-designated cancer care center to the Midwest.”
The income earned on endowed funds such as this provide salary support, travel expenses and other costs associated with advancement of a professorship.
The gift will be managed by KU Endowment Association, an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.
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