Read Time: 2 minutes
Peter Huntsman, CEO of the Huntsman Foundation and chairman and CEO of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation (HCF), announced today a transformational $30 million gift from the family’s foundation. This donation allows Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the (U of U) to better plan for and address the future needs of cancer patients in the Mountain West. The gift is in addition to the $40 million already raised by HCF to support the construction of the Kathryn F. Kirk Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care and Women’s Cancers at Huntsman Cancer Institute.
The gift will allow the planned HCI expansion to grow from 102,000 square feet of new space to 200,000 square feet, and from four to eight stories. Since the initial announcement of this new expansion, the Huntsman family has worked in cooperation with the U of U and U of U ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ to address HCI’s longer-term needs.
After a Huntsman Foundation board meeting, members unanimously decided to commit further resources for additional capabilities. "My mother Karen, our family foundation’s chairwoman, my siblings, and I, are honored to continue to invest in the future of HCI. Combined with the more than one million donors who help support this globally recognized institute, we are committed to eradicating this disease," said Huntsman.
Susan Sheehan, president and COO of HCF, noted, "The Huntsman family has once again extended immense generosity and kindness to help our community in an area of critical need. As it has done since HCI’s founding in 1993, the family is looking toward the future and anticipating ways they can offer hope and optimism in the face of this dreaded disease. We are very grateful for the family’s vision and loyal support."
Other major donors to the expansion are the Spencer and Kristen Kirk family, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and doTERRA International.
The major expansion of HCI is projected to cost $129 million, of which more than $70 million will come from philanthropic funds. The new patient care facility will include four floors of clinical space, an expanded wellness center, two floors to house faculty offices, and two floors available for future build-out based on cancer patient needs. Pending final approval by state and university entities, construction is slated to begin December 2019 and the building is anticipated to open to patients in September 2022.
Media Contact
Heather Simonsen
Public Affairs Senior Manager
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801 581-3194
public.affairs@hci.utah.edu
About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to advance cancer treatments of the future beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient’s unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.