Stories of Change

A generous gift from Dignify Dementia, founded by Jenni Desserich, launches a CU Anschutz speaker series giving dementia caregivers practical guidance, compassion and community as they navigate an uncertain journey.

After their 40-year reunion, the Class of 1967 launched an 18-year effort to endow a $1.2 million scholarship, funding full in-state tuition annually and inspiring future generations of CU medical students.

CU Anschutz Nursing’s Power of Philanthropy Celebration honored the benefactors, students and faculty whose generosity and dedication drive innovation, expand opportunities and strengthen nursing education across Colorado.

Becky Takeda-Tinker, PhD, and Allen Tinker pledged a planned gift valued at $5 million to strengthen CU Anschutz neurology and cancer research funds, fueling innovation, care and leadership.

CU Anschutz celebrated the Amy Davis Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research for Women, honoring inaugural chair Jane Reusch, MD, and recognizing the Patten-Davis Foundation’s philanthropy advancing breakthroughs in women’s health.

A new endowed chair honors David and Nancy Lamb’s entrepreneurial legacy and supports Dr. Melanie Joy’s leadership in pharmacy innovation, research and mentorship at CU Anschutz’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

On January 29, 2026, the CU Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences welcomed 37 benefactors, students, faculty and alumni to the Power of Philanthropy Celebration. This annual event honors the profound generosity that fuels student success, innovative research and advancements that shape the future of the field.

Dr. Camp has pledged $2 million from her estate to establish the Bonnie W. Camp, MD, PhD, Endowed Chair in Pediatrics at CU Anschutz. This gift will secure the future of developmental pediatrics and honor Dr. Camp’s lifelong commitment to improving children’s health.

Alumnus Michael Carius, MD, FACEP, and his wife Kathleen have generously established a new scholarship fund in the CU Anschutz School of Medicine to support students’ educational journeys and inspire them to carry forward the university’s legacy of excellence in their future careers.

CU Anschutz honored alumni at the Silver & Gold Banquet, celebrating mentorship, collaboration and service. Highlights included a $1.2M scholarship milestone and awards for humanitarian work, health equity, innovation and groundbreaking neuroimmunology research.

A transformational gift of over $4 million has established an endowed chair and research fund to advance bone and musculoskeletal health at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine. Inspired by care received from Evalina Burger-Van der Walt, MD, and the Department of Orthopedics, this investment will support pioneering research, education and therapeutic innovation in conditions like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

Dr. Richard Hoffman, MD, MPH, has made a generous gift to establish the Colorado School of Public Health Endowed Chair in Innovation, supporting research, curriculum development and student advancement. This gift builds on Dr. Hoffman’s legacy of empowering future public health leaders through philanthropy.

The University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center’s Giving Tuesday initiative is on again in 2025. The 2024 effort exceeded expectations — not once, but multiple times. This remarkable success story is a testament to what’s possible when people come together with a shared belief in curing cancer.

On October 29, 2025, the University of Colorado Anschutz welcomed more than 220 distinguished guests to the Anschutz Health Sciences Building for one of its most cherished traditions: the Endowed Chair Celebration.

CU Anschutz celebrated its first endowed chair in pharmacy, honoring alumna Debra Devereaux and naming Dr. Christina Aquilante to lead precision medicine efforts that translate research into real-world patient care.

The Colorado School of Public Health hosted its annual Partners in Public Health event, celebrating the transformative impact of philanthropy on students, faculty and community health initiatives. Through powerful stories and inspiring connections, the evening honored those shaping a healthier, more equitable future.

After undergoing a life-saving liver transplant, Bryan Breuer and his family turned their experience into purpose, helping to advance transplant care and offer hope to others.

CU Anschutz honored Penny Burke’s legacy with a new endowed chair in behavioral neurology, appointing Dr. Samantha Holden to advance research and care for memory disorders like Parkinson’s and dementia.

The 2025 CU School of Dental Medicine’s annual reception celebrated philanthropy’s impact on education, research and care, highlighting AI tools, 3D dentures, scholarships and student stories that shape dentistry’s future.

After years of misdiagnosis, Stacey Huelsing-Dhein found answers at CU Anschutz, underwent life-changing surgery for Cushing’s syndrome and now supports research to help others get diagnosed sooner.