Your Impact
Now more than ever, private support from generous benefactors is accelerating progress and enabling top talent to push the boundaries of the possible. Every dollar invested today results in discoveries made and lives saved.
We recently created a website dedicated to showcasing our generous benefactors.
Momentum
Momentum is an annual publication that celebrates the power and impact of philanthropy at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. These stories detail philanthropy in action – transforming health and health care.
Benefactor Stories
"Most of all, we wanted to stop this horrible disease."
- Carolyn Fancher
Carolyn Fancher and Midge Wallace Decided to give back by creating CancerCure, a group of concerned men and women whose goal was to raise funds for cancer research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Since 1996, the group has raised more than $2 million. Over the past 20 years, the members of CancerCure have funded early-stage faculty research, summer student fellowships and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment as well as helped to attract and retain top talent at the CU Cancer Center.
"Giving back is the legacy"
- Karen Skaff
Edward ('59) and Karen ('92) Skaff are loyal supporters of CU and recently established the Skaff Endowed Scholarship at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Ed is grateful to the University of Colorado for the education he received, which contributed to his successful career in retail pharmacy.
"It's really vital for the people of this community to have access to that kind of care"
- Bill Fisher
When Don's brother, Bob, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the Fisher family knew that the RMADC was the best facility for his treatment. They were able to get Bob into the RMADC for treatment, but due to a heart problem, he wasn't able to participate in the ongoing Leukine clinical trial. Despite this news, the Fishers wanted to support this innovative work, with the hope that someday a drug like Leukine would be available to all people with Alzheimer's disease
"I thought, maybe I could help someone like that..."
- Donald Bennalleck, MD
Dr. Bennalleck enjoyed a long career as a beloved OB/GYN, delivering more than 3,000 babies. With a generous scholarship gift made through his estate, he will support the careers of future physicians who follow in his footsteps.
"You create futures for people. You create possibility"
- Joe and Jean Barban
Joe and Jean Barban were so moved by the surgical care Jean received through two heart transplants that they decided to give back. They established a chair in surgery so that others may benefit from the world-class expertise as they did.
"What the funding allowed for was true leadership..."
- The Colorado Trust
The Colorado Trust supports initiatives that enrich the well-being and sustainability of Colorado communities in every corner of the state. At CU Anschutz, they are helping to build an essential pipeline of rural health care providers.
"Together we are making a difference. We're changing lives."
- Delta Dental of Colorado
Through the support of Delta Dental, the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine works to ensure that medical students now graduate with training in oral health. This collaboration between dentistry and medicine enhances preventive care and improves oral health outcomes.
"Just think, if you could eliminate...people's experience with mental illness..."
- Mary Rossick Kern & Jerome H. Kern
Mary and Jerry Kern exemplify the spirit of philanthropy. We celebrated their contributions to the Mary Rossick Kern and Jerome Kern Endowed Chair in Thyroid Tumor Research. We also thank them for their philanthropy stretching over a decade in the study of the neurobiology of mental disorders in children.