Bower Foundation makes $10M gift to campaign for UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute
The Bower Foundation has made the largest single gift in its history, a transformative $10 million investment in It's About Time: The Campaign for the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute.
The $125 million philanthropic campaign to build a new five-story home for the Cancer Center and Research Institute — designed to bring advanced, collaborative cancer care together with greater convenience and comfort for patients — has surpassed 70% of its goal.
“Mississippi continues to face the highest cancer burdens in the nation, and improving outcomes requires more than excellent clinical care,” said Anne Travis, president and CEO of the Bower Foundation. “It demands strong systems, better access to care and a commitment to long-term solutions. This investment reflects our belief that advancing population health and strengthening cancer care infrastructure must go hand in hand. The Cancer Center and Research Institute at UMMC is uniquely positioned to drive statewide impact, and we are proud to support a project that aligns so closely with our mission to improve the health and well-being of Mississippians for generations to come.”
The Bower Foundation has given more than $20 million to UMMC over the past two and a half decades. Under Travis’ leadership, the Bower Foundation’s philanthropy, ranging from a grant to the UMMC School of Nursing to funding for the John D. Bower School of Population Health and its Bower Center for Culinary Medicine, has expanded to improve Mississippians’ health by addressing accessibility and supporting health care workers and education in the health sciences.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs, said the gift is a continuation of the Bower Foundation’s history of commitment to the Medical Center and the health of Mississippians.
“Dr. John D. Bower’s many contributions range from the care he provided as a physician at UMMC to his legacy of giving to improve the health of Mississippians through the Bower Foundation,” she said. “This historic gift not only accelerates our efforts to build a world-class Cancer Center and Research Institute, but it also ensures that more Mississippians will have access to advanced cancer treatment, evidence-based research and comprehensive support close to home. The impact of this investment will be felt for decades.”
Dr. Rod Rocconi, Ergon Chair for Cancer Research and CCRI director, said the impact of this gift will improve cancer outcomes in the state.
“The Bower Foundation’s extraordinary generosity helps ensure that patients across Mississippi will have access to advanced, multidisciplinary cancer care close to home,” he said. “This historic gift reflects a deep and enduring commitment to the health of our state and a shared belief that high-quality, comprehensive care should be within reach for every Mississippian who needs it.”