November 14, 2001MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Heaps- -For Johns HopkinsPHONE: 410-955-1287E-MAIL: [email protected]
MEDIA CONTACT:Jennifer Eason Hanley - -For Mr. KimmelPHONE: 212-981-5251
Sidney Kimmel Gives $150 Million To Hopkins For Cancer Research and Patient Care
Gift Is Largest Ever Received By The University
The Johns Hopkins University today announced that Sidney Kimmel, founder and chairman of Jones Apparel Group, has donated $150 million for cancer research and patient care - the largest single gift ever to the University. With more than a third of the gift already received, the Hopkins Cancer Center officially will be called The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.
Speaking of his gift, Mr. Kimmel said: "I am blessed. To be able to support one of the leading institutions in the world and build on its momentum gives so much meaning to what we have all done thus far to defeat cancer and provides even more hope for what can now be accomplished. My goal with this gift is to make meaningful advances in our knowledge of cancer."
Mr. Kimmel's gift also will provide the lead funding for development of a residence to serve patients and families undergoing prolonged cancer treatments. "As important as research is, I want to assure that some of those most acutely devastated by cancer, whose conventional and experimental therapies require a protracted presence in Baltimore, have the advantage and support of a family residence," he emphasized.
"On the day after my election," said Michael Bloomberg, Mayor-elect of New York City and chairman of The Johns Hopkins University Board of Trustees, "I took time out to call and thank Sidney; he's probably the nation's leading individual donor to cancer research, and that deserves congratulations not only from the Hopkins Community but from us all."
"Sidney Kimmel has shown enormous vision and insight into what would make a difference in the field of cancer research, as well as great confidence in our ability to achieve results. We are truly honored by this gift," said Martin Abeloff, M.D., director of the newly named Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.
The gift recognizes a new era in cancer research and treatment, according to Edward D. Miller, M.D., Dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. "We stand at the threshold of exponential discovery in the laboratory and the development of new treatments in the clinic. We seek nothing less than the eradication of cancer in our lifetimes. We have a great challenge ahead of us, but with Mr. Kimmel's tremendous generosity, success suddenly seems within our reach."
The Hopkins gift is one of many Mr. Kimmel has made to cancer research. Most recently he gave $25 million to fund research and develop a new prostate and urological cancer center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York, and he has made significant gifts for cancer research in San Diego and Philadelphia. Mr. Kimmel also designed and remains closely involved with The Kimmel Scholars Program, which supports young cancer scientists nationally. With each receiving $200,000 over two years, 15 recipients are chosen annually by a distinguished panel of ten scientists hand picked by Mr. Kimmel. He also was the lead sponsor for "The March: Coming Together to Conquer Cancer" in 1998, which helped make more than $400 million in additional government funding available for cancer programs around the country.
Among gifts in fields other than cancer, Mr. Kimmel is the lead individual donor to The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, set to open in Philadelphia on December 14. The Performing Arts Center, designed by Rafael Vinoly, will be home to the Philadelphia Orchestra.
"Mr. Kimmel's gift to us, as well as his other philanthropic endeavors, represent a combination of extraordinary thoughtfulness and compassion," says William R. Brody, president of The Johns Hopkins University. "He defines leadership, and his example calls on others to follow him."
"On behalf of all Maryland citizens, I thank Mr. Kimmel for his extraordinarily generous gift for cancer research and patient care in our State," said Governor Parris N. Glendening. We are proud of the many contributions in cancer research and care made by The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Mr. Kimmel's gift will provide unprecedented opportunities to advance the fight against cancer. It is also gratifying to know that the State-sponsored programs to conquer cancer, made possible by the Cigarette Restitution Funds, have played a role in Mr. Kimmel's decision to make a difference in this effort."
John Hopkins has one of just 41 cancer programs in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, and was one of the first to earn that designation. The Center has active programs in clinical research, laboratory research, education, community outreach, prevention and control.
A leader on many fronts, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins has internationally recognized programs in the molecular genetics of cancer, bone marrow transplantation, new drug and vaccine development, pediatric oncology, radiation oncology, and brain tumor treatment and research. It is highly regarded for its innovative surgical treatments for head and neck cancers, sarcoma, prostate and pancreatic cancers and its research involving the genetic basis of colon cancer, the treatment of cancer pain, gene therapy, and new therapeutic approaches for breast cancer.
Mr. Kimmel, 73, is chairman and a director of Jones Apparel Group, Inc., which he founded in the mid 1970s. The group now includes such labels as Jones New York, Lauren and Evan Picone. He also is a partner in Cipriani International, a world-renowned restaurant and catering business, as well as part owner of the Miami Heat. He was born and raised in West Philadelphia, and spends time in New York City, Philadelphia, and Palm Beach with his wife Caroline.
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Largest Gifts To The Johns Hopkins InstitutionsGifts Made Over The Past Eight Years by The Kimmel Foundation Biosketch of Mr. Sidney Kimmel Experts Available for Interview:Edward D. Miller, M.D.The Francis Watt Baker, M.D., and Lenox D. Baker, Jr., M.D., Dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine(410) 955-4288
William R. BrodyPresidentThe Johns Hopkins University(410) 516-7109
Martin D. Abeloff, M.D.Eli Kennerly Marshall, Jr., ProfessorDirector, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.(410-955-1287)
Curt I. Civin, M.D.Professor of Oncology and PediatricsAdvisory Board Member, The Kimmel Scholars Fund(410) 955-1287
Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D.Chief of SurgeryThe National Cancer Institute(301) 496-6641
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