Bronson announces campaign to elevate cancer care across Southwest Michigan

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Monday, the Bronson Health Foundation (BHF) announced the public launch of its Cancer Care Campaign.

Since 2019, BHF has been engaging regional donors who have come together to help enhance cancer care services for adult and pediatric patients across the Bronson Healthcare system.

Officials say that during the initial phase of the campaign, BHF received more than $9 million ─ exceeding its initial fundraising goal—from individuals, families, businesses, and foundations.

Now, the foundation says that a community-wide public initiative is underway to support meaningful and equitable programs and services for patients undergoing cancer care at Bronson.

“We are humbled by the leadership and generosity that is motivating an extraordinary level of community support for cancer care at Bronson,” chairman of BHF board of directors Von Washington Jr. said in a statement. “This will help fill a critical need in our region, and improve access, equity and coordination of care for our neighbors in their moments of great need. Cancer touches many lives, and we invite families of southwest Michigan to be a part of the Foundation’s Cancer Care Campaign to bring its full vision to life.”

According to officials, the Cancer Care Campaign supports the following priorities:

• Establishing the new Bronson Cancer Center in Kalamazoo. Located in the Frank J. Sardone Pavilion at Bronson Methodist Hospital, this new outpatient facility provides medical oncology, hematology and infusion services. Community support enhances the healing environment and offers supportive services like survivorship, palliative care, nutrition counseling and healthy living activities.
• Reinvesting in the Bronson Cancer Center in Battle Creek. At this established site, the Cancer Care Campaign has already supported the purchase of a Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator and Varian HyperArc – leading edge radiation technology. Philanthropic support also purchased a new electronic record system, which improves coordination and communication between system-wide providers as well as patients. Additionally, several facility updates will be completed using donated funds.
• Building a supportive future for children at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic. Through fundraising efforts, a new Child and Family Psychologist will be available for cancer patients and their caregivers at Bronson Children’s Hospital – the region’s only children’s hospital. This professional will support young patients and their caregivers and provide guidance that encourages learning, development, and resilience during and beyond a child’s cancer journey.
• Advancing an equitable future for cancer care across the Bronson Healthcare system. Exploring barriers to access and treatment among vulnerable community members will ensure Bronson’s regional cancer care program is serving all people equitably. The campaign will support a demographic analysis and community outreach strategy to advance equity-oriented solutions in Bronson’s cancer program. Further, funding to address critical patient needs like transportation, medication support and nutritional supplements continues to be raised through the campaign.

“Philanthropic support and community engagement fuels our providers and directly connects to our patients,” vice president of development at Bronson Healthcare Terry Morrow said. “As a locally owned and operated system, Bronson is committed to implementing a bold vision for cancer care and giving back to the community that continues to invest so generously in our future.”

Officials add thay Kim Nuyen, president of Moore Electrical Service, Inc., his wife Valerie, and his company made a leading $1.25 million investment in Bronson’s vision for cancer care.

“My family has confronted the realities of cancer treatment. Making this gift is meaningful as our community builds a better and more coordinated vision for cancer care,” Nuyen said in a statement. “Facilities and spaces really matter during a patient’s time of vulnerability, and Bronson is delivering the healing environments that our families, friends and neighbors deserve.”

Other generous community leaders and donors to the Cancer Care Campaign include the following:

• Irving S. Gilmore Foundation,
• The Maxon Foundation at US Bank,
• Bronson Battle Creek Hospital Community Partners,
• Havirmill Foundation,
• Frank Sardone and Susan Fall,
• Suzanne Upjohn Delano Parish Foundation,
• Dorothy U. Dalton Foundation,
• Friends and Family of Mall City Mechanical,
• CSM Group, Inc.,
• W.S. and Lois VanDalson Foundation,
• Miller Johnson Attorneys, and
• Josh and Pamela Weiner.

To date, more than 100 donors have made contributions totaling $9.2 million.

To learn more about the initiative, visit bronsonhealth.com/overview/cancer-care-campaign.

To learn more about cancer care services at Bronson, visit bronsonhealth.com/cancer.