University of Colorado Hospital Foundation announces capital campaign to expand Cancer Center

Demand for unique services doubles in first decade

AURORA, Colo. – The University of Colorado Hospital Foundation (UCHF) has announced a campaign to raise $20 million for the expansion of University of Colorado Cancer Center (UCCC). Since the University of Colorado Hospital’s (UCH) clinical services for cancer relocated to the Anschutz Medical Campus in November 2000, demand has nearly doubled.

The expansion means physicians at UCH will be able to treat approximately 11,450 more patients each year than they are able to treat today.  It will add more than 40,000 square feet to the cancer center and includes the renovation of another 11,200 square feet. The expansion also will add 200 to 250 new, full-time employees.

“Nearly everyone has a personal experience with cancer, as a survivor or as a caregiver for a family member or loved one fighting the disease,” said Bruce Schroffel, president and CEO of University of Colorado Hospital.  “We want to be able to treat as many people as we can, but we are literally out of space. This expansion campaign will provide us with the crucial room to meet the demand for our services.” The cancer center expansion campaign is called “When You Hear the Words, ‘You Have Cancer.’”

Uniquely qualified to provide the most advanced care

University of Colorado Cancer Center treats the most complicated oncology cases and helps more patients than any single cancer center in the Rocky Mountain region. The hospital’s cancer specialists and sub-specialists are uniquely qualified to provide the most advanced care to the most complex patients. UCCC is the only comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute in the region.

“University of Colorado Hospital Foundation selected the cancer center expansion as its number one priority,” said Peter H. Coors, chairman of University of Colorado Hospital Foundation and chairman of MillerCoors. “Since the hospital receives no support from the state of Colorado, private donations will be critical in meeting our $20 million goal to expand.”

The expansion also will allow for more clinical trials by adding more space and more physicians and researchers.  At University of Colorado Hospital, hundreds of clinical trials are underway in an ongoing effort to discover and deliver more effective treatment. The goal is to translate discoveries made in the laboratory to the patients who will benefit from them, as quickly as possible.

“The care people receive at University of Colorado Hospital is world-class. When it comes to cancer care, the combination of clinical care and research means patients have options that can’t be found anywhere else in the Rocky Mountain region,” said Steve Bangert, chairman of the Cancer Center Expansion Committee and chairman and CEO of CoBiz Financial. “The Cancer Center Expansion Committee’s fundraising effort is nearly halfway to the $20 million goal. The whole committee is determined to raise the rest as quickly as possible so we can meet the demand for our cancer care.”

Find out more

To find out more about the campaign (“When You Hear the Words, ‘You Have Cancer’”) to raise money for the cancer center expansion, call (720) 848-7802.

Cancer Center Expansion Committee

The University of Colorado Hospital is the Rocky Mountain region's leading academic medical center, and has been recognized as one of the United States’ best hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report. It is best known as an innovator in patient care and often as one of the first hospitals to bring new medicine to patients’ bedsides. Located at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo., the hospital’s physicians are all affiliated with the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, part of the University of Colorado system. For more information, visit the UC Denver Newsroom.

For More Information Contact:

Erika Matich
720-848-7852
303-524-2780
Erika.Matich@ucdenver.edu