The Marcus Foundation recently made a $38 million philanthropic commitment to transform health care for military veterans throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. This gift has created the Marcus Institute for Brain Health at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, which will offer care for veterans with traumatic brain injury and related psychological health conditions.

Charles Baum, MD, PhD (’80), and his wife, Carol (’80), made an estate commitment estimated at $2 million to enhance gastrointestinal cancer research in the CU Division of Medical Oncology.

The Gates Grubstake Fund awarded three faculty a total of $1,050,000 to enhance research in the field of regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies, in a process facilitated by CU Innovations. The goal is to fuel big ideas with commercial potential, bringing life-changing therapies to patient bedsides more quickly.

The Sprout Foundation, founded by Robert and Suzanne Fanch, made a $1 million commitment to establish the Elizabeth Campbell Fanch Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund to advance new Alzheimer’s therapies. The fund is named in honor of Robert Fanch’s mother.

The Galena Foundation gave $500,000 to the Center for Women’s Health Research. This critical support fuels research efforts that promise to change the lives of women and their families around the world.

CU Anschutz faculty members Barry Rumack, MD, and Carol Rumack, MD, made a bequest to support diversity in the School of Medicine, helping attract and retain some of the best and brightest students.

Jack Cochran, MD (’73), made a gift to establish the Cochran Family Endowed Scholarship to support medical students. Cochran is a longtime supporter, and his giving is helping Colorado residents pursue medical degrees. His bequest will continue this support well into the future.

The Anna and John J. Sie Foundation provided a generous $2 million gift to the University of Colorado BioFrontiers Institute to fund a 7,050 square-foot research neighborhood, as part of the fifth-wing expansion of the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building. Named in honor of John J. Sie’s mother, the Yuan Yung-Foo Interdisciplinary Bioscience Research Neighborhood will provide the opportunity for additional scientists, faculty and students to collaborate in the BioFrontiers Institute’s world-class research facilities as they embark on scientific discovery into many of the world’s most challenging health issues.

With strong support from campus, the Leeds School of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Science are partnering for a 30,000 square-foot expansion to bridge the two disciplines. The opportunity offers creative, collaborative and connective spaces to expand experiential learning opportunities for all business and engineering students. This space will foster innovative problem-solving to produce a new generation of leaders who possess the connections, education and entrepreneurial ingenuity to shape the future.

Thanks to family, friends and real estate icons, the Sherman R. Miller Endowed Executive Directorship surpassed $2.5 million and will have a lasting impact for the CU Real Estate Center’s students and for Sherm’s legacy.

Becky Roser, a longtime College of Music supporter and former chair of the Music Advisory Board, recently created a $2 million endowment, naming the keyboard area the Roser Piano and Keyboard Program. Becky now chairs the music+ campaign committee and is helping to kick off the $50 million fundraising efforts of the new campaign. Her gift is inspired by her lifetime love of piano, and will inspire others to contribute as well. Read the full story.

Gift from Daniels Fund Brings Attention to Fake News

The Terrace Room at the Lawrence Street Center was filled to capacity on Thursday, March 30, to hear about “Fake News and Filter Bubbles” in the second installment of the Daniels Fund Colloquia on Ethics in Communication, presented by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. More than 200 attended this keynote event, made possible with a $250,000 grant from the Daniels Fund that supports principle-based education in journalism through six events over a two-year period.

Panelists addressed challenges to the integrity of news reporting. They included Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Hedrick Smith, a former New York Times reporter and editor and a current producer and correspondent for the PBS’ Frontline; Dr. Ashley Muddiman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas, who specializes in political media, particularly online; and Alexios Mantzarlis, founder of the International Fact-Checking Network at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies.

Molly Hughes, the Emmy award-winning journalist and the director of Denver Post TV, moderated.

Faculty and staff visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia

During the week of March 20, a team from CU visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia to strengthen relationships with two countries that send CU Denver many students. Representing CU were President Bruce and Marcy Benson; Chancellor Dorothy Horrell; Kat Vlahos, Professor, Department Chair, and Director, Center of Preservation Research for the College of Architecture and Planning (CoPR); John Sunnygard, Executive Director, Office of International Affairs; Andrea Wagner, Vice Chancellor of Advancement; and Noelle DeLage, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Advancement.

In addition to gathering with alumni in the region, the team met in Qatar with Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, whose son graduated from CU Denver’s Business School last May; Dr. Rachel Hajar, a physician at the Heart Hospital in Doha whose endowment gift to the CU School of Medicine established the Hajar Al Binali International Visiting Scholar Program in Cardiology; and Dr. Hajar (’69, MD ’73), who serves as Qatar’s Undersecretary for Health.

In Riyadh, the group was honored to have an audience with HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman, President and Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. The commission is interested in partnering with CoPR to document and develop built heritage sites in Saudi Arabia for tourism. The host in Jeddah was Zuhair Fayez, (’71), chairman of the largest architectural/engineering/management firm in Saudi Arabia and founder of CU Denver’s architecture exchange program with Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah.

Chancellor Horrell noted both countries demand a commitment to excellence in everything they do: “This is part of our effort to say our doors and hearts are open to international students and partnerships.”

UCCS professor Al Schoffstall made a planned gift commitment of $500,000 to the chemistry and biochemistry department. The contributions will further research and scholarships at UCCS. 

The Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation gave $75,000 to the UCCS public sculpture fund to support temporary, rotating sculptural projects shown on the grounds of the new Ent Center for the Arts sculpture garden.

Jeff Flygare has made a planned gift of $1,167,020 to UCCS Theatreworks. Jeff has volunteered more than 25 years of work to UCCS Theatreworks, and his gift is a tribute to the incredible work that Murray and others did and do to make this special playhouse a showcase for talent, entertainment and fun in Southern Colorado.   

UCCS will name a new main stage theater after Chancellor Emerita Pam Shockley-Zalabak following the completion of a $1.5 million fundraising campaign that was spearheaded by CU Regent Kyle Hybl and his wife, Sally. Read more.

UCCS announced it will name an under-development sports medicine and performance center The William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center. The naming reflects the longtime support of the El Pomar Foundation as well as its specific support for the university’s efforts to redevelop North Nevada Avenue, where the new building will be. In 2014, El Pomar donated $4 million in support of UCCS efforts to redevelop North Nevada Avenue on the western edge of the campus. Read more.