Pat Catan Foundation Donates $50,000 to Cancer Research
October 5, 2007 – Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, in partnership with Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center is proud to announce The Pat Catan Family Foundation’s generous $50,000 donation to form Pat Catan's Family Fund for Research in Childhood Cancer.

The Pat Catan Foundation, chaired by Sharon Kilbane and daughter of Pat and Beatrice Catan, is a philanthropic effort that supports numerous causes in northeast Ohio and beyond.  The Pat Catan Foundation was created in 1988 by Pat and Beatrice Catan for the benefit of all children.

“On behalf of The Pat Catan Family Foundation we are happy to announce this exciting new partnership,” said Sharon Kilbane.  “This is the beginning of what we hope is a long-term relationship with Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospitals that will allow for real advancements for such a worthy cause.”

University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospitals has ranked best in the Midwest and number five in the country in U.S.News & World Report’s first stand-alone “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” (LINK TO STORY HERE) issue which features a detailed ranking of the finest pediatric facilities in the United States.  

“The Pat Catan Research Fund will directly benefit pediatric and adolescent cancer research,” said Dr. John Letterio, Professor of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University / Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology / Oncology Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.

“We feel very fortunate to humbly accept this gift from the Catan family.  There is no question it will significantly impact our patients and their families in our everyday quest for a cure.”

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Lead Gift to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Launches the Jennifer Ferchill Brain Tumor Center
July 16, 2007 :: Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital at University Hospitals Case Medical Center announced today the creation of the Jennifer Ferchill Brain Tumor Center, established through a significant leadership gift from the John and Sharon Ferchill family. The hospital will honor the Ferchill family for their generosity and officially launch the Jennifer Ferchill Brain Tumor Center with a reception on July 17, 2007 at Rainbow.

“We lost our daughter, Jennifer, 25 years ago to a brain tumor,” said Cleveland-based real estate developer John J. Ferchill. “With this center dedicated to her memory, Jenny’s legacy will inspire hope for patients and their families for generations to come.”

Brain tumors are the most common form of pediatric cancer, and despite advances in recent years, brain tumors have surpassed leukemia as the leading cause of cancer death in children.

Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital is devoted to conquering brain tumors in children. The treatment for brain tumors is complex, requiring specialized and personalized care.

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UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Receives $1.5 million for Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer from the Fowler Family

January 9, 2007 :: Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, in partnership with Ireland Cancer Center, at University Hospitals Case Medical Center is starting off the new year with a special focus on teen and young adult cancer thanks to a $1.5 million gift from Char and Chuck Fowler in memory of their daughter, Angie, whom they lost to melanoma when she was 14, 25 years ago.

The gift funds the first endowed chair in the United States for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer, and the Angie Fowler Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment Suite in the new cancer outpatient space being built at Rainbow.

“We are very pleased to support UH and Rainbow’s initiatives in research regarding teens with cancer,” said Chuck Fowler. “There is so much that could be done to help this age group, and we hope this gift in Angie’s honor will help Rainbow and the Ireland Cancer Center address the particular needs of this important population.”

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University Hospitals Receives $1 Million for Childhood Cancer from the Vassil Family and $750,000 from the Skirball Foundation

June 7, 2006 :: Two philanthropic gifts intended to advance childhood cancer programs at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital illustrate what a difference a challenge grant can make. Karen and Larry Vassil of Richfield, Ohio, pledged $1 million to meet and exceed a $750,000 challenge grant from The Skirball Foundation of New York. The Vassils gift was given in honor of their daughter, Hilary, a cancer survivor. The combined gifts will fund the Jack J. and William N. Skirball Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and the Ireland Cancer Center of UHCMC.

Vassil FamilyHilary Vassil, now 15 years old, received lifesaving care of the Ireland Cancer Center and Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and has remained cancer free for over two years.

“Hilary’s treatment inspired us to look for a way to make a meaningful gift to University Hospitals”, said Mr. Vassil. “When we learned about The Skirball Foundations challenge grant, we were inspired to meet the challenge and to do even more. We are very grateful for the care that our daughter received and are proud to collaborate with The Skirball Foundation.”