The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation donated $30 million to the Franciscan Health Foundation.
The donation will finance the construction of The Dean and Barbara White Cancer Center at the new Franciscan Health Crown Point hospital. The $30 million donation, the largest gift ever received by Franciscan Health Foundation, will boost cancer care in NWI.
The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation wants “to honor the memory of my parents by working with partners that create new opportunities for the people of the area they loved,” said Craig White, the foundation’s board president, in a press release.
The 71,000-square-foot, three-story cancer center will enable Franciscan Health to participate in clinical trials. The center will be equipped with the latest technology and a team of specialists and clinicians.
“Our goal is to provide early diagnosis and better access to potentially lifesaving care in one convenient location and, most importantly, to improve the chance for disease remission and long-term survival,” said Dr. Daniel McCormick, Franciscan Health Crown Point’s president and CEO.
McCormick said the White family was touched by cancer, and understands the importance of early detection, diagnosis and treatment.
“My mom and dad were forward-looking and believed in action,” White said. “With Franciscan, we can build a center that will bring advanced practices, technology and talent to the people of Northwest Indiana when they need it most.”
Franciscan Health’s new hospital in Crown Point will open in January. The hospital will house an emergency department, operating rooms and 165 beds. The Dean and Barbara White Cancer Center is slated to open in early 2026.
“The Dean and Barbara White Cancer Center will play a significant role in improving the lives of cancer patients and their families throughout the Region,” said Kevin Leahy, Franciscan Alliance’s president and CEO.
