| University of Florida Foundation, Inc. | |
| Christopher Brazda | 352-392-1633 |
| Public Relations | 100 NW 20th St |
| cbrazda@uff.ufl.edu | Gainesville, FL 32603 |
| For immediate release | Wednesday, February 07, 2007 |
SHANDS RECEIVES $5 MILLION GIFT FOR CANCER HOSPITAL
GAINESVILLE, Fla.— Shands HealthCare today announced a $5-million gift from local philanthropists Davis and Judi Rembert of Gainesville toward the $388-million Shands at the University of Florida Cancer Hospital.
The couple said the gift allows them to fulfill a lifelong commitment to healthcare.
“Judi and I recognize that this cancer hospital represents a major step toward speeding up a cure for cancer. It will bring together the existing research, patient care and clinical trials resources of UF and Shands and it will allow us to accomplish so much more in the future,” said Davis Rembert, a UF alumnus and a successful businessman and private investor.
Both Judi and Davis Rembert were born in Alachua General Hospital, now Shands AGH. Davis Rembert’s ties to Shands and UF continued as he grew up as the next-door neighbor of State Senator William A. Shands, who was instrumental in funding the original teaching hospital and for whom it is named. Davis Rembert, whose great-great grandfather Gabriel Phillip Thomas came to Gainesville in 1852 as its first physician, has been a lifelong healthcare advocate. The Remberts co-chair the Shands at UF Cancer Hospital fundraising campaign and Davis has served on the Shands HealthCare board of directors since 1998 and was president of the Oak Hammock at UF board of directors for a decade.
“The Remberts’ generous donation is a wonderful illustration of the trust and faith they put in Shands and UF,” said UF President Bernie Machen. “Like so many people, they know first hand the level of care and commitment our faculty and healthcare colleagues provide every day.”
“We’re inspired and honored by the Remberts’ long-term, personal commitment to our mission of improving healthcare for the region and nation,” said Shands HealthCare CEO Tim Goldfarb. “Davis and Judi are pivotal in helping us achieve our vision. The cancer hospital will allow us to meet the increasing demands for care for many different types of patients. This gift will impact many lives.”
Jerry and Judy Davis of Jacksonville are friends of the Remberts and co-chair the cancer hospital fundraising effort. Jerry Davis, a private investor and UF alumnus, has served on the Shands HealthCare board of directors since 2001. Both cancer survivors, the Davises share the Rembert’s zeal to see the project completed.
“The Remberts have made a very generous and thoughtful gift,” said Jerry Davis. “Their commitment should serve as an example for others who are financially able to help in the battle against this disease that touches so many lives.”
Judi Rembert added, “We want our donation to serve as a catalyst for people in all corners of the community and region, including the thousands of people throughout the world who have been Shands patients. We want everyone in the Gator Nation to play a financial part in this exciting step forward for cancer care that we hope will inspire new treatments and ultimately a cure.”
Davis Rembert said, “Judi and I are inspired by the caliber of the faculty and staff within UF and Shands and we’re honored to support this effort. We should all feel proud to have a new state-of-the-art facility in North Central Florida that will offer outstanding cancer care as well as the best emergency and trauma care. With all these services, it will help so many people.”
The eight-floor, 500,000-square-foot facility will house 192 private inpatient beds for a variety of patients, including those receiving diagnostic and therapeutic oncology services. It also will include a Critical Care Center for emergency- and trauma-related services. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2009.
One out of every seven adults hospitalized at Shands at UF each year is treated for cancer or cancer-related ailments.
For additional information about the Shands at UF Cancer Hospital, including a fact sheet, drawings of the facility, and photos from the groundbreaking ceremony, please visit http://shands.org/sufcancerhospital/
To find out how you can help support cancer research contact the Shands HealthCare office of development (352) 733-0000
Make a Gift Online