This press release contains dated information and should be used for background only.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.– Business and civic leaders from the Kansas City metropolitan area and throughout the state of Kansas have formed a new organization to support The University of Kansas Hospital and the University of Kansas Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health.
Called “The Advancement Board,” the group will work toward developing community and political support for the entities on the campus, as well as supporting philanthropy for capital, research and program needs.
The Advancement Board is organized under the auspices of Kansas University Endowment Association, the fund raising organization of the University of Kansas and the contractual partner in philanthropy with The University of Kansas Hospital. Former Kansas City Power and Light Chief Executive Officer Drue Jennings has accepted the position as chairman of the inaugural organization.
“An academic medical center is absolutely vital to any major metropolitan area, regardless of whether the area is developing a life sciences industry. The fact that our area is pursuing life sciences development means the collaboration between the Medical Center schools and the hospital is that much more important to the area,” said Jennings.
“The schools and the hospital have been developing new medical knowledge, training the next generation of caregivers and providing leading edge patient care for 100 years. Now, community leaders and business leaders will become advocates to support these great institutions so they can provide another century of service,” added Jennings.
In addition to Jennings, the inaugural Advancement Board has 27 members:
Marc A. Asher, MD
The University of Kansas School of Medicine
R, Don Blim, MD
Retired Pediatrician
Annette M. Bloch
Civic leader
Richard L. Bond
Kansas Board of Regents
Marilyn D. Breidenthal
Fashion Consultant
Thomas R. Burke, PhD
Kansas City Kansas Community College
Charles J. Carlsen
Johnson County Community College
Paul F. DeBauge
DeBauge Brothers, Inc.
William R. Docking
Union State Bank
Laura L. Gregory
Community Volunteer
William A. Hall
Hall Family Foundation
Forrest E. Hoglund
Former Chair, M.D. Anderson Board of Visitors
Robert W. Honse
Former CEO, Farmland
Mary Hunkeler
Community Volunteer
Betty Keim
Former Mayor, Mission Hills
Robert A. Kipp
Hallmark Cards, retired
Stephen A. Lightstone
Premium Standard Farms
Carol Marinovich
Former Mayor/CEO
Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCK
The Honorable Cordell D. Meeks, Jr.
District Court Judge
Mark V. Parkinson
The Sweet Life
Roshann Parris
Parris Communications
John B Payne
Former Senior Vice president
Bayer Animal Health
Scott Slabotsky
CBIZ
Anne D. St. Peter
Fleishman-Hillard
Charles T. Sunderland
Ash Grove Cement
Linda D. Warren, MD
Hanover, Kansas
David C. Wysong
Kansas State Senator
Jennings said the group will meet as a whole three or four times a year, but committees with specific responsibilities will meet regularly.