Posted September 26, 2000

IOWA CITY -- An Iowa City woman who is a grateful patient at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is making a generous gift to the UI Foundation for the UI's Holden Cancer Center. The $1 million endowment gift from Louise White and her late husband, Willard "Woody" White, of Iowa City will generate funds to be used to benefit leukemia and breast cancer research.

Dr. George Weiner, director of the Holden Cancer Center, has treated Louise White, now 84, since she was diagnosed with leukemia more than seven years ago. She has been a wonderful patient, says Weiner.

"Louise is a delightful lady, who has a wonderful sense of humor and perspective on life. She has maintained a positive outlook throughout her illness. In addition she has been a willing participant in a number of research studies exploring new approaches to the evaluation and treatment of leukemia. She has already contributed so much. Her gift is one more way she is helping us continue the fight against cancer," he said.

Louise's gift will enable researchers to conduct further studies to continue to improve patient care, Weiner added. "Researchers are making new discoveries every day. Her gift will help us transfer those discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic in the form of promising new treatments."

Louise White said, "The endowment is a tribute to Dr. Weiner and all that he has done. We wanted others to benefit from some of the new treatments that have helped me."

The Whites' gift will continue leukemia research, as well as expand breast cancer research at the University. The contribution also honors the Whites' daughter Nancy, who died of breast cancer at age 48.

Louise and Woody White moved to the Iowa City area to be close to the UI's health care resources. "We decided Iowa City was the best place for us," said Louise White. "The University of Iowa is one of the greatest teaching hospitals in the United States, if not the world. Two of our three children were born here and I had been treated at the university before."

Before retiring and moving to Iowa City, the Whites farmed and raised purebred Angus cattle in Keokuk and Linn Counties. They also lived in rural Johnson County and on the Coralville Lake. Woody White died in April 2000.

The Whites' gift is part of the university's planned comprehensive campaign to advance the UI's strategic goals for the years 2000-2005.

The campaign, which is in its early stages and for which no final dollar goal has been established, will be conducted under the guidance of the UI Foundation and will raise funds to substantially increase the number of UI merit- and need-based scholarships, as well as the number of endowed faculty chairs and professorships; support eight new educational and research facilities; fund outreach and service programs to benefit individuals, families, and communities throughout the state of Iowa; build the UI's endowment; and launch new initiatives in the arts, sciences, business, health care, and other fields.

The UI Foundation is the preferred channel for private contributions to all areas of the university. Foundation staff work with alumni and friends to generate funds for scholarships, professorships, facilities improvements, equipment purchases, research and other UI initiatives.

Contact Information

Carol Jefferson
Director of Development, Holden Cancer Center
(319) 335-3305 or (800) 648-6973

Additional information about supporting Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center also is available on this site.