Karmanos receives $50,000 GM Foundation grant for cancer research

The General Motors Foundation awarded the Karmanos Cancer Institute a $50,000 grant Saturday evening for research to help the nationally renowned Detroit-based center in its work toward curing and treating cancer.

The grant was announced at the Karmanos' Annual Fundraising dinner by General Motors Co. Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson and his wife Karin, co-chairs for the event.

In addition to the foundation's grant, GM supported the Institute's premier fundraising venue through a $25,000 sponsorship with Cadillac and provided use of the GM Heritage Center and several silent auction gifts.  

The evening was expected to net more than $700,000 that Karmanos will apply toward its new Joseph Dresner Family Bone Marrow Transplant and Hematologic Malignancies Center.  Scheduled to open later this year, the Dresner Center will benefit hundreds of patients each month and expand Karmanos' ability to conduct future cancer research and clinical trials.

"At GM, we are fortunate to have so many people who care about supporting the communities where we live and work," said Akerson. "In Detroit, we're fortunate to have the Karmanos Cancer Institute in the heart of our community.  That's why we are proud to help the Institute in its important work to save lives and to provide hope and inspiration to cancer patients and their families."

 "GM continues its long history of support for the Karmanos Cancer Institute with this cancer research grant and active participation in our 29th Annual Dinner," said Dr. Gerold Bepler, President and CEO of Karmanos. "We cannot thank the Akersons and GM enough for their generosity. I think I speak for our entire region when I say how fortunate we are to have such a great corporate citizen in our community."

The foundation grant and the GM–Cadillac corporate sponsorship is the most recent investment toward improving the quality of life in Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

Recent GM Foundation supported initiatives include the $4.5 million Buick Achievers scholarship program, which will grant scholarships to 1,100 first-time college students next year in amounts ranging from $2,000 to as much as $25,000.  

In December 2010, the foundation granted $2 million to improve community centers near GM's Detroit-Hamtramck plant and also announced its largest donation ever of $27.1 million to the United Way for Southeast Michigan to create "Networks of Excellence" at seven high schools to dramatically increase graduation rates and rebuild the region's skilled workforce.