Hillman Cancer Center

During the May 3 annual gala benefiting the Hillman Cancer Center, community leaders, Broadway performers, and celebrities celebrated with more than 1,000 friends and supporters, raising $8.2 million in sponsorships and contributions for patient care and cancer research.

That amount included $2 million from the Arnold D. Palmer Charitable Trust for a new initiative in cancer prevention (see accompanying story); $1 million from Tom and Sandra Usher to support melanoma research; $1 million from the Hillman Foundations to fund innovative cancer research; and $1 million in an unrestricted grant from the PNC Financial Services Group.

Taken together, the funds made the annual gala—titled “Seasons of Hope…A Future Without Cancer”—the largest and most successful ever for the Hillman Cancer Center.

The event was hosted by honorary celebrity chair Arnold Palmer and honorary chairs Elsie and Henry Hillman and featured Broadway performer Liza Minnelli. Other evening highlights included aerial acrobatic artists and entertainment that mirrored the four seasons, signifying hope for cancer patients now and in the future.

Other longtime contributors to the Hillman Cancer Center who joined Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) President Jeffrey Romoff in supporting the event were University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) Council Chair Sy Holzer of PNC Financial Services Group; and general chairs of the event, Sharon and Jim Rohr and Sandra and Tom Usher. Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers acted as the Pittsburgh-Ireland Ambassador for the event, leading the effort to highlight UPMC Cancer Centers’ first international cancer facility under construction in Ireland. Corporations offering support included Wheeler Brothers, Inc., Highmark Corporation, and PNC Financial Services Group. Presenting sponsors were PNC and UPMC. The event was held at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

World-renowned for innovative approaches to cancer prevention, detection, and diagnosis, the Hillman Cancer Center is the flagship facility for both UPCI and the UPMC Cancer Centers—a network of 43 office-based medical oncology practices and regional cancer centers throughout Western Pennsylvania.