M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Kim’s Fund at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Kim funded what is known as “Kim’s Fund” while she was a patient at M. D. Anderson. It was her idea and her initiative. It was organized, in approximately equal parts, to fund research in the field of leukemia and to provide financial assistance to needy patients undergoing treatment for leukemia. Kim’s Fund was, and is, administered by the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The Fund grew during Kim’s fight against leukemia and the effects of the treatment until her death in November of 2000. Subsequently, a formal funding and endowment agreement was reached between her husband, Brian Murphy, her parents, John and Nora Patterson, and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
A number of fund-raising events have been held both before and after Kim’s death. It became apparent through discussions with the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center that an entity affiliated with the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center was needed to organize and support these fund-raising and educational activities. This led to the formation of The Kimberly Patterson Murphy Leukemia Research Fund, Inc. in 2002 as a Florida corporation not for profit. It is recognized as a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Supported by Kim’s family, this corporation allows all contributions to Kim’s Fund at M.D. Anderson to be used exclusively for cancer research and patient assistance.
Kim, Marni and Molly at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
At present, approximately 900 people and organizations have contributed to Kim’s Fund. Total contributions were almost $750,000 as of January, 2017. All contributions are tax deductible. One hundred percent of all funds raised to date have gone directly to patient assistance and cancer research.
The patient assistance portions of Kim’s Fund have been used to help those with special financial needs while in treatment at M. D. Anderson. Housing is one of the primary needs both for patients and the family caregivers that must be with them for extended stays for therapy and recovery. Assistance has been provided to patients from throughout the country. The expenditure of these funds is directed by the heads of the social services department at M. D. Anderson.
The research portions of Kim’s Fund are applied in various ways. A number of research fellowships have been awarded. These fellowships are based on competitive applications that are reviewed by the senior research staff at M. D. Anderson. Also, funds have been applied to matching grants from the National Cancer Center for targeted research in leukemia.
Cancer remains one of our foremost killers and certainly one of the most dreaded diseases. Kim’s Fund is dedicated to helping to achieve a cure for cancer and assisting those in need at the nation’s foremost comprehensive center for cancer research and treatment.
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