A $1 million pledge made in honor of the late Jeffrey Barbour will help establish an endowed chair in his memory at Akron Children’s Hospital’s Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders.
When Jeffrey Barbour was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, he made sure Akron Children’s Hospital was the beneficiary of his will and living trust before he passed away in 2012. Now, a $1 million pledge will help ensure his legacy continues by establishing an endowed chair in his memory at Akron Children’s Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders.
“Although Jeff didn’t have children himself, he loved children and admired the work of our care providers at Akron Children’s. So it is fitting that his memory will live on by helping children be healthier and happier,” said Shelly Brown, vice president of development at Akron Children’s. “We are deeply grateful to him and his family for their vision and generosity.”
The Jeffrey A. Barbour Chair for Pediatric Hematology Oncology Research and Healing will help support compassionate care for children with cancer and blood disorders and help advance the center’s research. It will be held by Dr. Steven Kuerbitz, pediatric hematologist-oncologist and director of Divisional Research, Stem Cell Transplant Program and the Shannon E. Wilkes Targeted Therapy Program.
Dr. Steven Kuerbitz, pediatric hematologist-oncologist and director of Divisional Research, Stem Cell Transplant Program and the Shannon E. Wilkes Targeted Therapy Program was named to the Jeffrey A. Barbour Chair for Pediatric Hematology Oncology Research and Healing.
It’s the center’s second endowed chair. The first, established in 2018, recognizes the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Hord, director of the division of hematology-oncology, pediatric hematologist-oncologist and chairholder of the LOPen Charities and Mawaka Family Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
“The support of generous foundations, corporations and individuals is absolutely essential to provide world-class care and support to the children and families of our region battling cancer and blood disorders,” said Dr. Hord. “This new significant commitment from the Barbour family will allow us to continue to provide exceptional care to children facing cancer and blood disorders far into the future.”
Barbour’s presence will be felt across the entire organization. In addition to the endowed chair, a floor in Akron Children’s new Timken Foundation Building, Akron Children’s Health Center, North Canton, will be named in Jeffrey’s memory.
To learn more about philanthropic opportunities in pediatric hematology/oncology, contact Brian Hollingsworth at 330-543-8340 or bhollingsworth@akronchildrens.org.
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