Baxter Foundation celebrates 50 years of philanthropy
Photo/Jon Nalick
The Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary at a reception on April 27 held in the Harlyne J. Norris Cancer Research Tower’s Aresty Conference Center Atrium. The foundation, which was established by Delia Baxter to honor her husband Donald, made its first grant of $6,000 in 1959 to USC.
In recognition of the extraordinary contributions of the foundation to the faculty and students of the Keck School of Medicine, Dean Carmen A. Puliafito and M. Elizabeth Fini, vice dean for research, unveiled the new name of the lower ground floor of the Harlyne J. Norris Cancer Research Tower—the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation Floor.
In a letter to the foundation’s trustees, USC President Steven B. Sample expressed his profound gratitude for the foundation’s generosity and commitment. “With gifts in excess of $10 million, your family has demonstrated its unwavering confidence in the school, its faculty and students,” he stated. “Your family has had and will continue to have an extraordinary effect on the Keck School, medical education, research and human health around the globe.” Puliafito presented the letter to the trustees, along with a letter from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Through the Baxter Junior Faculty Fellowship Program and the Baxter Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship Program, the foundation has provided 25 faculty members and more than 600 medical students with resources to pursue cutting edge research.
Jonah Chan, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and a 2007 Baxter Fellow, spoke to the trustees and guests about the common goals of the foundation and the Keck School’s faculty and students. “We are all here today because we all share in the same vision—to make a difference and really contribute something special to humanity by minimizing human suffering,” said Chan. “All of us gathered here are striving to do this, and it is only through your generosity, contributions and commitment to scientific research that we can make substantial progress.”
Foundation trustee Donald Haake offered his thanks to the university administration, faculty and students. “The truth is we are very honored and feel fortunate to be able to support each and every one of you and the research that you do,” he said. “The things you do make the world a better place.”
The Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation supports educational and scientific institutions for research and development of medicine, instruments and fluids for alleviating pain and protecting and prolonging human life.
