Thursday, June 23, 2011

Philanthropy Today:Keck Foundation Key to USC Medicine

The vast complex of institutions comprising the USC medical enterprise is to be renamed Keck Medicine of USC in recognition of its major benefactor,the W.M. Keck Foundation.The foundation,established in 1954 by oil magnate William Myron Keck,funds science,engineering,medical research and undergraduate education,as well as community service projects and programs in Southern California.
The Keck Foundation has just made a 150 million dollar gift to the USC medical enterprise,which comprises two private hospitals,a doctor group,medical school and several research institutes,as well as community outreach programs.The USC Norris Cancer Center Hospital will retain its current name,but many of the other constituents of the medical enterprise will have the Keck name applied to them.
USC President C.L. Max Nikias described the new gift as a catalyst for dramatic discoveries and developments in medical research,teaching and patient care.It is helping USC's academic medical center take a momentous leap forward in its efforts to improve and advance the human condition.
USC's Keck School of Medicine had previously recieved a 110 million dollar gift from the Keck Foundation in 1999.Robert Day,CEO of the 1.2 billion dollar foundation,said the new gift reflects their commitment to bringing cutting edge science,medicine and engineering together to find new and better ways forward.
William Myron Keck,who created the foundation bearing his name,was founder of the leading U.S. independent oil producer,Superior Oil Company,which operated from 1921-84.It was eventually absorbed into Exxon Mobil.
Exxon Mobil(XOM)

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