Bill Johnson, president of the Lakeland Health Foundations, announced that the Frederick S. Upton Foundation has approved a $400,000 grant for the new Lakeland Comprehensive Cancer Care Center. This donation will be the first in the capital campaign for the Lakeland Comprehensive Cancer Care Center.

Since its creation in 1954, the Frederick S. Upton Foundation has worked to enhance the health of the community through such initiatives as the Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services in Royalton Township, St. Joseph, and the Frederick S. Upton Education Center at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. Most recently, the Frederick S. Upton Foundation contributed $500,000 to the inpatient addition at the St. Joseph hospital, a gift that was used to provide retreat areas for patients’ family members.

“From the time my father was Lakeland’s first chairman of the board, our family has had close ties to health care in our community,” said Steve Upton, son of Frederick S. Upton and president of the board for the Frederick S. Upton Foundation. “The new cancer center is a good opportunity for us to give back.”

The Lakeland Comprehensive Cancer Care Center, to be located at the Lakeland Health Park in Royalton Township, St. Joseph, will provide a number of key oncology services in one accessible location, including chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, education and screenings, and an on-site boutique and appearance center for current and former cancer patients. The Lakeland Comprehensive Cancer Care Center will be a two-story, 30,000 square-foot building that will connect to the existing Center for Outpatient Services. Similar to the new inpatient addition at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph the cancer center will incorporate evidence-based design principles to enhance clinical outcomes and the patient experience.

“We appreciate the generous financial support, community leadership, and genuine friendship that the Frederick S. Upton Foundation has offered to Lakeland HealthCare over the years,” Johnson said. “The Upton family’s commitment to quality health services continues to make a difference for the people of southwest Michigan.”

Lakeland is scheduled to break ground for the new cancer center on Thursday, April 22, at the Lakeland Health Park, with a projected opening date in the fall of 2011. For more information about supporting the Lakeland Comprehensive Cancer Care Center, contact the Lakeland Health Foundation at (269) 927-5143.

Further details on the progress of the Lakeland Cancer Care Center will be released in the coming weeks. For more information about oncology services available at Lakeland HealthCare, visit www.lakelandhealth.org/cancer.