5 Million Dollars Gift Names USC Norris Cancer Center's Day Hospital

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 25 Mar 2008 - 1:00 PST

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A philanthropist, businessman and long-time supporter of USC's cancer treatment initiatives, Larry Freeman has donated $5 million to the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Keck School of Medicine Dean Carmen Puliafito made the announcement March 13.

The gift will name the Judy and Larry Freeman Cancer Day Hospital, an outpatient facility currently located on the first floor of the USC/ Norris Cancer Hospital.

"The core of the USC/Norris Cancer Center and cancer care at USC has always been extraordinary philanthropy," Puliafito said at the USC/ Norris Advisory Board Meeting where the gift was announced. "We at USC are deeply grateful, and I can't wait until we see the Freeman name outside the building."

Freeman is founder and CEO of Freeman Cosmetic Corporation and has served on the advisory board for the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center since 1991. His and his wife's reasons for making the gift were extraordinarily personal, he explained.

"I have a son who is alive today in part due to some of the work done here at USC," Freeman said. "It is a debt that I can never repay." "This is a very special place made up of very special people," he said.

The Freemans, along with their daughter Jill and son Mark, have been major supporters of USC's cancer programs for almost two decades, since they established the Freeman Aces Cancer Tennis Tournament, which has raised more than $1 million.

In addition, the family made a $1.5 million gift to establish the Judy and Larry Freeman Chair in Basic Science Research, currently held by Amy Shiu Lee.

Freeman also is involved with the Sportsman Club, the Union Rescue Mission, the National Jewish Hospital of Denver and the Skin Cancer Institute. He earned a "100 Points of Light" commendation from former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.

University of Southern California