$5M donation boosts Ford, MSU health initiative
Metro Detroit philanthropists Ron and Heather Boji have announced a $ 5 million dollar donation for a health science center that houses Henry Ford Hospital and Michigan State University.
The donation will fund the Health Sciences Center for the joint research work, a building that will serve as the “epicenter” of the discovery and innovation initiative, according to MSU President and physician Samuel L. Stanley.
Wright Lassiter, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, said the initiative is intended to be a catalyst for change in health care.
“Together our organizations have the collective knowledge, skills and drive to begin a new era of medical education and research excellence that will change how people receive and experience care, “said Lassiter.
The donation from Bojis marks the partnership’s first major philanthropic commitment. For Ron Boji, president and CEO of the Boji Group, and an MSU alumnus and board member of the Henry Ford Foundation, the donation is personal.
“The exceptional care and compassion of Henry Ford Health helped my father recover from a stroke, and MSU provided me with the foundation that helped build the Boji Group with my father,” Boji said. . “Heather and I are so happy that two of our daughters have decided to go to college there as well, one as a student in the same construction management program I graduated from.”
While planning begins, the initiative’s research building will be built on Henry Ford Health’s Detroit campus with plans to be completed by 2025. The building will serve as a site for the consolidation of Henry Ford Health and MSU’s research activities.
“The growth and discovery that comes from our two participating organizations will impact academic and clinical opportunities and serve as a model for the entire country,” Stanley said. “Our new joint facility is central to this work, and Boji’s gift is the first step in making this a reality.”
The partnership also includes plans for a cancer program that will give patients access to the most advanced therapies and treatments, and an expansion of educational opportunities for health care professionals. health.
“The generosity of the Boji family and their love for both organizations sets an inspiring example of how our generous donors accelerate change,” said Mary Jane Vogt, executive vice president and chief development officer at Henry Ford Health.
