The Peter Kiewit Foundation has agreed to provide $500,000 in matching grants during tomorrow night’s Ambassador of Hope Gala at Omaha’s Qwest Center.
Proceeds from the gala help fund research at UNMC’s Eppley Cancer Center.
“This agreement is incredibly important for research at the Eppley Cancer Center,” said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., the cancer center’s director. “Having this support enables us to go to the community to encourage more philanthropy for research at the cancer center. These types of funding are especially important at these times when federal funding for cancer research is becoming quite tight.”
The gala will feature legendary newsman, Tom Brokaw, who is being presented the Ambassador of Hope Award for his contributions in the fight against cancer.
Brokaw came to national prominence as the anchor of the “NBC Nightly News” from 1983 to 2004. The program was consistently the highest-rated evening news show during his tenure.
Brokaw got his start in broadcast journalism while working at Omaha television station, KMTV, from 1962 to 1965.
The gala, including a speech by Brokaw, will be broadcast live to Sidney, Lexington and Norfolk, as each of these communities host satellite fundraisers for the Eppley Cancer Center.
The Peter Kiewit Foundation has offered the grants because its trustees believe in the work Dr. Cowan and his colleagues at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center are doing, said Lyn Ziegenbein, executive director of the foundation.
“Our trustees have confidence in the work being accomplished at the Eppley Cancer Center and recognize the potential it holds,” Ziegenbein said. “They are proud to fund this special challenge, which will generate many more gifts in support of cancer research.”