Thomas Legacy Society

Thomas Legacy Society logo

Leave a Lifesaving Legacy

The Thomas Legacy Society at Fred Hutch is a special group of supporters who have made a commitment through a gift in their will, trust or other planned gift to drive lifesaving cancer research and improve the lives of patients in the years to come.

As a member of the Thomas Legacy Society, you take your place at the forefront of cancer research with luminaries like Dr. E. Donnall Thomas and Dottie Thomas, the Society’s namesakes. Don Thomas developed bone marrow transplantation as a cure for leukemia, an achievement that earned him a Nobel Prize. Through a gift in their estate, Don and Dottie left a legacy not only of lifesaving scientific discoveries, but also of their spirit of generosity.

Your legacy gift is one of the most significant gifts you can make. Your support will make a difference in the lives of those fighting cancer and related diseases for many years to come. 

50K

patients receive blood stem cell transplants each year

More than 50,000 patients worldwide receive blood stem cell transplants annually, all tracing back to Don Thomas’ pioneering work.

600

individuals have included Fred Hutch in their estate plans

More than 600 individuals have made a commitment to eliminating cancer by including Fred Hutch in their estate plans.

65

years old is the average age when a donor joins the Society

You can join the Thomas Legacy Society at any age! Members range in age from 29 to 106.

$10M

in planned gifts helped fund the Hutch’s research in 2018

Thanks to the foresight of our generous donors, planned gifts contributed $10 million to Fred Hutch’s lifesaving research in 2018.

Don and Dottie Thomas

Don and Dottie left a legacy not only of lifesaving scientific discoveries but also of their spirit of generosity. They established a charitable trust that paid them income and then benefitted Fred Hutch at their passing. Other gifts established “Dottie’s Bridge,” an endowment designed to help promising researchers bridge the gap between the end of their fellowships and their first federal grant awards. With these gifts, the Thomases continue to propel innovative research and improve patient care, far into the future.
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Our Supporters

Meet all our supporters

Thomas Legacy Society members feel deeply that cancer must be stopped. They are devoted to inspiring our world-renowned scientists and powering the groundbreaking research that will create new insights and treatments, translate discoveries into cures and transform the lives of millions. Here are stories of people like you who are committed to curing cancer.

 

Anne Jannetti and David Strong at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center..

Fighting Back Strong

After his battle with cancer, David Strong realized what’s truly important in life, and today he’s living in gratitude — and showing it with a legacy gift to Fred Hutch.

Dr. Lora-Ellen McKinney.

A Lifelong Trailblazer

As a volunteer member of Fred Hutch’s Institutional Review Board, Dr. Lora-Ellen McKinney knows that innovation leads to hope and requires philanthropic support. That’s why she included a gift to the Hutch in her will.

Lynn Lippert and Sal Jepson.

A Steadfast Commitment to Curing Cancer

When Lynn Lippert received her second breast cancer diagnosis, she and her wife, Sal Jepson, participated in Fred Hutch’s Climb to Fight Cancer. Following her third diagnosis and the loss of her brother to prostate cancer, the couple included Fred Hutch in their estate plan.

Benefits

If you decide to leave your legacy with Fred Hutch, please tell us about your generous gift. We will show our appreciation for your philanthropic vision by welcoming you into the Thomas Legacy Society, where you’ll receive the following benefits:

  • The option to have your name included on the Thomas Legacy Society wall at Fred Hutch. (If you prefer to remain anonymous, we will respect your wishes.)
  • An exclusive invitation to the annual Thomas Legacy Society luncheon and other events.
  • A personal tour of the Fred Hutch campus.
  • Regular Fred Hutch updates that include the latest campus news and sneak peeks at upcoming events.
  • The peace of mind and satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference in the lives of those fighting cancer and related diseases for years to come.

Please note that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, not all in-person benefits are possible. 

Have a question about creating your legacy with Fred Hutch?

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Last Modified, May 28, 2021