(OKLAHOMA CITY) — The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation today announced it had raised more than half of the $100 million goal of the campaign. Launched on November 10, 1999, OMRF’s “For the Future of Medical Research” campaign seeks to raise $100 million over the next five years for endowment needs and capital improvements. As of July 1, 2000, OMRF had raised $53,299,380 towards this goal.
“We are delighted with the progress of the campaign,” said OMRF president J. Donald Capra, M.D. “Raising $53 million in eight months is quite a feat, and we are grateful to our many donors who have contributed to the campaign.”
Two of the major gifts the campaign has received include a $500,000 challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation, given in January, and $500,000 from the Sarkeys Foundation, given in June.
Chairman of the “For the Future of Medical Research” campaign is H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt, chairman of BancFirst Corporation and prominent civic leader and philanthropist. OMRF’s Chairman of the Board of Directors is David R. Brown, M.D., Oklahoma City. The campaign committee includes Sharon Bell, partner in Rogers and Bell law firm of Tulsa; Len Cason, partner in Hartzog Conger and Cason of Oklahoma City; Michael A. Cawley, president and CEO of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation of Ardmore; and Brooks (Boots) Hall, Jr., chairman of Fred Jones Automotive Group of Oklahoma City.
Chartered in 1946, OMRF is a private, non-profit biomedical research institution which employs over 400 scientists, physicians, technicians, and administrative and support personnel, including Oklahoma’s only two Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. OMRF focuses on several critical areas of research: Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, stroke, AIDS, children’s diseases and genetic disorders.
