A gift of hope and healing: Bill McDaniels Foundation makes $1 million commitment, accelerating children’s cancer initiatives at Prisma Health
The Bill McDaniels Foundation has pledged $1 million in broad support for children’s cancer care at Prisma Health. The extraordinary commitment marks the first major announcement for the foundation, recently established by longtime local philanthropist and automotive group owner, Bill McDaniels.
McDaniels made the announcement today at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital—Midlands.
“I want the families who are facing cancer to know that we see you. We want you to know that you are never alone,” McDaniels said.
The establishment of the Bill McDaniels Foundation is the latest philanthropic endeavor for McDaniels, who has long devoted himself to advancing cancer care in the Midlands. The mission of the new foundation is to fund life-saving treatment for children battling cancer and to walk alongside families during their journey.
Today’s commitment brings McDaniels’ total giving to Prisma Health Midlands Foundation to more than $1.8 million. In recognition of his significant giving and tireless service to Prisma Health Midlands Foundation (then Palmetto Health Foundation), McDaniels was named a Foundation Fellow in 2015. In 2020, McDaniels was instrumental in funding a new neonatal/pediatric critical care ambulance for Prisma Health Children’s Hospital. He also generously supports cancer initiatives throughout the community.
“Our team has worked closely with the Bill McDaniels Foundation Board – including Bill, Suzanne Pucci, Tracey McDaniels-Miller, Rob McDaniels and others. They have a standard of excellence and are driven by compassion. We are honored for this place, where life-saving care is provided and where those same values are held so closely, to bear the McDaniels name,” said Jeff Faw, executive director for Prisma Health Midlands Foundation.
The pledge to Prisma Health Midlands Foundation will primarily fund the expansion of the radiation oncology suite, a treatment area that is located on Prisma Health Children’s Hospital’s campus and provides care for children and adults. The state-of-the-art suite includes a waiting room, exam rooms, dressing rooms, linear accelerator and CT imaging.
“We are extremely grateful to the Bill McDaniels Foundation for this gift, which will support life-saving treatment for children and young adults with cancer,” said Dr. Julian Kim, president of the Prisma Health Cancer Institute. “We are excited to partner with Bill and Suzanne to make their vision become a high-impact reality for the citizens of the Midlands community for years to come.”
In honor of the Bill McDaniels Foundation’s commitment, the suite will be named the Bill McDaniels Foundation Radiation Oncology Suite at a future date.
In addition to supporting radiation oncology, the gift includes a provision for CAMP KEMO Programs and children’s cancer research. CAMP KEMO Programs, an umbrella of year-round activities led by dedicated staff of Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, provides year-round fun, educational and therapeutic opportunities for children with cancer and blood disorders and their families. Its flagship weeklong camp, CAMP KEMO, will host 115 children and teens next month at Camp Cole.
A portion of the Bill McDaniels Foundation’s gift will support Killian’s Hope for a United South Carolina, the children’s cancer research endowment established at Prisma Health Midlands Foundation last year by Curing Kids Cancer. Dr. Stuart L. Cramer, Aflac Medical Director, Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital is leading that effort in partnership with USC College of Pharmacy.
Prisma Health operates two of the three children’s hospitals in the state that provide care for children with cancer, providing care for a significant percentage of the estimated 200 children and teens in SC diagnosed with cancer annually.
About Prisma Health Midlands Foundation
Prisma Health Midlands Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, engages community partners to enhance health care for patients and families served by Prisma Health in the Midlands. For more information, visit PrismaHealthMidlandsFoundation.org.
About Prisma Health
Recognized as one of “America’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fortune, Prisma Health is a private nonprofit health company with over 32,000 team members, 19 acute and specialty hospitals, 3,131 licensed beds, 320 practice sites, and more than 5,900 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Each year, Prisma Health serves more than 1.6 million patients in South Carolina and Tennessee. Connect with Prisma Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X and TikTok. Visit PrismaHealth.org.