Shands receives $1 million for new cancer hospital

December 8, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Clark Butler and Deborah Butler of Butler Enterprises today presented a gift of $1 million to support construction and development of the Shands at the University of Florida Cancer Hospital.

The presentation follows an Oct. 4 announcement by Shands HealthCare and the UF Health Science Center that the cancer hospital will be located on Southwest Archer Road, across from the Shands at UF medical center campus. Construction of the 200-bed facility will begin in 2006 and should be completed in 2009.

“Clark and Deborah Butler have been great supporters of the University of Florida for many years,” said UF President Bernie Machen, who serves as chairman of the Shands HealthCare Board of Directors. “This latest gift is a welcome addition to UF’s new university-wide capital campaign as well as to one of the campaign’s top priorities – the construction of a new cancer hospital.”

Shands HealthCare CEO Tim Goldfarb said, “The Butlers are long-time Gainesville residents and their generous gift reflects their ongoing commitment to the community.”

Clark Butler is president of Butler Enterprises, a Gainesville-based land-development and property-management company. His daughter, Deborah Butler, is vice president and general manager of the organization. The Butlers have made numerous philanthropic contributions over the past 25 years.

Clark Butler was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996 and turned to UF College of Medicine faculty physicians and Shands at UF for his medical care.

“As a result of excellent treatment I have recovered and have been able to work full-time for the last nine years,” Butler said. “After seeing hundreds of other patients also receive wonderful care at Shands, I thought it would be fitting for Deborah and me to donate $1 million to spearhead the beginning of the financial drive to build the new cancer hospital.”

Deborah Butler said, “It’s hard to explain what a scary experience it is when your loved one is facing cancer. We’re so thankful we had access to phenomenal, quality care. I have my Dad here today thanks to Shands and UF.”

“We sincerely hope the Butlers’ contribution will be a catalyst for the additional philanthropic support required for this exciting endeavor,” Goldfarb added. “UF and Shands together are national leaders in research and patient care. With continued philanthropic support, such as the lead gift of the Butlers, we can make much more rapid progress toward finding a cure for cancer and enhancing the treatment alternatives available to patients with cancer.”