CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It is the largest gift ever given to Carolinas HeathCare System; the Leon Levine Foundation gave a $25 million donation to greatly expand the Levine Cancer Institute Wednesday.
Leon Levine says it was an easy decision because of all the people who have personally told him how much the Cancer Institute has done for their families over the years it has been in existence.
"This is something that was needed and the people that have talked to us are so grateful. This is something they can do in Charlotte and receive the very best care in the country." Levine said. "We have world-class people here. It's a great feeling. It's just fortunate that I'm able to do it. If it hadn't been for my career at Family Dollar, I wouldn't have been able to do it. I really enjoy both my careers."
Wife Sandra Levine said the donation is part of the family's hope to make the Carolinas a better place to live.
"We have given over $65 million to the hospital for projects. Our foundation actually to date has given or committed over $200 million in the Charlotte, North Carolina/South Carolina area."
The new seven-story structure will allow more cancer patients to receive treatment. Right now roughly 15,000 newly-diagnosed people come through the doors each year.
The president of the Levine Cancer Institute, Derek Raghavan, says the added building will also allow researchers to unlock cancer's beginnings and hopefully stop it before it even begins.
"What this new space will do is a series of studies where we involve microscope work, laboratory work, looking at what genes and DNA material drives cancer, presents targets that we can now attack. Chemotherapy has been around for a long time and has plateaued. Now we have targeted therapies that target cancer and stops it from growing."
In 2010, The Leon Levine Foundation committed $20 million to establish the Levine Cancer Institute. New construction is set to begin some time in 2017. To learn more visit www.carolinashealthcare.org/levine-cancer-institute.