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When its founders dreamed of creating a Center for Women's Health Research, they confronted these realities: it would be a start-up; today's fundraising climate is intensely competitive; and an investment in research is an investment in the future.
That is why the Center's early investors-from the smallest to the largest donors-are visionaries. They are people with foresight, imagination, and a passion for building something new and lasting that will improve women's health and save lives.
They Are
More than 1,800 supporters, hundreds of whom have made contributions, and The Colorado Trust, the School of Medicine and Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado, the Fitzsimmons Redevelopment Authority, and Jacqueline's Gift to future generations of women.
JoAnn Lindenfeld, MD, Associate Director,
Judith Regensteiner, PhD, Director of the Center,
Karen Leaffer, Steven Leaffer |
Jacqueline's Gift
The Center for Women's Health Research is privileged to be the recipient of Jacqueline's Gift of $300,000, made by her parents, Karen and Steven Leaffer, of Denver. This is why the Leaffer family decided to honor the life of their infant daughter, Jacqueline Marie Leaffer, with a gift to the Center.
Video of Karen Leaffer telling their story.>>
The Leaffers joyously were anticipating the birth of twins-a girl and a boy, when late in her pregnancy Karen developed a rare condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy. Little is known about this type of cardiomyopathy, a disease that cannot be predicted or prevented and whose symptoms can be mistaken for typical symptoms of pregnancy. Untreated it can lead to congestive heart failure and death. Thirty-one weeks into her pregnancy Karen was admitted to the hospital in the final stages of congestive heart failure. She underwent an emergency Caesarean section. Karen and their infant son, Jacob, survived, but 11 days later Jacqueline died. In the Leaffers' commitment to ensure Jacqueline's life "was not a life unrealized" they decided systemic change was needed in women's health research and the most lasting way to honor Jacqueline was to address that need. As Karen has explained, 
"We found a partner in the Center for Women's Health Research. We decided to give ALL of the resources we had set aside to build Jacqueline's life to the Center-her college fund, her wedding fund, her safety net-because we believe the work of this Center can help shape the future of women's health care. Jacqueline's Gift is the gift of our daughter to future generations of women."
The Leaffers' story was so profound that the Center's Steering Committee matched Jacqueline's Gift dollar-for-dollar with 100% participation by its members.
Fundraising is under way to create two Endowed Chairs in Women's Health Research at the $1.5-to-$2 million level, a $10 million Center for Women's Health Research Program Endowment, and a state-of-the-art research facility at the University of Colorado Denver's new 21st century Anschutz Medical Campus.
You Can Help Change the Future of Women's Health!
Please Donate Today. |