Hofmann Family Gifts $25M To John Muir Health Campaign To Cure Cancer

WALNUT CREEK, CA — The Hofmann Family Foundation made an extraordinary commitment of $25 million to John Muir Health’s Campaign to Conquer Cancer, John Muir Health announced Nov. 7.

The donation, which is the largest ever received by John Muir Health, will establish the "UCSF-John Muir Health Jean and Ken Hofmann Cancer Center" and propel advancements in cancer care, clinical trials, research and support services in designated locations of the UCSF-John Muir Health Cancer Network.

The hub of this Cancer Network is situated within the Behring Pavilion at John Muir Health Medical Center in Walnut Creek and will offer innovative, compassionate and comprehensive patient-centered cancer care provided by top cancer specialists who are teaming up for patients in the East Bay and surrounding areas.

"With cutting-edge treatments, multidisciplinary care teams, and a commitment to research, the Jean and Ken Hofmann Cancer Center will redefine the standard of cancer care in our local communities," John Muir Health's Communications Chief Ben Drew said in the news release.

The center represents the most recent UCSF Health and John Muir Health cancer care collaboration and will be the central hub for the UCSF-John Muir Health Cancer Network. The facility will be committed to delivering comprehensive cancer care, fostering research and offering compassionate support services. The Jean and Ken Hofmann Cancer Center will prioritize a patient-centered approach, incorporating the latest treatments, technology and advances in supportive care.

"We are honored to be part of this groundbreaking endeavor in the fight against cancer," said Lisa Hofmann Morgan, lifetime director of the Hofmann Family Foundation. "In naming the Cancer Center after our father and mother (a three-time cancer survivor), our wish is to inspire hope and resilience in every patient and family who entrusts their cancer care to UCSF Health and John Muir Health. Our gift is a testament to our belief in the power of collaborative efforts to make a lasting impact."

The official naming celebration will be marked in February when the UCSF-John Muir Health Jean and Ken Hofmann Cancer Center opens, which will coincide with the opening of the Behring Pavilion. In September, John Muir Health announced a $20 million donation from the Behring Global Educational Foundation to fund the Behring Pavilion. The founder of Behring Global, the late Kenneth E. Behring, was a successful businessman, investor and philanthropist who previously owned the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team and developed the Blackhawk and Canyon Lakes communities in the San Ramon Valley. At the time, it was the single-largest donation in the history of John Muir Health.

Mike Thomas, president and CEO of John Muir Health expressed his gratitude.

"We are immensely grateful to the Hofmann Family Foundation for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to advancing cancer care," Thomas said. "Their transformative gift will allow us to create a center of excellence where patients receive exceptional care, groundbreaking research thrives, and a sense of optimism pervades everyone affected by cancer."

The Hofmann Family Foundation has a longstanding commitment not only to improving healthcare outcomes but also to supporting communities in need. Its philanthropic contributions have made significant impacts on various sectors including health care, social services, community development and education.

In 2013, the late Ken Hofmann, a Lafayette resident, partnered with the De La Salle Christian Brothers to start a new school in Concord’s Monument Corridor. Through the vision and generosity of Ken Hofmann, the Hofmann Family Foundation agreed to sponsor the initial five years of a school for fifth- through eighth-grade boys at De La Salle Academy.

Hofmann, who died in 2018 at the age of 95, is also remembered for donating 100 acres to build the Concord Pavilion and for a $10 million donation to the cardiac high-rise building at John Muir Medical Center Concord.

Hofmann was an East Bay native who became a licensed building contractor and founded the Hofmann Company in 1957 in Concord. He was a real estate developer whose company built Discovery Bay and thousands of homes and apartments. Additionally, he was an owner of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team in partnership with Ken Behring from 1988-1997, and an owner of the Oakland A's in partnership with Stephen Scott from 1995-2005.

In 1986, the California Homebuilding Foundation named him to its Hall of Fame.

It is in this spirit that the Hofmann Family Foundation continues to work to improve the well-being of people and their communities through strategic investments and partnerships. The Hofmann family's philanthropy is driven by his legacy and their continuing belief in the power of innovation, collaboration and compassion.