Bears President Warren, Wife Donate $1M To Lurie Children's Hospital

LAKE FOREST, IL — A charitable foundation run by Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren and his wife will donate $1 million to Lurie Children’s Hospital to help ease the financial burden faced by families of children dealing with health issues such as cancer and blood disorders, the Bears announced on Friday.

The Kevin and Greta Family Foundation will make the sizable donation to the Chicago hospital’s Center For Cancer and Blood Disorders. The team said in a news release that a significant portion of the donation will be allocated to initiatives that directly assist families in managing the logistical and financial burdens associated with their child's treatment.

The gift will aim to alleviate the day-to-day financial challenges, so that families and caregivers can devote their attention to their child’s care, the team said.

“Families dealing with a cancer or a serious blood disease diagnosis for their child will always need support to ease the severe financial burdens. Our family looks forward to a long-term and collaborative relationship between Lurie Children’s and the Warren Family Foundation,” the Warrens said in a statement released by the Bears. “The city of Chicago is our home and we are committed to making this incredible city a better place for children and families fighting the challenges of childhood cancer and other serious illness. We are grateful to God for Lurie Children’s.”

Warren told reporters at a news conference on Friday that his desire to help local families comes after he spent months in an Arizona hospital in 1974 after being hit by a car as an 11-year-old boy while riding his bike. He spent months in traction and says he was “fortunate” to go through that experience, which provided him with a perspective that he now carries with him in wanting to help lighten the financial load of families whose children are at Lurie’s facing their own health challenges.

"We love Chicago — this is the greatest city on the planet," Warren told reporters at a news conference. "The opportunity to help children, to help families, which is critically important to us."

He added: "I know what first-class medical care to change someone's life for the better."

Greta Warren added: "Whatever we can provide to soften the blow on any level, we're in."

The gift honors Kevin Warren's late sister, Carolyn Elaine Warren-Knox, who died from brain cancer in 2014. Before her death, she asked her brother to help families of cancer patients in any way he could.

The donation will play a crucial role in expanding resources for transportation assistance, accommodations, and other day-to-day needs, allowing families to focus on what matters most – the well-being of their child, officials said.

Lurie Children's, renowned for its excellence in pediatric care, will leverage this contribution to strengthen its commitment to holistic support for families throughout their journey with cancer.

"We believe that by addressing the practical challenges faced by families with children diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder such as sickle cell that we can make a meaningful impact on the overall well-being of patients. This donation reflects our dedication to ensuring that no family faces these hurdles alone," Susan Ruohonen, senior director of family services said in the release.

Hospital officials said that the gift will further Lurie Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders commitment to care for each patient’s physical, emotional and social needs in a kid-friendly environment. The Center believes in family-centered care, involving the whole family in a treatment plan.

“The gift underscores our collective recognition of the need to support our families so that we can make an impact not only on medical outcomes but also on quality of life for children and their loved ones affected by cancer and serious blood disorders,” said Dr. Robert Liem, the hospital’s head of the division of hematology.