Community Challenge
Gift on Kaua‘i
For centuries, couples have marked their years of marriage
with specific gifts. After 15 years, tradition dictates a crystal
present, the 25th has earned you silver and 50 years together
calls for gold. Instead of buying a diamond for their 60th
anniversary Ken and Betsy Greenbaum are choosing to
donate $60,000 to Wilcox Medical Center.
“We have used the hospital on several
“It currently takes 24 to 48 hours to get
occasions and found it to be a wonderful irradiated blood to Wilcox and it has
institution,” Ken said. “We also believe
a very short shelf life,” said Jen Chaha-
the community has been good to us, so
novich, chief executive officer at Wilcox.
in any way we can return that kindness
“Bringing this lifesaving technology
to the community, we’d like to do that.”
to Kaua‘i will allow our patients to
be with their families during these
The Greenbaums hope their contribu-
difficult diagnoses.”
tion will inspire more giving. They are
asking their friends and neighbors to
The cause is personal for Ken. He lost
give to Wilcox as well.
his brother to cancer and is passionate
about making sure the best possible
“It takes a caring community to make
medical care is available to those who
sure the hospital succeeds,” Ken said.
need it when they need it. He and his
wife built a retail furniture business,
The goal is to support cancer care at
Greenbaum Home Furnishings, on
Wilcox as well as fund a blood irradiator, strong family values. Now four children,
a piece of equipment critical for trauma
13 grandchildren and three great-grand-
and cancer patients’ recovery. Irradiated
children later they are celebrating, as
blood is treated with radiation to elim-
they call it, “60 years of togetherness”
inate white blood cells in the donated
by giving back.
blood. This is necessary to avoid a
rare but serious complication called
“Kaua‘i captured our hearts,” said Ken.
transfusion-associated graft-versus-host- “As we age, we are all concerned with
disease or TA-GVHD, this is when white
our health. It’s nice to have a place
blood cells in the donor’s blood attack
where you can go and you know you
the recipient’s system. TA-GVHD can
will be taken care of like Wilcox.”
cause illness or death.
Make a donation
If you would like to be a part
of this community challenge
gift, you may use the envelope
provided in this publication.
Please note “challenge gift”
next to the box listed for
Wilcox Health Foundation.
Pictured above: Greenbaum Family, from
left to right; children Cindy, Jon and Steve
with parents Ken and Betsy.
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