When she was a little girl, Jane Harkins Gibson received sageadvice from her father that stays with her to this day.

“He used to tell me that people may not remember what yousaid to them—but they’ll always remember how you madethem feel,” says the current Trustee, former board memberand long-time friend and supporter of Christiana Care.

And for more than two decades, Jane has been making the people of Christiana Care and the surrounding community feel very good for many different reasons. Anardent community leader, committed activist, dedicated

fundraiser and passionate health care advocate, Jane’sdevotion to important community causes is something she shares with her husband Bob—a sense of duty theWilmington couple takes very seriously.

“To me, volunteering has never been a choice,” explains theformer DuPont Company employee who has spent much ofher retired life in support and leadership roles with diversenot-for-profit organizations such as the Wilmington FlowerMarket, The Christmas Shop Foundation, the AmericanCancer Society, Independent Living, Mom’s House and

F O C U S O N

“…people may not remember what

you said to them—but they’ll always

remember how you made them feel”

— Jane Gibson

A publication for those who contribute so generously to Christiana Care

I V I N GG

The Fund for Christiana Care .................2

Your gift impacts lives ...........3

Friends of Helen F. GrahamCancer Center ...................4

Christiana Care retirees vitalsource of support ..............5

Cyclists on a roll...................6

Ruth Shaw Junior BoardScholarship Fund ..............7

Top-notch trauma care leaves lasting impression .............8

Year-end giving tips..................9

Golfers raise $20,000 .........11

Owen’s art inspires .............12

Inside this Issue

(continued on page 10)

Winter 2005, Vol. 8 No. 2

Jane and Bob Gibson: natural sense of giving extends naturally to Christiana Care

Jane and Bob Gibson at home with their German shepherd, Henry.

F O C U S O N G I V I N G

2

he 2005-2006Fund for

Christiana Carekicked off October 11

with a reception forChristiana Care Health System’sTrustees, Board of Directors andother close friends. Since July 1, TheFund already has raised more than$375,000 for programs designed toensure our neighbors continue toreceive the very best in health care.

Formerly referred to as the annualfund, The Fund for Christiana Care is the community’s primaryopportunity to invest in the qualityof its own not-for-profit health care. Support of The Fund enablesChristiana Care to continue providingimportant programs that otherwisemay not receive necessary funding,and to provide enhancements toother key programs.

Last year’s Fund set new records fordonor generosity, raising more than$579,000 and seeing a 32 percentincrease in overall donors and anunprecedented 89 percent increasein new donors. And Christiana Careis well on its way toward exceedinglast year’s record-breaking total. The$375,000 raised to date represents a192 percent increase compared withthe same time last year.

“As we approach the community forsupport, they need to know that Christiana Care’s closest friends,Trustees and Board Members overwhelmingly support this effort,”says Carol A. Ammon,Christiana CareBoard Member whois serving as the first-ever honorarychair for The Fund.“Last year, 93 percentof Trustees madegifts to the Fundand we have set agoal of 95 percentTrustee participationthis year.”

She adds that an anonymous Trusteeprovided an additional $25,000 lastyear based on a challenge of 90 percentTrustee participation. Now, the same donor has promised a similargift if The Fund hits 95 percentTrustee participation.

“Giving to Christiana Care HealthSystem is an investment in the quality of life for people in the community, their family membersand their neighbors,” says BobLaskowski, M.D. president and chief executive officer of ChristianaCare Health System. “By supportingChristiana Care, donors enable us to offer all types of health care programs that impact the lives ofthousands of people every day.”

The Fund for Christiana Care servesan important purpose for virtually

Honorary Chair Carol A. Ammon helps kickoff The Fund for Christiana Care with openingremarks during an October 11 reception at theHotel du Pont.

From left, Jennifer Stillabower, Junior Board President-Elect DeniseSchwartz and Francis Julian and his wife, Junior Board PresidentMary Julian, enjoy the reception.

Board Members, Trustees and community at large provide yearlong financial leadership

THE FUND FOR CHRISTIA NA CAREsets the stage for continuous giving

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n Last year, 7,122 babies were born at Christiana Care; that’s an average of 19 a day. We areproud to provide the best in care for Delaware’s newestneighbors and their families.

n Our Emergency Departmenthelped 138,192 people last year.Our facility, the 17th busiest in the United States, is theDelaware facility best-preparedto handle the most extreme medical emergencies.

n The Christiana Care VisitingNurse Association made 272,837 home care visits last year. Almost 750 times a day, a VNA professional checks on a newborn baby,administers chemotherapy toa cancer patient, gives physicaltherapy to someone recoveringfrom surgery or providesassistance with daily living to an elderly patient.

n The Wilmington HospitalHealth Center continued itsimportant work of ensuringhealth care access for those less fortunate.

n The Helen F. Graham CancerCenter enjoys a growing reputa-tion for being at the forefront of treatment and research incombating the number one killerin America. The Graham Center’sMBNA-endowed Medical Director,Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., wasrecently featured on the cover ofDelaware Today as our state’s topcancer doctor.

n Our Center for Heart and VascularHealth is one of the ten fastesthospitals in the U.S. for treatingheart attacks, an event whereevery second counts. Under theleadership of Medical DirectorTimothy J. Gardner, M.D., thiscenter attracts top cardio-vascularphysicians and surgeons to combatone of Delaware’s most significanthealth issues.

all parts of our not-for-profit organization, from the NursingScholarship Fund and TraumaProgram to the Visiting NurseAssociation and WilmingtonHospital Health Center. Manydonors to The Fund designate wherethey want their gift applied. Othersask to have their contributionsdirected where it will help the most.

“So many people in our communitybenefit from our care,” addsMichele A. Schiavoni, senior vice president of External Affairs andDevelopment. “Giving to The Fundhelps provide life-saving medicalcare for our neighbors and is a greatway to reinvest in our community.”

For more information about The Fund for Christiana Care or to make a gift, please call the Office ofDevelopment at 302-327-3305, visitwww.christianacare.org or use theenclosed reply envelope. We thank youin advance for your generous support!

A NA CARE our gift impacts people’s lives each and every day

When you give to The Fund for Christiana Care, you’re making

an important statement: that you believe in our mission and

you want to make sure we fulfill it. We are very proud to be

part of the lives of Delawareans, and here are just a few examples

of the lives we impact because of your generous support:

$500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

$375,000$375,000

FUNDS RAISED TO DATE 192 percent increase

vs. last year

Y

F O C U S O N G I V I N G

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Friends of Helen F. Graham Cancer Center: allies in the fight against cancer

hen the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center first opened its doors in

the spring of 2002, it marked the beginning of a new era for cancer

care in Delaware: a state-of-the-art, comprehensive facility dedicated

to the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer.

Under the leadership of MBNA-endowed Medical Director NicholasJ. Petrelli, M.D., the Helen F. GrahamCancer Center has quickly become aleader in multidisciplinary cancercare for our community. And theneed to constantly reinvest in people, technology and treatmentinnovations is stronger than ever.

Today, many critical technology andpatient care upgrades are possiblethanks to the efforts of the Friendsof the Helen F. Graham CancerCenter. Founded in 2002 by area residents Meg Erskine, LesleyNicholson, Maureen Rhodes andAubree Wellons, the Friends are committed to helping the Helen F.Graham Cancer Center achieve its objectives through advocacy,volunteer support and, most importantly, fundraising.

For co-founder Lesley Nicholson ofWilmington, it’s a gratifying publicservice spurred on by a devastatingpersonal tragedy.

“I lost my mom to cancer in 1998,and she had led such a healthylife—it made me realize what a horrendous disease it is,” Lesleyexplains. Encouraged by her mother’s dear friend and long-timeChristiana Care supporter Carroll

Carpenter, Lesley wanted to channelher grief into something positive—energy, she says, that could helpmake a real difference in the qualityof cancer care in Delaware.

“As soon as we had the opportunityto meet Dr. Petrelli and see all the wonderful patient care programshappening there, I knew that wecould help. He let us know thatthere was a tremendous, ongoingneed to ensure that they had thehighest quality people, technologyand programs available.”

And since they formed in 2002, the Friends have raised more than$500,000 toward that cause—mostlythrough their “An Evening in MonteCarlo” fundraiser each spring. Theevent has made it possible for theHelen F. Graham Cancer Center to add:

n An on-site computed tomography(CT) scanner that provides earlydiagnostic technology andimproves patient care.

n Intensity Modulated RadiationTherapy (IMRT) technology,which delivers radiation to

From left, Maureen Rhodes, Aubree Wellons, Lesley Nicholson and Meg Erskine, co-founders of theFriends of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, are the driving force behind the Friends' efforts tohelp fight cancer through fundraising, advocacy and volunteer support.

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C h r i s t i a n a C a r e H e a l t h S y s t e m

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cancer tumors precisely where it is needed, without harming surrounding tissues.

n A Genetic Counseling programthat provides important informationto individuals and families toidentify risk factors for hereditarycancer based on family history, personal lifestyle and genetic risk factors.

Proceeds from the 2006 event, to be held May 19 at the WilmingtonCountry Club, will be used to helpfund construction of a newchemotherapy infusion suite as part of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center expansion.

“What’s really inspiring to me is the fact that 100 percent of the

money we’ve raised comes fromindividual donations,” Lesley adds.“Obviously, many people’s lives inthe surrounding community havebeen touched by cancer and we’reso blessed that they want to lend ahand to battle this disease.”

Yet there is always more work to be done and more money to beraised—and the Friends are alwaysseeking to cultivate new members,supporters and donors.

“Everyone knows someone who has had to deal with cancer,” saysFriends co-founder MaureenRhodes. “One of the messages that we’d like to impart is that getting involved with volunteergroups like ours can help them

turn their own personal lossesinto positive actions.”

“The need for further support ofpatient care programs, advances intechnology, clinical research trialsand education will never go away,”says Dr. Petrelli. “Thanks to the sharedvision and tremendous influence andefforts of the Friends, staying on theforefront of innovation and technologyis more achievable. I can’t say enoughabout all the good they do for cancerpatients each and every day.”

To make a donation to the Friends ofthe Helen F. Graham Cancer Center orto find out more about “An Eveningin Monte Carlo” May 19, 2006, pleasecall Amanda Weddle in the Office ofDevelopment at 302-327-3324.

housands of Christiana Care retirees are considered

valuable members of the organization for a number of

reasons. Because of their years of service and diverse areas of

expertise, retirees are natural sources of time, talentand treasure—from volunteering and fundraisingto serving as advocates for Christiana Care.

Carole Mitchell, R.N., M.S.N., who retired fromChristiana Care in 2001 as director of Surgical,Oncology and Trauma Services after 33 years of service, is taking a lead role in an effort to further engage this wide base of retirees. Initially,she is hosting biannual luncheons designed tokeep retirees up-to-date with new initiatives atChristiana Care and about the benefits of getting

involved on a philanthropic level (the nextluncheon is planned for December 6).

“There are many ways to give back to ChristianaCare as a retiree, whether it’s through volunteerism,advocacy efforts or financial support,” saysCarole. “Theseluncheons are anexcellent way toshow retirees allthe exciting thingshappening here as well as different ways theycan help further our mission.”

Please call the Christiana Care Office ofDevelopment at 302-327-3305 if you’d like toattend the December 6 retiree luncheon or to find out more about ways to get involved.

Christiana Care retireesa vital source of support

T Retirees are natural sources of

time, talent and treasure

F O C U S O N G I V I N G

6

yclists complete latest leg of cross-country journeyCRaise more than $42,000 for the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center

More than a month aftercompleting a coast-to-coasttrek to raise money for cancer research, an energeticteam of cyclists recentlyachieved yet another important milestone.

On October 20, the team presented a $42,002.04 checkto Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D.,the MBNA-endowed medical director of the Helen F. Graham CancerCenter. Funds raised fromthe bike trip will be used for clinical research.

The 3,400-mile trip, knownas the Coast to Coast to Cure Cancer Bicycle Ride, began August 14 atAnacortes, WA and ended September 15 as the riders arrived at the Helen F. Graham CancerCenter to a throng of well wishers.

Cyclist J.P. Budd organized the journey as a tributeto his father, who has lung cancer and is beingtreated at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center.Beyond the moneyraised to date,Budd is thrilledthat the donationskeep tricklingin—he’s optimistic thetotal couldclimb to ashigh as $50,000.

“Making a dent in cancer takes research and ittakes money to do it—we’ll certainly put every last penny to good use,” says Dr. Petrelli. “Thecyclists also have inspired everyone to live healthy,active lives, and I believe they have establishedsomething here that will not end.”

To find out how you can support the cyclists’continuing efforts, please call Amanda Weddle in the Office of Development at 302-327-3324.

Cyclist J.P. Budd (second from right), presents a check for $42,002.04 to MBNA-endowed MedicalDirector Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., October 20 in the DuPont Garden of the Helen F. GrahamCancer Center. Also pictured, from left, are Patrick A. Grusenmeyer, vice president of the Helen F.Graham Cancer Center, and cyclists Ray Villec, Larry Peart and Rob Sorantino. Not pictured iscyclist Tim O’Neill.

The Coast to Coast to Cure Cancer Bicycle Ride began August 14 at Anacortes, WA and ended September 15with a homecoming ceremony at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in Newark.

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At Christiana Care, a variety of innovative andincentive-based recruitment and retentionefforts are in place to help attract and keep themost talented nursing candidates. The RuthShaw Junior Board Scholarship Fund, for example,has provided on average more than $25,000each year to be shared among a handful ofnursing and allied health students enteringtheir last year of an accredited program atDelaware Technical and Community College,the University of Delaware, Wesley College and other area schools.

Ruth Shaw, who passed away in 1996, was along-time member of the Junior Board, a formerpediatric nurse and a great proponent of nursingeducation whose bequest was combined withJunior Board contributions to become the RuthShaw Junior Board Scholarship Fund.

Together, Christiana Care’s Nursing ExcellenceFund and Ruth Shaw Junior Board Scholarship

Fund haveaccounted for hundreds of annual scholarshipsto nursing studentsbased on financial need,academic performance and an established commitment to leadership and excellence in nursing.

For those selected through a competitiveprocess, the funds assist with the payment oftuition and fees. In return, recipients make anemployment agreement with Christiana Care.

“Christiana Care has one of the highest nurseretention rates in the country, with more than 90 percent of our bedside RNs staying with us from year to year,” explains Wendy Gable,a senior recruiter in Human Resources. “Thanks to the generosity of people like TheJunior Board and Mrs. Shaw, we can continue to attract and retain high-quality nurses.”

For more information about the Ruth ShawJunior Board Scholarship Fund and the NursingExcellence Fund, call the Christiana Care Officeof Development at 302-327-3305.

Ruth Shaw Junior Board Scholarship Fund helps recruit, retain nurses

ecruiting and retaining the most qualified and caring

nurses remains an ongoing health care challenge,

both nationally and locally. R

Together, Christiana Care’s Nursing

Excellence Fund and Ruth Shaw Junior

Board Scholarship Fund have accounted

for hundreds of annual scholarships

F O C U S O N G I V I N G

8

Top-notch trauma careleaves lasting impression on Maryland couple

n the afternoon of March 9, E. Ralph

Hostetter was alarmed to discover he was

bleeding profusely after a recentcolonoscopy.

Knowing something was seriouslywrong, the 83-year-old retired news-paper publisher and entrepreneurdrove himself approximately 30 milesfrom his home in North East, MD, tothe Christiana Hospital EmergencyDepartment for treatment.

“I made the long trip because I hada strong feeling I needed to be at a top-rated hospital like Christiana,”explains Mr. Hostetter. “As it turnsout, I’m glad I did because I wasindeed hemorrhaging badly andneeded immediate, advanced emergency care. And that’s exactlywhat I received—everyone on thetrauma team was terrific, actingquickly, skillfully and compassionatelyto eventually stop the bleeding.” He subsequently was transferred to the intensive care unit for closerobservation and discharged just acouple of days later.

Moved by the entire experience, especially the care he received fromphysicians and nursing staff alike,Mr. Hostetter and his wife Edithdecided to make a generous

$1,000 gift to The Fund forChristiana Care.

But the givingdidn’t stop there.

Carolyn K. Tolles,development officer forPlanned Giving inChristiana Care’sOffice ofDevelopment,worked closelywith Mr. Hostetterin the comingweeks to set upan even larger,longer-lastingdonation: a$100,000 charitablegift annuity thatultimately willbenefit theEmergencyDepartment.

“It’s a wonderful expression of Mr.Hostetter’s faith and confidence inthe care Christiana Care providesnow—and will provide in thefuture,” she says.

As the Hostetters soon found out, acharitable gift annuity is a financiallysound personal investment—and an

equally beneficial way to invest in thefuture of Christiana Care. Typically, agift annuity pays an annual rate andpayment based on the age of theannuitant(s) at the time of giving—think of it as a steady, dependableflow of income you can count on forthe rest of your life. Christiana Careinvests gifts in a special fund until

OHostetters’ lasting $100,000 charitable gift annuity to benefitEmergency Department

Ralph and Edith Hostetter, at home in North East, MD, recently purchaseda charitable gift annuity to express their gratitude for the care Mr.Hostetter received at Christiana Hospital's Emergency Department.

annuitants have passed away, then the remaining funds areused to carry out Christiana Care’s mission.

“I am pleased to welcome the Hostetters to The 1888 Society,established to recognize generous donors who haveincluded Christiana Care in their estate plans,” said BobLaskowski, M.D., president and chief executive officer ofChristiana Care. “Through their gift, the Hostetters arehelping to secure our financial and medical future. Theyare carrying on this grand tradition, and for this, we aremost grateful.”

Today, Mr. Hostetter wants everyone at Christiana Care toknow he’s feeling great and staying extremely active. “I feeldeeply indebted to the staff at Christiana Hospital for thesuperior care I received last spring. I truly believe I wouldn’tbe alive today if not for the quality of care I received—I feelthis gift is a small price to pay for getting my life back.”

To learn how a Christiana Care charitable gift annuity canwork for you, contact the Christiana Care Office ofDevelopment at 302-327-3305.

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Avoid the rush of year-end giving

he final month of each year is often a time for giving—to family and friends and to favorite charities.

In fact, more charitable gifts are made duringthe month of December than at any othertime of year.

If you are planning to complete a gift of securities before the end of the year, or if you want to create a charitable gift annuity or other life-income arrangement, please consider getting an early start on the process.Waiting for the last minute to accomplishsomethingthat involvesmeetings withprofessionaladvisors and/or documentpreparation can make it difficult to complete a gift byDecember 31.

Our goal is to make your gift-giving experiences with Christiana Care pleasantand fulfilling. Please feel free to call theOffice of Development staff at 302-327-3305 if we can be of assistance to you. We are here to help.

Special Note: The Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 may provide special tax benefits for individuals who make cash gifts to charitybetween Aug. 28, 2005 and Dec. 31, 2005. To see how the law might benefit you, consult with your tax advisor.

A Christiana Care charitable gift annuity promises you high rates of return, significant

tax advantages and guaranteed income for life for one or two people.

Charitable Gift Annuity Rates

Annuity rates for one lifeAge Rate60 5.7%70 6.5%75 7.1%80 8.0%85 9.5%

Annuity rates for two livesAge Rate60-60 5.4%70-70 5.9%75-75 6.3%80-80 6.9%85-85 7.9%

*Charitable gift annuity rates are subject to change. Rates effective July 1, 2003.

Our goal is to make your

gift-giving experiences

pleasant and fulfilling

T

the Alexis de Tocqueville Society.“Rather, it has been an obligation—and I consider it an absolute honorto be able to help others. I grew upwith members of the DuPont family,and to me they set the ultimateexample of giving back to the community. I was also fortunate to have very caring and sensitiveparents. So I guess you could saymy sense of philanthropy wasingrained from the start.”

For these reasons and countless others, Jane Gibson has been namedrecipient of the 2005 Christiana CareHarrington Trustee Award. Theaward is named in memory ofCharles J. Harrington, Ph.D., for his many years of generosity andcommitment to the organization.

Jane’s involvement with ChristianaCare began as a member of the JuniorBoard. She looks back fondly onthose early years of service, addingthat she has done everything “frompushing the sundries cart, my favoritejob, to raising much-needed funds fornursing scholarships and patient careprograms.” She eventually served aspresident of the Junior Board—in that role, Jane was also a member ofChristiana Care’s Board of Directors.More recently, she served on the

Executive Committee of theCampaign for Christiana Care, co-chairing the Directors and TrusteesDivision. The campaign ended upraising more than $18.7 million forconstruction of the new patient towerand Medical Education Center atChristiana Hospital.

Bob Gibson, also a retired DuPonter,is extremely committed to quality-of-life issues in the community and

recently became a Christiana Care Trustee.“Christiana Carehas been Jane’spassion for somany years,

and now seems like the perfect timefor me to get even more involvedwith such a fine organization. Being a Trustee is a great first step in that direction,” says Bob, who also serves on the board of Meals on Wheels Delaware and is heavily involved in national andinternational efforts to destroy stockpiled chemical weapons.

“Jane and Bob have been incrediblefriends to us for many years,” saysBob Laskowski, M.D., president andchief executive officer of ChristianaCare. “We’ve always been able tocount on them for their extreme generosity and tireless efforts toadvance our mission.”

“Jane is such a caring and passionateperson with a sincere sense of service,”says Michele A. Schiavoni, senior

vice president of External Affairs and Development. Through theyears, she has relied on Jane to help host events and support wide-ranging development projectsand campaigns. “And she comesthrough for us again and again. Janetruly epitomizes all the good thingsthat Christiana Care stands for. I can’t think of a more deservingHarrington Award recipient.”

Naturally, Jane’s feelings aboutChristiana Care are mutual.

“Christiana Care’s critical health carerole in the community encompassesso many people’s needs—people ofall ages and from all walks of life,”she says. “I feel we are so blessed tohave the combined capabilities of somany talented physicians, nurses,administrators and every single person who makes Christiana Careone of the best hospitals in the country in my opinion.

“We have the power and the meansto help make our community healthy,and I feel it’s the responsibility ofeach Delawarean to contribute insome small way. I consider myself anemployee of Christiana Care and I’lldo every bit I can for as long as I canto live up to this responsibility.”

Which means Jane Gibson will continue to make people feel goodfor a long time to come.

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Jane and Bob Gibson: natural sense of giving extends naturally to Christiana Care (continued from front page)

“To me, volunteering has never been a

choice…it has been an obligation”

— Jane Gibson

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ore than 70 golf enthusiasts representing Christiana Care and

the surrounding business community gathered on thelinks of Fieldstone Golf Club September 26 to supportthe work of Christiana Care’s Helen F. Graham CancerCenter. Led by event chair James Tikellis, M.D., theSecond Annual Helen F. Graham Cancer Center GolfClassic raised more than $20,000. The money will beused toward the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center’s multidisciplinary approach to cancer care.

Golfers tee up to raise more than $20,000for Helen F. Graham Cancer Center

We gratefully acknowledge the support of hole sponsorsand players alike. We would also like to extend our gratitudeto Dr. Tikellis for his leadership and to the followingcompanies that contributed generously to the event:

M

Mike Shriver, president of the MBNA Foundation (second from left),shows off the lucky golf ball he used to sink a hole-in-one during theClassic. Members of his team are, from left, David Graham, JimHowe and Bob Mosch.

GOLD SPONSORS

Cerner Corporation

NextiraOne

SILVER SPONSORS

PATHS, LLC

Crothall Healthcare, Inc.

Turner Investment Partners, Inc.

Jim Blackwell of Jamestown Painting gets ready to bury a longputt in front of his teammates.

Bob Garrett, administrative director of Radiology at ChristianaCare, shows off his driving prowess during the event.

Left to right, foursome Tom Boylan, Bill Hickman and Ral Arcese(all of NextiraOne) and Farhad Amini, manager of Telecommunicationsat Christiana Care, take a break between holes.

C h r i s t i a n a C a r e H e a l t h S y s t e m

Office of Development13 Read’s Way, Suite 203

New Castle, DE 19720

Non Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 357

Wilmington, DE

For more information call 302-327-3305

Entire publication © Christiana Care Health System, 2005.All rights reserved.

Young cancer patient’s art raises funds—and lifts spirits.

The Barn in Spring, Watercolor

Harbor Sunset, Watercolor

Fruit Bowl God’s Gifts, Pastel

Vase Upon Table, Acrylic

welve-year-old OwenKlimoff has taken

a creative, upliftingapproach to living with cancer.

Owen Klimoff’s impressive paintings anddrawings—vibrant still lifes, portraits andlandscapes— not only lift people’s spirits,they help raise funds for cancer care at theHelen F. Graham Cancer Center.

Four of his original works have been reproduced on note cards for sale in theJunior Board Gift Shops at Wilmington and Christiana Hospitals. Boxed sets ofcards contain 3 each of the 4 images Owencreated for the project (see right). And eachbox sold helps Owen realize his goal to help others with cancer—100 percent of thefunds raised through the sale of these notecards ($14.95 per box) benefit the Helen F.Graham Cancer Center.

What inspires the young artist?“I see visions of what I would like topaint,” says Owen, adding that he likes towork in pastels, acrylics, watercolors and

charcoal. “And sometimes when I look at an object, I think about how I woulddraw the lines or use colors.”

Diagnosed with brain cancer five years ago, Owen recently completed IntensityModulated Radiation Therapy at the HelenF. Graham Cancer Center. At one point after an earlier surgery, he couldn’t walk or talk or use his right hand—but cancercouldn’t steal his gift or his passion.

“Owen is a courageous and extremelygenerous young man who has taken a difficult situation and turned it into a positive one that has the potential to benefit many cancer patients,” saysNicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., the MBNA-endowed medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center.

Call 302-733-1100 to order your sets of note cards, or stop by the Gift Shops atChristiana and Wilmington Hospitals. Note cards are also available by contacting:Junior Board of Christiana Care, Inc.P.O. Box 1668Wilmington, DE 19899

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