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Memorial and Tribute Giving

If you or a loved one have been impacted by cancer or other disease, you know that hope lies in what is yet to be discovered: a more effective treatment, a vaccine, a cure.

A charitable gift to The Wistar Institute is an investment in that hope. For those who have faced illness, or lost someone dear, this can be a way to turn pain into purpose; to transform grief into action; to ensure that others may have a future filled with healing and possibility.

You can make a gift to Wistar in memory or in honor of anyone, at any time. Whether it’s a celebration of a milestone or special occasion, or a moment of remembrance, your tribute gift becomes part of a larger impact—one that reaches far beyond today.

Give in memory. Give in honor. Give to change lives.

How to Make a Memorial or Tribute Gift

Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center
Make a donation

Give online now (the option to select memorial/tribute gift is built into our online form), or learn about other ways to give – just remember to include a memo or contact us directly about who you would like to memorialize or honor with your contribution.

Create a memorial, tribute, or milestone celebration fundraising page

Get inspiration from these sample fundraising pages  and contact Lynn Keily at LKeily@wistar.org or 215.898.3943 to set yours up today.

Include Wistar in an obituary

Simply include this language “Donations in his/her memory may be made to The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.” Contact our team at development@wistar.org or 215-898-3943 if you’d like to discuss a specific purpose for gifts received in memory of a loved one.

Consider a naming opportunity

Whether you choose a fund, endowed fund, program or physical space, there are many ways to recognize a loved one with a naming opportunity at Wistar. Learn more. 

Can I support an existing memorial fund?

Many of our donors who establish a memorial fund express their wishes for friends and loved ones, as well as members of the Wistar donor community at large, to be able to support the same cause by contributing to the fund.

Memorial funds at Wistar which anyone is welcome to make a gift towards include:

  • The Albert R. Taxin Brain Tumor Research Fund
  • The Tobin Family Memorial Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • The Louis C. Washburn Fund for Research of Environmental Factors of Cancer
  • The Stan and Arlene Ginsburg Family Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research Endowed Fund in memory of Ira Ingerman
  • The Noreen O’Neill Endowed Fund for Melanoma Research
  • The Elaine M. Ominsky, PhD Breast Cancer Research Endowed Fund

Direct your gift to one of these existing memorial funds by sending a memo with your check, using the comments box for an online gift, or emailing us your preference at development@wistar.org.

Honor Someone Today

Give in memory. Give in honor. Give to change lives.

Donate Now

Doris Taxin: Mission in Action

Doris Taxin turned tragedy into action, making it her life’s mission to fund cancer research

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For Elizabeth Pesce, Philanthropy is a Pathway to Hope for New Cancer Treatments and Cures

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Take action today
  • Contact Lynn Keily at 215.898.3943 or LKeily@wistar.org to discuss which way to give is best suited for you.
  • Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
  • If you include Wistar in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.
    • Legal name: The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology
    • Address: 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
    • Federal tax ID (EIN) number: 23-6434390

2025 Memorial & Tributes

Ernest Griffin Allen
Dot Anderson
Marshall Asnen
Eileen Baird
Rich Beston
Steven Bussinger
Kristen Cammarota
Dr. Ching Jer Chern
Matthew Jarvis Cohen
Michael Criscuolo
Vincent J. Cristofalo
Patrick B. Dean
Doug Depasse
Sharon Devoy
Michael Donahue
Brian H. Dovey
Thomas Joseph Dubin
Skip Duffy

Ruben Feliciano
Frank Fradin
Penny Fox
Jimmy Gallagher
John T. Galvin, IV
Jennifer Gancarz
Millicent Goldschmidt
G. David Hansbarger, Sr.
W. E. Hap Hansen
Roger S. Hillas
Jo-anna Rice Horn
Herbert Kean
Leroy E. Kean
John Kuzmick
Jimmy McCorriston
Patrick McKinney
Camille Millin
Seth Mitchner

Rosa M. Oates
Larry Olivieri
Marlene P. Ramsay
Stephen Renz
Samuel V. Rhoads
William G. Rhoads
Richard Paul Ryan
Pamela Saunders
Adele K. Schaeffer
Robert M. Schindler
Karen Schullze
Mina Hale Varney
Barbara R. Washburn
Seymour Weiner
Laurence N. Weiss
Mr. Howard Weisz
Emlen Vaux Wistar