A Greer family has donated $3 million to the Prisma Health Cancer Institute to help improve cancer treatment across the Upstate, the health system announced April 29.
The gift is the single largest donation to the institute in the Upstate and comes from John and Kimberly Kopchinski. According to Prisma, the donation will help create more patient treatment spaces and expand a free program to assess and reduce cancer risk or detect it earlier when it is more treatable.
The gift was inspired in part by Kimberly Kopchinski’s treatment over the past seven years at Prisma Health Cancer Institute for lung, thyroid, blood and jaw cancers. After visiting cancer treatment centers across the country, Kopchinski opted for treatment at Prisma.
“People think they need to travel far away for the care they need – they don’t,” she said in a statement announcing the gift. “It’s right here, and it is extraordinary. … We can’t thank our doctors, nurses and clinical staff enough for their care, kindness and love.”
John Kopchinski said the goal of the gift was to help expand cancer treatment for other patients and families.
Improvements funded in part by the gift will take place at Prisma Health Cancer Institute’s Eastside center where Kimberly Kopchinski’s treatment was based. The improvements include interior enhancements and new infusion chairs especially designed for comfort. An outdoor respite space will be added for patients and families.
The gift will also be used to improve staff work environments and offset ongoing educational costs for nurses, and it will also help fund enhancements at other Prisma Health Cancer Institute sites in the Upstate.
The donation will also help Prisma Health expand enrollment in Prevent Cancer Greenville, an initiative that provides a comprehensive cancer risk assessment through free wellness screenings and suggested lifestyle modifications to help reduce a participant’s chance of cancer from preventable causes.
The Kopchiskis gathered with family and friends and Prisma staff earlier this month to dedicate the Eastside facility as the Kimberly Kopchinski Care Center.
Kopchinski said she is grateful her cancers were caught very early and encourages everyone to advocate for themselves and not delay care.
“Listen to your body. Always be an advocate for yourself,” she said.” Never be afraid to ask questions or get second opinions, especially if something doesn’t feel right.”
