Greenebaum Family Donates $5.5 Million to Advance Cancer Research and Patient Care
The Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Family Foundation has donated $5.5 million to the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) to help advance groundbreaking scientific research and compassionate, state-of-the-art cancer care in Maryland and across the region. The National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center is named in honor of Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum, who gave a transformative gift 30 years ago, after Mrs. Greenebaum’s successful treatment for breast cancer.
The funds will be used to help foster research conducted by faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and to advance innovative treatments, such as using immunotherapies like CAR T-cells to treat solid tumors. It will also be used to strengthen UMGCCC’s support for cancer survivors, allowing for the investigation of effective uses for emerging wearable technologies, specialized care to improve quality of life, and tailored nutritional support.
Michael Greenebaum
Having experienced tremendous growth in recent years, UMGCCC is poised for a major expansion when it moves into the Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine in the fall of 2026. In recognition of the Greenebaums’ legacy, the lobby of the new building will be named in the family’s honor. The sleek, modern space will welcome visitors to the cancer center’s new home and serve as the main entrance of the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) at 22 S. Greene St. UMMC is the academic flagship hospital of the 11-hospital University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).
“We could not imagine a more meaningful way to mark the 30th anniversary of my parents’ founding gift while celebrating this pivotal moment for the cancer center,” said Michael Greenebaum, a business leader and philanthropist. “This milestone and this new commitment reflect our family’s dedication to advancing cancer research, improving treatment, and expanding access to care for all. It is a legacy we are proud to carry forward for generations to come.”
“The Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center is already an incredible resource for people diagnosed with cancer in Maryland and beyond,” said Mr. Greenebaum who serves as Chair of UMSOM’s Board of Visitors; he is also a member of the UMGCCC Board of Advisors and founded the Maryland Half-Marathon & 5K, now in its 18th year which has raised more than $8 million to support the cancer center. “With this major expansion, the center will be well-prepared to meet the growing needs for expert cancer care in our state and region, serving as a powerhouse of scientific discovery and clinical innovation in the fight to eradicate this terrible disease.”
Marlene Greenebaum lived 28 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer because of the extraordinary medical care that she received at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She was treated with an aromatase inhibitor, a drug invented by Angela Brodie, PhD, who was a preeminent breast cancer researcher at the cancer center.
Amy Burwen, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum’s daughter, said, “I have seen firsthand the incredible work being done by the cancer center to not only extend lives but to also improve the quality of life for countless people in our community fighting this disease. It is my hope that UMGCCC continues to positively impact lives through research and patient care for many years to come.”
Robbie Greenebaum said he views his family’s latest gift as a way to honor his grandparents’ legacy of giving and caring for others. “I am tremendously proud of their commitment to the cancer center and building a brighter future for cancer patients. I believe that this gift will help to ensure that the center that bears their name continues to lead the way in advancing cancer treatments while providing the highest standard of care for patients and their families,” he said.
Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, UMMS President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The vision and generosity of the Greenebaum family continues to have a lasting and measurable impact on every patient and family who turns to us for cancer care. The family’s investment in our mission has fueled our discoveries and strengthened our ability to translate innovation into outstanding patient care. As we honor three decades of partnership, we are inspired by the possibilities for generations to come.”
Mark T. Gladwin, MD, the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean of UMSOM and Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, said, “Over the past two decades, patient volume at the UMGCCC has increased by more than 50 percent, with more than 3,700 new patients treated each year and over 60,000 outpatient visits. Our oncology faculty are now leading more than 450 clinical trials — more than twice the number from earlier years — and research funding has grown to over $130 million annually. The Greenebaum family’s longstanding generosity and support, along with Michael's exemplary service and leadership on our Board of Visitors, has played an essential role in advancing cancer research and patient care, and in our rise as one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.”
Bert W. O’Malley, MD, President of UMMC and Executive Vice President for the Academic Health Division of UMMS, said, “We are deeply grateful for the Greenebaum family’s continued trust and partnership. This gift will allow us to further build on their legacy, accelerating promising research that will shape the future of oncology and elevating our patient experience to offer personalized support and resources to help meet each patient’s needs before, during and after treatment.”
“We are extremely grateful for the Greenebaum family’s generous investment in UMGCCC over the last three decades. Their unwavering financial support and steadfast partnership have truly transformed our cancer center,” said Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, PhD, UMGCCC’s Executive Director and the Kevin J. Cullen Distinguished Professor of Oncology at UMSOM. “With this new gift, we are better able to fulfill our mission as an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, translating discoveries in the laboratory into effective, next-generation treatments for patients.”
Heather S. Culp, JD, Chief Philanthropy Officer for University of Maryland Medicine, Senior Vice President for UMMC, and Senior Associate Dean for Development at UMSOM said, “For three decades, the Greenebaum family has helped define what’s possible at the cancer center, and this new gift arrives at a pivotal moment as we prepare to expand into the Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine. Their generosity will fuel research, advance innovative therapies, and elevate the patient and family experience from the moment they walk through our doors.”
The UM Greenebaum Cancer Center received national designation as an NCI Cancer Center in 2008 and then received the highest recognition possible when it was designated as a comprehensive cancer center in 2016. It earned renewal of the prestigious designation in 2021.
About the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center within the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, the flagship academic hospital of the University of Maryland Medical System. It offers a multidisciplinary approach to treating all types of cancer and has an active clinical and basic science research program through its relationship with the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The center is ranked among the top 50 cancer programs in the country by US News & World Report. www.umgccc.org
