Aaron Rodgers pledges $3 million to Enloe Health’s new Comprehensive Cancer Center

New York Jets quarterback and Chico native Aaron Rodgers has pledged $3 million to support Enloe Health’s new Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chico.

Breaking ground in May 2024, the three-story, state-of-the-art facility will expand critically needed cancer services in the North State, reducing travel time for patients and their families.

One million dollars will go toward the construction of the new center. The other $2 million will help fund integrated supportive therapies and programs such as oncology psychiatric support, acupuncture, exercise therapies, nutritional education, massage therapies, and mindfulness meditative therapies.

Rodgers’ gift will help many, said Enloe’s President and CEO Mike Wiltermood.

“Several counties in our region have the highest rates of both cancer diagnosis and cancer-related death in the state,” Wiltermood said. “With a lack of primary care providers and access to early screening, patients are often diagnosed with cancer at a later stage when the disease is harder to treat.

“The new cancer center aims to help change that trend. We are humbled and honored to receive this tremendous support from the Aaron Rodgers Foundation.”

Located in the Meriam Park development at the corner of E. 20th Street and Bruce Road, on land donated by Dan and Dawn Gonzales, the new center will improve access to education and treatment, according to a news release from Enloe.

“We are extremely grateful to Aaron for his generosity and support of this vital project,” said Jolene Francis, Enloe’s vice president of Philanthropy & Communications. “Aaron’s extraordinary philanthropic support will help thousands of patients from across the North State for years to come.”

In all, construction of the new center will cost approximately $154 million. The Enloe Health Foundation began raising funds to support the project in October of 2021. With Rodgers’ pledge, fundraising to date has reached approximately $17 million. In all, the Foundation hopes to raise $20 million for the center, Francis said.

To learn more about Enloe’s new Comprehensive Cancer Center visit, www.enloe.org/campaign.