HOPKINSVILLE, KY – On Thursday, Sept. 18, the Jennie Stuart Health Foundation held a dedication ceremony for the new Tree of Life Art Installation.
Last September, the Foundation celebrated the success of its first capital campaign for the E.C. Green Cancer Center, an effort devoted to enhancing patient care. The campaign’s final element, the Tree of Life Art Installation, was still in progress at that time. Thanks to the generosity of Gail and Malcolm Blane, the installation was created to embody the mission of the Tree of Life Fund. Now complete, it stands inside Jennie Stuart Medical Center as a lasting symbol of the community’s past and present commitment to cancer care.
“The Tree of Life Fund has a meaningful history at Jennie Stuart Health,” said Eric Lee, CEO. “Its roots go back nearly fifty years with the Howard Stone Memorial Fund, established in 1976 by his family to honor his life and vision. Mr. Stone, a long-serving board member who succumbed to cancer, wanted others to have access to care closer to home,” Lee added.
Tree of Life Fund
In the decades that followed, generous families, physicians, and staff helped advance oncology services and build a legacy of excellence that continues to inspire our community today. Those early investments not only improved treatment but also led to the creation of the Tree of Life Fund, established in 1996 to ease everyday burdens of patients and families facing cancer. At that time, the remaining resources from the Howard Stone Memorial Fund were merged into the Tree of Life Fund, ensuring its original vision would be carried forward.
When the Foundation was formed, the fund was entrusted to its care, where it has continued to grow in both reach and purpose. “Today, the Tree of Life Fund remains dedicated to supporting patients and families of the E.C. Green Cancer Center,” said Sarah Francis, Executive Director of the Jennie Stuart Health Foundation. “It helps families overcome barriers such as transportation and medication costs, funds resources and equipment that enhance treatment, and offers a meaningful way to honor or remember loved ones.”
Instillation meaning and dedication with community
The newly dedicated installation, a sculpture paired with a digital display, is a powerful reminder of how philanthropy and partnership transform patient care, and of what becomes possible when generosity meets vision. “This installation gives visible form to the mission of the Tree of Life Fund,” said Tracey Williams, Foundation Board Chair. “The tree itself represents hope and encouragement for all who see it. Its branches remind us that love and legacy live on through the stories it carries and the connections it honors. For families and loved ones, the tribute names scrolling across the screen are a reminder that they are never alone in their journey,” Williams added.
Leaders reflected on nearly five decades of support during the dedication, expressing gratitude to donors throughout the years and extending special thanks to the Blane family, whose generosity made this lasting symbol possible. They also emphasized the importance of remembrance and the Foundation’s responsibility to continue advancing the mission of the Tree of Life Fund, ensuring it remains a source of support for patients and families of the E.C. Green Cancer Center for many years to come. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting, led by the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, followed by light refreshments.
If you are interested in learning how to support Jennie Stuart Health through the Foundation, please visit www.JennieStuartHealth.org/Foundation. There are many donor options available, and JSHF would be happy to help you identify the best way to give according to your interests.