Giant Food joins pioneers on Johns Hopkins Founders Wall

On Friday, May 19—on what would have been the 222nd birthday of visionary philanthropist Johns Hopkins—the institutions bearing his name recognized the philanthropy of Giant Food.

The name of the supermarket company is among the latest to be chiseled into the Johns Hopkins Founders Wall, a marble and brick landmark that stretches in front of Garland Hall on Homewood campus's Decker Quad, honoring generations of donors and celebrating a tradition of giving that goes back to Johns Hopkins himself. Today, the wall is engraved with the names of 166 supporters whose philanthropy has matched or exceeded Mr. Hopkins' founding gift of $7 million.

Since 2008, Giant Food has raised more than $11 million for pediatric oncology research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. The company's support has helped Hopkins and the cancer center recruit and retain researchers, secure state-of-the-art equipment they need, and produce innovative solutions to the most persistent challenges clinicians face in treating childhood cancers.

"With Giant Food's support, Johns Hopkins scientists and clinicians are transforming their pioneering research into action and bringing us closer to innovative new therapies for our pediatric cancer patients," said JHU President Ronald J. Daniels at the unveiling of the Giant Food name on the wall.

"In your support for innovation and patient care," he told Giant Food representatives, "you embody the great legacy of our founder, Johns Hopkins."

Giant Food's support of research is playing a role in work being spearheaded by the new Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, where Johns Hopkins physicians are developing novel immunotherapy approaches to treating pediatric cancers. The researchers who participated in last week's Founders Wall celebration included:

• Donald Small, the Kaydock Professor of Oncology and director of Division of Pediatric Oncology
• Heather J. Symons, clinical director, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program; and assistant professor of oncology, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
• Brian H. Ladle, assistant professor of oncology and pediatrics, Pediatric Oncology Division of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Nicolas Jose Llosa, pediatric oncologist, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and assistant professor of oncology and pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine