Loyal donor continues decades of giving

In February, William “Bill” Broaddus made a $3,000 gift to VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. This gift was the latest in Broaddus’ 39-year history of support, board service and donations of more than $200,000.

“I got a call in 1987 asking if I’d be interested in joining an advisory board for Massey,” Broaddus says. “My mother had six siblings and every one of them battled with cancer. So, I had a family background that caused me to be very interested in cancer.” 

When Broaddus’ wife, Grace, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 12 years later, she sought care at Massey and was treated by Chris Desch, M.D. Desch was a doctor who cared deeply about his patients. On one occasion, Broaddus recalls that Desch had a teenage patient whom he found crying. When he asked her what was wrong she told him that she was missing her high school prom. 

“He examined her as usual and finished his rounds,” Broaddus recalls. “Then he went home and came back dressed in a tux with a boom box and he danced with her. I think that exemplifies so many of the physicians at Massey and the way they look after their patients. That’s why it’s a special place.”

When Desch died in 2006, the Broadduses and countless other patients felt the loss deeply, his work having left lasting marks on their lives. One of the many things that Broaddus got from his time with Desch was another 19 years with his wife. 

“Massey was such an important part of my wife’s life,” Broaddus says. “There’s such a range of philanthropic opportunities one can consider, but when I focus on the benefits that Massey can bring and their direct, immediate impact on people, it has to be a priority.” 

Through his decades of board service, Broaddus worked to encourage others to support Massey and to raise awareness of the care available. He helped to elevate Massey’s status locally as a valuable option for cancer care and to advance the vital research conducted at Massey every day. He also included Massey in his estate plans and encouraged others to do so. When Massey was awarded NCI designation, Broaddus returned to VCU to celebrate the achievement and the future of the institution. 

“I simply want Massey to grow so that it is capable of providing more and more care to those who need it,” he says. “Medicine is improving in leaps and bounds, but it needs to be funded. So, I want research efforts to continue so that eventually we can eradicate this disease.”