Moffitt Receives $5 Million to Support Oral Cancer Research
TAMPA, Fla. — Sarasota resident Phebe Morgan has made a $5 million gift to Moffitt Cancer Center to honor her lifelong love who had oral cancer, a disease that is known to cause patients to lose their ability to speak, eat and breathe.
A longtime smoker, Glenn Hoffman was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1991, developed early stage oral cancer in 2020 and died of the disease in November 2021 at the age of 75.
“He was the love of my life, and he was a sweet, kind, gentle soul,” said Morgan. “He always put other people first and would do anything for anyone.”
Hoffman spent 33 years serving others in law enforcement in the Senate Division of the U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C. He served with distinction until his retirement in 2004, receiving many awards and citations.
Morgan’s gift is designed to honor Hoffman and also to help other patients.
“A cure that focuses on the early stages of oral cancer would make such a difference. Moffitt is on the forefront of innovative new treatments in this crusade, and Glenn would wish to help in any way to develop new drugs and find a cure,” said Morgan.
That sentiment led Morgan to make a $5 million gift to Moffitt to support research focused on developing new drugs to cure oral cancers. The gift also will name the research laboratory of Dr. Christine Chung, chair of the Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology.
“Oral cancer is one of the most difficult to treat because of its treatment resistance,” said Chung. “This gift will have a significant impact in developing novel treatment options, leveraging the strength of our team in tobacco-related cancer research.”
Morgan’s gift will come in two phases. An immediate $1 million gift will establish the Marshall Glenn Hoffman Immunotherapy Fund for Oral Cancer Research. An irrevocable $4 million estate gift will allow Chung’s laboratory to be named the Marshall Glenn Hoffman Oral Cancer Research Lab. Chung’s team is focusing on the development of cellular therapies that help the body’s immune system to better fight cancer.
“Phebe is very thoughtful in how she is honoring Glenn,” said Maria Muller, president of the Moffitt Foundation. “She has crafted this gift in a way that makes a long-term commitment to research, but also allows our scientists to begin their work now in developing new drugs to cure oral cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2022, approximately 54,000 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed and about 11,230 will die from the disease.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 53 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. With more than 7,800 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.4 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
