Katie Zenovich, left, speaks at a ceremony Thursday honoring the donation of Chris and Michelle Morse, looking on. Photo by Alex Scott

Representatives from Community Health System announced the donation of a multi-million dollar gift in support of the Community Cancer Institute (CCI) in Clovis on Thursday.

The $2.4 million gift was donated by Chris Morse and his wife Michelle. Morse, who had stage-four throat cancer and went into remission last year, was a patient at CCI and wanted to pay forward the care he was given along with that of his father, who passed away from lung cancer in 2017.

“The reason we wanted to donate back to CCI and Community Cancer Institute was to be able to bring new cutting edge technology and treatment plans to patients here in central California,” said Morse, partner at Moss Adams LLP in Fresno. “Sometimes we don’t always have all the treatments we need here. But with this money that Michelle and I are donating, it will allow many more patients to stay right here in their own backyard to get treatment, and be able to go home after their treatment and be with their support group or their support system — asleep in their own bed.”

According to Katie Zenovich, Senior Vice President of Development and External Affairs Chief Fund Development Officer, this is one of the largest gifts ever received by CCI and will help fund treatments and care that otherwise might be delayed due to budget constraints.

“Amazing things happen because of philanthropy, and these two people understand how important it is to have top care for cancer care in this Valley,” said Zenovich. “They understand how important it is to be a donor and investor in it so it can help other people and provide the best care right here at home, and stop them from feeling like they have to travel for hours north or south in order to get top care.”

CCI remains a top choice for cancer care in the Central Valley because of its comprehensive care and oncology support services that offer holistic approaches to recovery such as spiritual support and yoga, according to Community officials. The oncology support services also offer speech therapists, nutritionists, support groups and other additional services.

For Morse, those additional services started on his first day of treatment.

“He wasn’t having trouble swallowing or eating or losing weight yet, but day one he was seeing a nutritionist and swallow expert to stay ahead of the curve and get the best outcome you can have,” said Michelle Morse.

With this donation, CCI can bring new cancer treatments to the Clovis Community Hospital campus and expand the services it provides to more than 400 patients daily, including advanced technology and research and the construction of new buildings.