Why I Give: Bob Flannery

“My grandfather, uncle and father are all deceased because of cancer so the cause is very personal to me.”

Bob Flannery
Chief Financial Officer
UW Health

After losing his grandfather, uncle and father to cancer, Bob Flannery and his wife, felt called to support UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center and related initiatives like the Department of Urology’s Blue Tie Bash for urologic cancer research for many years. When plans for Eastpark Medical Center were announced, Bob and his family were inspired by the new vision for cancer research and care and made a major gift of support.

“What happens at Carbone Cancer Center in terms of research and therapies and how they are working to advance cancer care is quite dramatic and Eastpark Medical Center is an exciting opportunity for us to grow cancer care to the next level–especially proton beam technology being led by Dr. Paul Harari,” said Bob.

As UW Health's Chief Financial Officer since 2002, Bob has a unique understanding of the impact of his gifts. “Health care finances can’t always fund everything so philanthropy helps to grow state-of-the-art technology and facilities. And we all need to play a role in funding cancer research because the government can’t do it on its own. We may find cures for people in the future and a better quality of life for those who have cancer today,” he shared.

Every fall, Bob allocates a certain amount of money for philanthropy and sits down with his daughters to talk about causes they are interested in. “It’s a fun family conversation,” he said. “Giving back to our community is part of who we are, and it’s a value we tried to instill in our daughters as well. I feel very blessed to be in a position to make these contributions and believe the adage, ‘To those much is given, much is expected.’”