PELLA — Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics are proud to announce the successful completion of the Bridging the Gap Capital Campaign, celebrating the generosity of businesses, organizations, community members, and hospital employees who helped the campaign reach its $14.3 million goal.
Launched in August 2025, the campaign was created to help fund the Pella Knoxville Cancer Center and support the partnership between Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics to bring radiation therapy closer to home for patients across the region.
Fundraising efforts for the Bridging the Gap Capital Campaign were led by the hospital foundations of Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, with the support of a capital campaign committee comprised of community leaders from across Marion County: Barb Braafhart, Charlie Daugherty, Corwin Fee, Mary Glendening, Michelle Greene, Mary Hanna, Dave Johnson, Paul Jones, David Kacmarynski, Lezlie Morris, Mike Montgomery, Maureen Nichols, Stan Poortinga, Dave Sutphen, Mark Van Roekel, and Charlie Zylstra.
The collaboration between Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics represents the first time two hospitals in Iowa have partnered to provide radiation therapy services, addressing a long-standing need for patients throughout the region.
“This campaign is a powerful example of what can happen when a region comes together around a shared commitment to bring the vision of enhanced cancer care close to home to life,” said Bob Kroese, Pella Regional Health Center CEO. “Every gift – regardless of size – played a role in helping us reach this milestone. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who believed in this project. Their investment further strengthens our shared commitment to bringing innovative radiation treatment options closer to home.”
Support for the campaign came from individuals and families, local businesses, foundations, community organizations, and employees of Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics. Gifts ranged from individual donations to major leadership gifts, reflecting broad community support for ensuring high-quality cancer care is available close to home.
Funds raised through the campaign will fully fund the construction and equipment for the Pella Knoxville Cancer Center, which is expected to open in early 2027.
The state-of-the-art, 7,800-square-foot radiation center will house advanced diagnostic and treatment technology, including:
- A linear accelerator to deliver highly precise radiation treatments.
- A PET/CT scanner that plays a critical role in diagnosing cancer, staging disease and helping determine the most effective course of treatment.
While reaching the $14.3 million fundraising goal marks the conclusion of the capital campaign, individuals can still make donations to either hospital foundation that will be utilized to support cancer care in Pella and Knoxville. Leaders say the impact of the campaign will be felt by patients, families, and communities for many years to come.
“The addition of the Pella Knoxville Cancer Center is a monumental step forward for patients and their families facing cancer diagnoses in central and southern Iowa,” said Kevin Kincaid, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics CEO. “Reaching our goal is about much more than a number. This project demonstrates what is possible when two health systems, communities, and philanthropy work together to make much-needed cancer care closer to home a reality for patients and their families. I am extremely proud of everyone’s hard work and success.”
