Medical College of Wisconsin Receives $27M from Michels Family for Cancer Care, Research
On June 22, 2026, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) announced a $27 million donation from Tim and Barbara Michels and the Michels Family Foundation. The gift is the largest personal donation ever made to the MCW Cancer Center.
In recognition of the donation, MCW will name its new cancer research facility the “Medical College of Wisconsin Michels Center for Cancer Discovery.” The gift was made in honor of the donors' daughter, a survivor of a rare pediatric brain cancer who was treated at MCW.
The funds are designated to help recruit precision oncology investigators, enhance technological infrastructure, train new cancer scientists, and expand access to prevention and early detection, particularly for rural and underserved communities in Wisconsin.