[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31284]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE STOWERS INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH 
                        IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jim and 
Virginia Stowers on the launch of the Stowers Institute for Medical 
Research located in my district in Kansas City, MO. Their generous 
support of biotech research will profoundly impact upon the lives of 
those who suffer from cancer, and benefit the friends and family 
members of those who battle the disease. On this occasion, I salute the 
Stowers for their selfless contributions to the field of science in 
establishing their institute to bring ``Hope for Life.''
  To our community, Jim and Virginia Stowers are local heroes. To those 
who will one day benefit from their charity, they will no doubt be 
referred to as saints. Their remarkable story is triumphant and 
inspirational. In 1958, Jim Stowers founded Twentieth Century Investors 
and created what would later be known as the American Century 
Companies. Today, Mr. Stowers heads the company as chairman of a 
successful multi-billion dollar firm investing in mutual funds across 
the nation. His wife, Virginia, worked as a nurse to support her 
growing family and her husband's dream. She shared her husband's vision 
and confidence by working to help her family and those most in need in 
her nurturing professions as nurse, wife, and mother.
  Their commitment to cancer research is derived from their own 
hardships and personal survival experiences. Mr. Stowers was diagnosed 
in 1986 with prostate cancer. Mrs. Stowers fought breast cancer in 1993 
followed by years of treatment, and their daughter, Kathleen's current 
encounter with cancer was the impetus for the creation of the Stowers 
Institute for Medical Research. Jim Stowers serves as president with 
Virginia serving as vice president over every aspect of their legacy to 
scientific research.
  The Stowers Institute is attracting the most highly sought 
researchers in biology, technology, and engineering who want to join in 
this exciting and worthy venture. World renowned experts from the 
University of Washington, the California Institute of Technology, the 
University of California, Berkeley, the McLaughlin Institute, and the 
University of Missouri-Kansas City are exploring the makeup of our DNA 
and analyzing the forthcoming information in a facility where research 
into life systems will produce a better understanding of the nature of 
cancer. Scientists and doctors would then be able to use this research 
in developing treatments, medicine, and ultimately, a cure.
  Our community has watched the construction of this facility which is 
anticipated to be in complete operation next year. It rescues from 
urban blight the site of the former Menorah Hospital near universities 
and cultural centers. The Stowers endowed to the Institute a gift of 
$336 million to fund the ongoing research of scientists so they can 
dedicate their valuable time to science instead to raising money for 
their work. Investment of the multi-billion dollar assets in mutual 
funds, contributions by other donors, and the gift of the estate of 
Virginia and Jim Stowers is expected to reach $30 billion or more in 
the next millennium, which will secure financial support for the 
Institute.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Virginia and Jim Stowers for 
their tremendous gift, which assures their ongoing mission for ``Hope 
for Life.'' I look forward to the successes of the Stowers Institute 
for Medical Research and share the same hope they have inspired.

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