KNOXVILLE, IA – Knoxville Hospital & Clinics and Pella Regional Health Center 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 Knoxville Hospital & Clinics and Pella Regional Health Center 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.”
The successful completion of the Bridging the Gap Capital Campaign belongs to the entire region. To every person who donated, advocated, volunteered, shared the campaign’s story, or encouraged others to support the project, thank you. Your generosity helped turn a vision for advanced cancer care closer to home into a reality that will serve patients and families throughout south central Iowa for generations to come.
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics is a non-profit community hospital serving Marion County and the surrounding area. Named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, KHC’s highly skilled medical staff and specialists provide personal, compassionate, and innovative quality health care to patients. For more information regarding this release and other happenings at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, call the Public Relations Department at (641) 842-1418.
Pella Regional Health Center is a not-for-profit provider of healthcare that is accredited by The Joint Commission. It is recognized by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, it is also recognized by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® for Knee and Hip designations. The health center was also awarded the Clean Facility Certificate from the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) for its commitment to infection prevention strategies and preparedness for biological events. Pella Regional Health Center’s mission is to provide healthcare and healing services with Christian compassion. Information on Pella Regional Health Center and its clinics is available by calling Public Relations at 641-621-2362 or visiting the website, PellaHealth.org.
