PHILANTHROPY Gifts in
PHILANTHROPY Gifts in action: Funding new equipment to peer into cells Each gift to Van Andel Institute helps our scientists move another step closer to improving health and enhancing lives, especially with regard to diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s and related dementias. When these contributions come together in support of VAI’s work, their potential impact grows larger yet. In 2021, VAI received an incredible gift from the estate of the late Gasper “Gabe” Amodeo, a long-time supporter of our work who passed away in February 2021. Amodeo was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the years prior to his passing, and he had a specific interest in supporting research into this insidious disease. Paired with a substantial gift from Richard and Paula Nelson — two dedicated supporters of VAI who have been personally touched by Parkinson’s disease through Richard’s own diagnosis — these funds have allowed VAI to purchase two ZEISS Axioscan 7 microscope slide scanners to be housed in the Institute’s Optical Imaging Core. These instruments will help facilitate the research of many VAI scientists and collaborators, including those focused on understanding the underpinnings of Parkinson’s in the hopes of guiding the creation of new treatments for this disease and others like it. They are scheduled to be delivered and installed in March 2022. VAI currently has a single ZEISS Axio Scan.Z1 — a previous version of the Axioscan 7 — that is utilized nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The newest iteration of this technology digitizes specimens to create highquality, virtual microscope slides, and will be of great use to researchers in the Department of Neurodegenerative Science and throughout the Institute. Whether through new equipment or the support of a new study, the generosity of our donors powers research and education initiatives with the potential to change lives. Pairing gifts together allows VAI to make the biggest impact possible with donor funds. Remembering VAI in your estate plans helps ensure the Institute can continue its work to improve health and enhance lives for generations to come. For more information on ways to give, please contact Philanthropy Directors Kate Frillmann (kate. frillmann@vai.org) or Steve Ozinga (steve.ozinga@vai.org). 30 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE
(STARTING AT LEFT) GASPER “GABE” AMODEO; RICHARD & PAULA NELSON High-tech equipment at the Institute — including tools like the Leica microscope (pictured here) and the ZEISS Axioscan 7 microscope slide scanners (funded in part by donor support) — enables VAI scientists to move their research further toward improving health and enhancing lives. VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE | 31
