Dana-Farber’s Largest Single Gift Advances Planned Cancer Hospital for New England

A historic joint gift from Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine and Josh and Anita Bekenstein will accelerate a bold, patient-first model of cancer care—raising the standard for how cancer is treated in New England and globally.

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–(World Cancer Day) — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute today announced the largest single gift in its history through a new joint commitment from Josh and Anita Bekenstein and the Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine family. The transformational gift for the future cancer hospital builds on the two families’ decades-long dedication to Dana-Farber’s mission of delivering expert, compassionate patient care while accelerating discoveries that improve outcomes for people with cancer around the world.

The region’s only inpatient hospital dedicated to cancer will be named in recognition of the remarkable joint gift from the Lavines and Bekensteins. Friends and business partners for more than 30 years, Josh Bekenstein was a Founding Partner and former Co-Chair of Bain Capital, where he first met and worked with Jonathan Lavine, who is the Founder of Bain Capital Credit and Bain Capital Special Situations and also served as Co-Managing Partner and Chair of Bain Capital.

Designed entirely around the needs of oncology patients and their families, the 300-bed hospital will expand access to highly specialized, fully integrated cancer care, supporting a seamless experience across diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

“We are deeply grateful for this exceptional, shared commitment, from two families who have been profoundly devoted to Dana-Farber,” said Dr. Benjamin L. Ebert, president and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “By helping make the future cancer hospital possible, the Bekensteins and Lavines are investing in a fully integrated model of cancer care — one designed around patients and families, powered by scientific innovation, and delivered by teams whose sole focus is cancer.”

The Bekenstein family’s connection to Dana-Farber began in 1993 through the Pan-Mass Challenge, when Anita and Josh rode it for the first time. Josh has now ridden it 33 times and Anita and Josh and their five children have ridden a total of 100 times. Josh is also the current chair of the Dana-Farber Board of Trustees where he has served on the Board since 1997.

“Dana-Farber has been part of our lives for decades, and we have seen firsthand what’s possible when world-class research and patient care come together,” Josh and Anita Bekenstein said in a joint statement. “We are proud to support the future cancer hospital and the remarkable teams at Dana-Farber who care for patients every day while pushing the frontiers of science. This gift reflects our longstanding commitment to Dana-Farber’s mission and our belief that the planned cancer hospital will bring new hope to patients and families for generations.”

The Lavine Family’s decades-long involvement with Dana-Farber began in 1996 with an unrestricted gift of $100, marking the start of a long philanthropic partnership. Jonathan Lavine has served as a Dana-Farber trustee since 2011. He and his wife, Jeannie Lavine, a philanthropic leader and former strategy consultant, served together on the campaign cabinet for The Dana-Farber Campaign.

“Cancer affects everyone — patients and the people who love and care for them,” said Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine who are partnering on the joint gift with the Bekensteins. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine what inpatient cancer care can be. Our support represents our belief in the people of Dana-Farber — the researchers, administrators, and the doctors and nurses on the front lines — and in a model of care that puts patients first. We hope this commitment inspires others to support what’s possible.”

“For generations, Massachusetts has been the global leader in health care innovation and medical research, and Dana-Farber has played an essential role in that legacy,” said Governor Maura Healey and First Lady Joanna Lydgate. “Thanks to the tremendous generosity of the Lavine and Bekenstein families, Dana-Farber’s future cancer hospital is one step closer to changing lives and delivering expert, compassionate care for patients and their families. We are proud of Dana-Farber and grateful for the Lavine and Bekenstein families’ support.”

“The City of Boston is profoundly grateful to Josh and Anita Bekenstein and Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine for their extraordinary generosity to realize the vision of the new Dana-Farber cancer hospital,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Boston thrives because we continue to reinvest in ourselves as a community that drives scientific research and global advances in human health. This joint gift is a landmark investment in the future of our city and a symbol of hope for millions of cancer patients around the world.”

Situated on the current site of the Joslin Diabetes Center along Brookline Avenue, the planned cancer hospital will be one of only 14 in the United States. The inpatient facility will be supported by a clinical collaboration among Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians. The interlocking campus will connect Dana-Farber and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center facilities, fostering multidisciplinary care across medical specialties for the patient journey. Construction is expected to begin in mid 2026.

About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the founding member of the Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center, and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 3 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care.

As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to an equal emphasis on cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,200 clinical trials.

About Josh and Anita Bekenstein

Josh and Anita Bekenstein deeply value civic engagement and have had the privilege of supporting many philanthropic initiatives over the years. They believe that many of our most urgent challenges can be solved by supporting strong leaders with innovative and catalytic ideas. They are optimistic that philanthropy can drive transformative and sustainable systems changes which benefit the well-being of all humanity.

About The Lavine Family and The Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation

The Lavine Family and their family foundation, The Crimson Lion / Lavine Family Foundation, and related family charitable entities, work toward leveling the playing field for individuals and families.

The Foundation addresses pressing social challenges in the areas of education, healthcare, workforce development, anti-discrimination, and democratizing information. The Foundation supports the multi-disciplinary efforts of organizations that serve to strengthen civil society through research, innovation, public policy, direct service, and advocacy.

Contacts

Media Contact:
Molly McHale
Molly_McHale@dfci.harvard.edu