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The Cooper Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Cooper University Health Care, announced May 1 the largest endowed gift in its history: a $5 million pledge from The Bernard and Shirley Brown Charitable Foundation and The Brown Foundation. 

The pledge will establish Cooper’s first endowed chief, The Edward D. Viner, MD, Chief of Medicine Endowment. 

The endowment, which honors Dr. Edward Viner, chief emeritus of Cooper’s Department of Medicine, will support the compensation and retention of a physician “who possesses an exemplary record of outstanding performance in teaching, scholarship, research, and service,” according to The Cooper Foundation. 

Viner, who served as chief of medicine from 1987 to 2006, continues to practice internal medicine and serves as founding director and senior advisor to the dean at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. The Viner Intensive Care Unit at Cooper also bears his name. 

Both Brown foundations are longtime benefactors of Cooper, having supported the Cooper Learning Center, breast cancer programs at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, summer reading programs for Camden children and other initiatives, according to The Cooper Foundation.

Members of the Brown family, including Anne Koons, Sid Brown and Jeffrey Brown, said it was an honor to recognize Viner in this way.  

“Dr. Viner has personally and compassionately provided care to our family over the years, and we are indebted to him for his service to the community and especially to us,” said Koons, who also is a member of The Cooper Foundation board of trustees. 

To further Cooper’s growth, including a $2 billion expansion in Camden announced in September 2022, the foundation has been building its advancement team in recent months. In February, Lisa Morina was named vice president of advancement for corporate relations, and Lois Gabin-Legato was appointed vice president of advancement for major gifts and planned giving. The health care system also announced April 25 that is moving forward with its merger with Cape Regional Health System.

Words of thanks

In a statement, the Cooper leadership team shared their gratitude for the pledge: 

“The Brown and Koons families have been committed and loyal supporters of Cooper and The Cooper Foundation for many years. We are extremely grateful for their desire to honor Dr. Viner and their support of Cooper’s mission to provide the most advanced health care and services to the community.”
– Philip Norcross, chairman of The Cooper Foundation board of trustees

“This is one of the most significant gifts in the history of Cooper University Health Care, and we are humbled by the generosity of the Brown and Koons families. Gifts like this help Cooper advance health care throughout the region.”
– George Norcross III, chairman of The Cooper Foundation board of trustees 

“We are grateful to the Brown and Koons families for this significant investment in Cooper’s future. As the leading academic health system in the region, Cooper will use this investment to continue our track record of recruiting and retaining nationally recognized physicians and groundbreaking researchers.”
– Kevin O’Dowd, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care 

“This is a fitting tribute to one of Cooper’s most-respected physicians and leaders. With this first endowed chief in Cooper’s history, Dr. Viner’s legacy will continue through other outstanding physician leaders now and in the future.”
– Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care