Breaking Ground at the Garden of Hope

The Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research ceremonially broke ground recently at the eagerly anticipated location for the Garden of Hope — a verdant place of tranquility planned at The Pap Corps Campus of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Deerfield Beach.

With Sylvester-branded shovels firmly planted in the ground, The Pap Corps leaders and members signaled the beginning of construction and the concrete realization of a long-standing vision to create a place of peaceful reflection for those fighting cancer, as well as their families, and health care workers.

“This project is a long-awaited dream of ours and wouldn’t have come to fruition without the commitment of The Pap Corps members and Sylvester leadership,” said Susan Dinter, chair of The Pap Corps. “While we continue to support Sylvester’s research to find cancer cures, we feel honored to be able to create a Garden of Hope, a physical space of tranquility and peace for those battling cancer.”

The Garden of Hope, featuring benches, a bronze-colored fountain, and lush landscaping, including shade trees and flowers, is slated for completion in Spring 2021.

Joining Dinter to celebrate this significant event were Rayna Becker, director of The Pap Corps Board of Directors, Beverly Berkowitz, member-at-large of The Pap Corps Board of Directors, Linda Moses, past chair of The Pap Corps Board of Directors, Stacia Anderson, The Pap Corps CFO and past secretary of the Board of Directors, and Stavroula Christodoulou.

The idea for the Garden of Hope was first planted when Sylvester’s Deerfield Beach location was named for The Pap Corps in honor of its historic $50 million pledge to Sylvester in 2016. Since its founding nearly 70 years ago, the nonprofit group has donated more than $110 million to Sylvester, which is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in South Florida and one of only two in the state.

Donors can still support the Garden of Hope by purchasing multicolored bricks with personalized messages as well as benches and plaques that will adorn the garden. All of the proceeds from the campaign will support Sylvester’s research programs.

Bricks are available in two sizes: 4 x 8 for $365 and 8 x 8 for $730 and can display a personalized engraved message.

Tags: Garden of Hope, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research