A safe bet on scientific discovery
Cautious in business, retired gaming executive Michael Ensign never took a risk without taking an objective look at the facts.
Michael Ensign and his wife of more than 40 years, Sharon, live in Las Vegas, but neither is the gambling type. According to the couple, that is why they established the Sharon and Michael Ensign Urologic Oncology Fund in 2008 with an initial $1 million gift and recently added a second $1 million gift to the fund. Supporting the scientific initiatives of Timothy G. Wilson, M.D., the Pauline and Martin Collins Family Chair in Urology, this fund was designed specifically to help City of Hope develop the best urologic research program in the nation.
Michael Ensign, retired chair, chief executive officer and chief operating officer of Mandalay Resort Group, was first introduced to City of Hope in 2003 while participating in the DiClemente Golf Classic, a fundraising event for the cancer center.
Intrigued, he began learning more about the organization’s biomedical research efforts. The couple already shared a deep commitment to improving their community through charitable giving; it was only logical for them to translate their respect for City of Hope into a concrete philanthropic gift. Their friend,Tony Alamo, M.D., became the catalyst for the gift when he spoke about Wilson’s nationally recognized efforts in developing advanced approaches to prostate cancer treatment and diagnosis.
“City of Hope is a great research institution with a strong track record of success. The passion and dedication of researchers like Dr. Wilson convinced me that this is where tomorrow’s breakthroughs will be generated,” Michael Ensign said.
Sharon Ensign agreed. “Michael and I want to help make a difference by supporting this important research, and there’s no place quite as sophisticated as City of Hope in getting the job done,” she said.