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Watch the announcement of the Fords’ gift

The story below was first published on OHSU News on December 6, 2024.

A $16 million gift to OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital from Roseburg, Oregon, residents Cheryl Ramberg-Ford and Allyn Ford will establish a comprehensive clinic for children with pediatric neuromuscular disorders, knows as NMDs. The gift — which stands as the single largest private donation in Doernbecher’s 98-year history — was made in memory of Cheryl’s brother, Douglas Ramberg, who passed away in 1965 from complications of muscular dystrophy, the most common NMD.

The Fords’ gift will establish the Ramberg Ford Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders Center, envisioned as a dedicated, purpose-built space for highly coordinated, multidisciplinary patient care, family support and clinical research.

Currently, Doernbecher’s neuromuscular disorders program is the only one in Oregon, providing some 300 families each year with access to comprehensive care, including preventive and specialist care, physical therapy, genetic testing and counseling, emotional and social support services, and access to clinical trials of promising new gene therapies. Program Director Erika Finanger, M.D., M.S., leads the state’s only program dedicated to pediatric NMD care — she and her closely knit team see every patient in the state, and are involved in virtually every aspect of their care. With the Fords’ support, Doernbecher intends to integrate many of these diverse services into a single clinic, add clinicians and researchers, expand its clinical trials program, and increase support available to patients and families living with these complex and challenging conditions.

“For years I have dreamed of a one-stop clinic where kids and their families can access all the right people and services in one place and in one day,” Finanger said. “Thanks to this incredibly generous gift, that dream will soon come true.”

“I know from my own experience that life with muscular dystrophy is extremely challenging, not only for the patient but the entire family.”
– Cheryl Ramberg Ford

“This gift will ensure that the Ramberg Ford Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders Center will always be there to provide these courageous children and their families with exceptional care, comprehensive support and the hope that comes from research,” said Dana Braner, M.D., Doernbecher physician-in-chief and Credit Unions for Kids Chair in Pediatrics.

Through this gift — the largest personal donation the couple has made to date — Cheryl is following in the footsteps of her late parents, Douglas County civic leaders Emil and Janet Ramberg, who were deeply involved in local efforts to raise funds and awareness for muscular dystrophy research in the 1960s. She said she recognizes how meaningful this gift would have been for her parents.

“I know from my own experience that life with muscular dystrophy is extremely challenging, not only for the patient but the entire family,” she said. “When Allyn and I learned about Dr. Finanger’s exciting vision for this center, we knew we had to do everything we could to make it possible.”

The Fords have a strong tradition of supporting organizations that advance health, education and well-being for Oregon’s rural residents — especially children. As dedicated OHSU and Doernbecher supporters, they both served on the former Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation Board and are currently life members of the Doernbecher Philanthropy Board. For many years, Cheryl chaired the Douglas County chapter of the Friends of Doernbecher organization in addition to her work on behalf of many other area nonprofits. Allyn is the former president, CEO and board chairman of Roseburg Forest Products, one of the nation’s largest privately owned wood products companies, and was chairman of Umpqua Bank from 1999 to 2012. He also served for 24 years as director of the Ford Family Foundation, a major funder of organizations working to create the conditions for Oregon’s children to have the family, educational and community supports they need to succeed in life. The Foundation’s 2014 grant of $5 million to the Knight Cancer Challenge helped OHSU expand the delivery of cancer prevention and care expertise to rural Oregonians.

Kate Azizi, president of the OHSU Foundation, expressed gratitude to the Fords for their gift. “We are deeply grateful to Cheryl and Allyn for helping us realize our vision to make Doernbecher a nationally recognized NMD center,” Azizi said. “Until there is a cure, children and families living with disorders like muscular dystrophy need all the support we can give them. This gift will let us make their lives easier today while advancing the search for tomorrow’s cures.”

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