Mark & Kay De Cook Foundation contributes $100,000 to the Bridging the Gap Campaign

May 14, 2026

by Press Release

The Mark & Kay De Cook Charitable Foundation recently contributed $100,000 to the Bridging the Gap Campaign to help fund the South Central Iowa Radiation Center. Kay De Cook is pictured with representatives from Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics: Kevin Kincaid, Chief Executive Officer, KHC; Jenny Hesseltine, Foundation Coordinator, PRHC; Bob Kroese, Chief Executive Officer, PRHC; Kay De Cook, Mark & Kay De Cook Charitable Foundation; Mark Van Roekel, South Central Iowa Radiation Center Capital Campaign Committee; Barb Braafhart, South Central Iowa Radiation Center Capital Campaign Committee; Katrina Nelson, Director, Public Relations and Foundation, KHC; and Lezlie Morris, Chief of Clinic and Staff Services, PRHC.

Pella, Iowa – Pella Regional Health Center (PRHC) and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (KHC) proudly recognize and extend the deepest gratitude to the Mark & Kay De Cook Charitable Foundation for its generous contribution of $100,000 to the Bridging the Gap Campaign.

Gifts to the Bridging the Gap Campaign will help fund the South Central Iowa Radiation Center and support the partnership between PRHC and KHC to bring radiation therapy closer to home for patients across the region. This gift represents more than financial support – it reflects belief in our mission, confidence in our collaboration, and compassion for the patients and families we serve.

“Our family’s support of this special project for the radiation center has personal meaning for me,” said Kay De Cook. “I spent 32 days traveling to Des Moines for my cancer radiation treatments. It will be wonderful to have this treatment opportunity so close to home.”

“We cannot say thank you enough to the Mark & Kay De Cook Charitable Foundation for its financial contribution and personal willingness to engage in this project,” said Bob Kroese, CEO of Pella Regional Health Center. “As a long-time supporter of the hospital, the Mark & Kay De Cook Charitable Foundation's contribution to this project will help bring local care close to home.”

The state-of-the-art radiation oncology center is expected to be completed in early 2027 and will significantly improve access to cancer care for residents of Marion County and surrounding communities, reducing the need for travel to distant treatment centers.

The 7,800-square-foot facility will house advanced diagnostic and treatment technology, including:

A linear accelerator to deliver highly precise radiation treatments.

A PET/CT scanner which plays a critical role in diagnosing cancer and determining the most effective course of treatment.

“I am incredibly grateful for the generosity and support of donors like the Mark and Kay De Cook Charitable Foundation,” said Katrina Nelson, Director of Public Relations and Foundation, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics. “Their gift is an investment in the care and well-being of patients in the Knoxville, Pella, and surrounding communities and will help us provide exceptional high-quality cancer services.”

The South Central Iowa Radiation Center is projected to cost $14.3 million, with the majority of funding to be raised through the Bridging the Gap Campaign, led by the hospital foundations of PRHC and KHC.