Billionaire industrialist/philanthropist Jon M. Huntsman is donating $125 million more to a cause near and dear to his heart -- the University of Utah cancer research institute that bears his name and which he founded with a total $151 million in earlier gifts.

The contribution to the Huntsman Cancer Institute will be used for two separate projects. The largest part of the donation, $100 million, will finance ongoing research at HCI and help build a new clinical research hospital.

The remaining $25 million will pay for a variety of cancer care programs in partnership with Intermountain Health Care (IHC) system serving Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

Huntsman, 62, has a personal connection to this cause. He lost his father, mother and stepfather to cancer, and has fought at least two kinds of cancer himself, the Associated Press reports.

HCI is believed to be the only such cancer center in the U.S. funded primarily by one family.

Huntsman has given to a number of other causes, including a $40 million gift to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, and millions more to support programs and events for disabled athletes.

He is the founder and owner of Huntsman Chemical Corp., the world's largest privately-owned chemical firm. In previous interviews, Huntsman has said his goal is to give away his wealth, estimated at more than $3 billion.

This news release can be found at:
http://www.huntsman.com/news/release.php?show=123