Bank of America honors cancer survivor, ex exec Cathy Bessant with $1M donation to Novant
Breast cancer survivor Cathy Bessant shared memories about her battle fighting the deadly disease at a Charlotte ceremony in her honor hosted by Novant Health and Bank of America on Tuesday.
Bessant was one of the top leaders at Bank of America before retiring in December. She now runs Foundation For The Carolinas.
The Charlotte-based bank granted Bessant a $1 million donation to a charity of her choice because of her decades of service. Bessant directed the gift to the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation to establish an endowed fund to give back to cancer patients, according to a Novant Health news release.
Bank of America Charlotte President Kieth Cockrell spoke about Bessant’s fundraising efforts and work to build the Novant Health Cancer Institute Buddy Kemp Cancer Support Center. Cockrell worked with Bessant and she was also a friend and mentor when he was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I’m here representing thousands of people who can say the same thing,” Bessant said about being alive after getting medical care at the Kemp Support Center.
She later fought back tears after learning that the money will be used for the the establishment of the Novant Health Catherine P. Bessant Endowed Chair for Breast Health.
The inaugural chair will be Dr. Peter Turk, director of surgical oncology at Novant Health Cancer Institute and co-director of the breast cancer program at Novant Health. He provided care to Bessant after she was diagnosed.
“You’ll have to follow my orders,” Bessant said with a chuckle.
The event was held at the Kemp Support Center, which was also renamed in Bessant’s honor and will now be known as the Novant Health Cancer Institute Kemp Bessant Support Center. The center was originally named in honor of Charlotte banker Buddy Kemp, former president of North Carolina National Bank, a predecessor bank of Bank of America.
Kemp, who briefly had worked with Bessant, died of brain cancer in 1990.
Saad Ehtisham, president of Novant Health for the greater Charlotte market, said the Bessant endowment will be used to elevate Novant Health cancer institute and support services. This includes education, technology, equipment, research and patient outreach.
More about Cathy Bessant
Bessant became the president and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas this year. She previously served as the chair and was a longtime foundation board member.
The Charlotte-based nonprofit organization has more than $4 billion in assets, and is the fifth largest community foundation in the nation.
Bessant spent 40 years with Bank of America and earned the “Most Powerful Woman in Banking” designation from American Banker three years in a row. She also served as president of global corporate banking, chief marketing officer and vice chair of global strategy in Paris.
