The Gift of Peace

For the Dunn family, giving has always been personal. Inspired by their own experiences with cancer, their newest gift, called a Garden of Hope, will be a beautiful green space at The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s new cancer center facility where patients, caregivers and family members can find moments of peace amid difficult days. 

JE Dunn Construction, founded in Kansas City by John Ernest Dunn Sr. more than 100 years ago, is serving as the general contractor for the new facility. For the family, helping to build the facility – and contributing to a space of reflection – represents a professional and personal investment in the future of cancer research and care. 

Finding Comfort in Nature 

Designed as a peaceful retreat for patients and families, the garden will serve as a reminder that healing extends beyond medicine; it also lives in nature and, for some, in moments of spiritual reflection. 

“Cancer is a physical disease, but it also weighs on us mentally,” says Kevin Dunn, grandson of JE Dunn Sr. “We hope this garden will offer people a place to connect with nature, with hope and maybe even something greater.” 

The Garden of Hope will sit just outside the café in the clinical space where advanced treatments will be delivered. A rising sculpture will serve as a focal point, upward in form, suggesting the possibility of renewal. 

“This is a small part we can play in helping patients, families and caregivers find moments of peace when they need them most,” says Terry Dunn, who served as president and CEO of JE Dunn for more than 24 years. 

Inspired Giving 

The family’s ties to the University of Kansas date back decades. Terry recalls a childhood memory of a hospital team that gave his sister, Mary, a renewed chance at life – a moment the family says inspired a lifetime of community support. Coupled with more recent family experiences with cancer care, these memories helped shape the idea that a dedicated outdoor refuge would be a meaningful way to say thanks and serve others. 

“My grandparents Bill and Jean Dunn, the Dunn family and our company believe deeply in the power of community and compassion – values that continue to guide our family and our company,” says Tim Dunn, chairman and chief investment officer of JE Dunn. “This tribute is more than a gift; it’s a commitment to creating spaces where healing and hope flourish. We’re honored to support The University of Kansas Cancer Center in its mission to care for others with dignity and innovation.” 

A Company and Family at Work 

This gift is unique in that it brings together the Dunn family and JE Dunn Construction. As the general contractor for the project, JE Dunn has long been committed to building spaces that serve the greater good. For this project, the commitment extends beyond the walls of the facility. The company, along with the Dunn family, is contributing to the creation of the Garden of Hope. 

The partnership between the Dunn family and JE Dunn Construction reflects a shared belief that the best care environments are built from compassion and vision. 

“JE Dunn is fortunate to play a part in laying the groundwork for environments where lives are saved every day,” says Gordon Lansford, president and chief executive officer of JE Dunn. “It’s a profound responsibility and honor to build spaces where breakthroughs in science and medicine take shape – where the unimaginable becomes reality. When purpose drives our work, what we build becomes a reflection of our shared commitment to communities, innovation and progress.”