Adding to a distinguished legacy of support for leading-edge cancer research and treatment at USC Norris, the estate of philanthropist Henrietta C. Lee includes a gift of $20 million, bringing Lee’s total giving to $45 million.

Lee, who died of natural causes on June 19 at the age of 94, made a bequest to support research and programs at USC Norris. Prior to the $20 million gift, Lee gave $25 million to establish four endowed cancer research chairs and a breast cancer center at the facility.

Keck School Dean Carmen A. Puliafito lauded Lee’s generosity. “We are privileged to have known such a generous friend. Henrietta’s legacy will be the hope that her generosity gives to patients who will benefit from promising new therapies.”

In 1997, Lee made a lead gift to establish the Harold E. and Henrietta C. Lee Breast Center, a 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art research and treatment facility located on the first floor of the USC Norris Cancer Hospital. Mrs. Lee’s husband, Harold, passed away in 1990.

She also provided funding for four endowed chairs: the Harold E. Lee Chair in Cancer Research, held by Michael Press, professor of pathology at the Keck School of Medicine, and the Henrietta C. Lee Chair in Breast Cancer Research, whose inaugural holder was Melvin J. Silverstein, a former professor of surgery at the Keck School. She also funded the Patricia Jones Chair in Ovarian Cancer and the Dr. Arthur and Priscilla Ulene Chair in Women’s Cancer.

In 2002, Lee made a gift to establish the Lee Women’s Health Center at USC Norris to create and advance the understanding and care of female-specific cancers and the ability to diagnose and treat by integrating patient care, research, prevention and education.