On Jul. 30, 1995, Peter Karmanos generously gave a large donation to the cancer research, patient care and education partnership formed a year earlier by Michigan Cancer Foundation, the Meyer L. Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit, The Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University.

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute was named in memory of the Detroit native who married Peter Karmanos Jr., her high school sweetheart, raised three sons, and helped launch a major international business.