Developer Beat Kahli Gives $600,000 to Create Oncology Nursing Chair at UCF

March 9, 2005 — Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park, will donate $600,000 this week to establish the Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Chair in Oncology Nursing at the College of Health and Public Affairs at the University of Central Florida.

The endowment creates the prestigious faculty position in the college and will support its research program in nursing care for cancer patients. The gift is eligible for a state match that would result in an endowed fund of more than $1 million.

“I am delighted that Mr. Kahli has chosen to make this commitment to the College of Health and Public Affairs,” said college Dean Belinda McCarthy. “Oncology nursing is one of the most vital, demanding and challenging areas of nursing research, education and service. This gift will go a long way toward establishing UCF as a leader in the field.”

Jean Leuner, director of the college's School of Nursing, said that in addition to bringing distinction to the university, Kahli's gift recognizes the significant contributions nurses make to health care, including research.

“Nurses play a pivotal role in cancer research, particularly in areas such as quality of life, palliative care, symptom clusters, symptom management, caregiver needs, clinical trials and evidence-based practice,” Leuner said.

“The nurse researcher named to this endowed chair will be able to further his or her research and scholarly activities related to cancer,” she explained. “This person will also help educate future clinicians and researchers and participate in our school's community-based curriculum and partnerships.”

The chair title recognizes Kahli and his wife, Jill, whose mother died at an early age from cancer. The Kahlis also have several friends and other family members who have been diagnosed with cancer. “I believe that it is imperative that we do whatever we can to battle this horrible disease,” Kahli said.

“I also believe that it is important to fortify the two already strong hospitals, Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Medical Center, with a world-class, high-tech corridor between the University of Central Florida and the airport,” he added. “It is the right thing and the right time for this donation.”

Kahli and the college share a strong interest in developing public-private partnerships, McCarthy said. “He recently established meetings with a leadership team from our programs in social work, health professions, communicative disorders and public administration. They are exploring partnerships that would promote the development of innovative rehabilitation services and improve the quality of life for residents of East Orlando.”

Kahli was born in Switzerland and earned a business degree from the Zurich School of Business. He worked as an investment banker for several years before moving to the United States in 1996. He now leads the development of two master-planned communities, Avalon Park in Orange County and New River Township in Pasco County, which will have a combined total of 10,000 homes and more than 2 million square feet of commercial space when completed.

Kahli is also the founder and chairman of Prestige/AB Ready-Mix, which is the largest independent concrete company in Florida. In addition, he owns a community newspaper, the East Orlando Sun; a landscaping company and two restaurants. He is actively involved in several nonprofit organizations, such as the YMCA, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, American Red Cross and Florida Hospital.

— Karen Guin