The UC Davis Health System announced Jan. 11 that it had received the single largest private donation in its history — an $8.17 million gift that consists of 15 acres of undeveloped land in Rocklin.

The property, at the northeast corner of Whitney Boulevard and Highway 65, will be used for medical facilities to serve the health care needs of this fast-growing region of Northern California.

The gift was made by the real estate development firm River South Holdings. The company's partners are five local landowners — Mark Friedman of Fulcrum Properties; Martin Harmon of Western Care Construction; the Tsakopoulos family, represented by Kyriakos Tsakopoulos of AKT Development; Brian Vail of River West Investments; and John Sinadinos, an attorney and developer. Many of the partners have a history of philanthropic support for UC Davis.

Health system officials envision using the 15-acre gift to develop a health campus offering a range of outpatient services, including cancer care.

The health system already has physician practices in Placer County, and has submitted plans to the city of Rocklin Planning Commission for a new outpatient facility on a site adjacent to the gift parcel. That facility will include comprehensive imaging services and an infusion center for cancer patients. Health system officials expect completion by the end of 2008.

"The south Placer area is undergoing significant growth and development," said Claire Pomeroy, vice chancellor of Human Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine.

"With the population of approximately 90,000 residents expected to increase by more than 5 percent through the year 2010 in this area, the need for health services is great," she added.

Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef said the donation will have "far-reaching benefits" for the UC Davis Health System and the people it serves throughout the region.

— UC Davis Health System