DETROIT -

The General Motors Foundation announced Monday it will be continuing its support of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute by donating $400,000 to the cancer research center.

This brings the foundation’s support of the institute to nearly $6 million over the last 15 years.

On top of the donation, GM senior vice president of global product development Mary Barra and her husband Tony, president of Filament Consulting, will chair the institute’s 30th Annual Dinner on April 28.

Highlighting Barra’s role at GM, as a 33-year veteran of the company, she is “responsible for leading the design, engineering and quality of new vehicles for GM across the globe,” officials noted.

Also of note, Barra was recently named one of the "World’s 100 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes magazine.

Commenting on their role at the institute’s Annual Dinner, Barra noted, "Tony and I are honored to be able to build upon the success of last year’s event by chairing the 2012 Annual Dinner.

"The opportunity to serve an organization that is dedicated to eradicating cancer is a special privilege for us," he added. 

Last year, GM chairman and chief executive officer Dan Akerson and his wife Karin chaired the event, and more than $868,000 was raised for cancer research.

Also expressing enthusiasm for this year’s upcoming Annual Dinner, Gerold Bepler, president and chief executive officer of the Karmanos Cancer Institute, noted, "We’re very happy to have the support of Mary and Tony Barra as chairs of this year’s dinner to support cancer research.

"We’re incredibly grateful for the unprecedented commitment from GM and the GM Foundation. Thanks to all of our supporters, we are developing the next standard of cancer care that will be used around the world,” he continued.

GM is also the host sponsor of this year’s dinner, which will be held at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Mich., officials noted.

Furthermore, the presenting sponsor is Compuware Corp.; and the executive sponsors are Johnson Controls and Lil and Alex Erdeljan.

"The GM Foundation’s grant will help Karmanos continue the important fight against cancer," said the GM Foundation president Vivian Pickard.

"We are fortunate to have this leading organization serving our Michigan communities, and we are committed to making this year’s annual dinner a success,” she concluded.

Located in mid-town Detroit, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States.

Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities for the dinner should contact Maureen Bender at (313) 576-8111 or benderm@karmanos.org.

To reserve tickets, contact Lisa Koltunchik at (313) 576-8106 or koltuncl@karmanos.org.