The University of Hawaii’s Cancer Center has received a $3 million donation from Joanna Lau Sullivan, whose husband Maurice J. "Sully" Sullivan founded the Foodland chain.

"My family and I are delighted and proud to continue our support of the UH Cancer Center," Sullivan said in a University of Hawaii Foundation news release. "Our gift underscores our belief in the importance of cancer research and is a testament to our hope that the center will have a positive impact on our state for many years to come."

The money will be used to help build, furnish and maintain a new research building that will be named the Sullivan Conference Center, scheduled to open in early 2013. Sullivan earlier this year made a donation that was combined with a gift from her late husband to create the J. and M. Sullivan Cancer Fund.