Before succumbing to cancer, Battle Creek native created an art therapy foundation
Kim Hammonds, family members say, had a remarkable life; from blue-collar beginnings in Battle Creek to senior posts at Ford, Dell, Boeing and Deutsche Bank.
Hammonds died of metastatic breast cancer on June 28 at her home in Florida.
She left her mark on the business world and created a legacy through the nonprofit Zoe Foundation, helping others fighting cancer through art therapy.
The Zoe Foundation, launched in 2003, is named after Hammonds' daughter and has raised millions for art programs at various cancer centers and children's hospitals across the country, including eight locations in Michigan.
"My goal is to replicate the gift of art that I received during my own cancer treatment," Hammonds wrote at thezoefoundation.org.
Hammonds founded the charity after being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at age 35. She ran the nonprofit for 20 years until her death.
Though she dabbled in the arts as a young violinist, it wasn't until her cancer diagnosis that she embraced the healing power art could provide.
Hammonds was undergoing chemotherapy at the University of Michigan Cancer Center in Ann Arbor when a volunteer art student named Diane Marx wheeled in art supplies to provide a distraction and something to look forward to during future treatments.
It turned out to be a gift Hammonds was intent on sharing.
"Kim had this life-changing event to suddenly feel threatened at the age of 35. It's horrifying," said Rod Hammonds, her husband. "You tend to be very purposeful in how you live your life thereafter, and she was."
After being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2019, Hammonds continued leading the foundation, raising about $1.8 million to support art programs at cancer centers and children's hospitals. She helped raise millions for the American Cancer Society, and was recognized with the "Raising Hope" award during the 2019 American Cancer Society Discovery Gala in San Francisco.
Hard work was ingrained in Hammonds at a young age, and she never missed a day of school until a bout with chickenpox while attending Harper Creek High School. Her brother, Jeff Daniels, said she was "your typical honor roll student," particularly excelling in math and science.
"We grew up, typical middle class, but hardworking family," Daniels said. "Our father was a truck driver for many years. Summers would include — my parents had a huge garden — we'd have to weed the garden, pick the vegetables. We were very scheduled. Our childhood was hard work, don't complain and don't make excuses."
Upon graduating from Harper Creek, Hammonds attended Kellogg Community College. She and her mother earned their associate degrees from the school at the same time. She then transferred to the University of Michigan, where she studied mechanical engineering and became the first in her extended family to earn a bachelor's degree when she graduated in 1990.
Hammonds worked at Ford Motor Company for the next 16 years, earning an MBA along the way from Western Michigan University. After a brief stint at Dell, she spent five years as a vice president at Boeing.
Hammonds was recruited to Deutsche Bank in London in 2013 to modernize its technology infrastructure. She was promoted to chief operating officer for the German lender in 2016 before mutually agreeing to depart from the bank in 2018 following leadership changes.
In a statement, Deutsche Bank said Hammonds had made a "lasting contribution — with her fresh perspective and courage to make profound changes."
Following her time in the automotive, computer hardware, aerospace and financial service industries, Hammonds spent recent years serving on the board of directors for Zoom Video Communications Inc., Box Inc., Cloudera Inc. and Red Hat Inc.
A virtual celebration of Hammonds' life is planned for Sunday, with an estimated 500 guests planning to attend, spanning three continents.
"She just kind of always took things to the next level," Daniels said of his late sister. "She thought, 'This (art therapy) means a lot to me, how can I share this with hundreds of people? Most people would say, art therapy was great and move on. She would take it to the next level and say, 'This impacted me, I want to impact others.'"
Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek native helped others battle cancer through art therapy
