Thanks A Million!
Generous Winship Supporters Push
2012 Annual Fund Over $1 Million.
Dr. Walter J. Curran, Jr. (front left), on behalf of the Winship physicians, researchers, nurses, and staff, extends a million thanks to all of the generous Winship 2012 Annual Fund donors! |
Zero to a million in just seven years! That’s how much our donors have increased their annual support to advance cancer research and patient care since 2006, when Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University established its annual giving program. Thanks a million; that is what we owe our donors!
"We are so grateful for every gift, no matter what size," said Winship executive director Dr. Walter J. Curran, Jr. "Every dollar is put to work to advance cancer prevention, research, and patient care.
"I believe deeply in the importance of philanthropy, so one of my goals when I became director three years ago was to foster a culture of giving within Winship and our community. Reaching the million-dollar mark in annual giving this year is a grand testament to our success, made possible by so many generous donors. We are committed to keeping the momentum going and continuing to grow."
Perhaps the biggest impetus for Winship’s growth in annual giving has been our selection to join the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) elite network of designated cancer centers in 2009. And this year, Winship was rated "outstanding" by the NCI’s panel of cancer experts who reviewed our application for designation and granted us a five-year renewal.
Among the many reasons for Winship’s renewal were accomplishments such as: advances in lung cancer research; a world-class multiple myeloma program; a comprehensive breast cancer program with research focused on its rarer forms, early detection, and high risk patients; one of the nation’s oldest and finest leukemia and bone marrow transplant programs; the Southeast’s largest head and neck cancer research effort; and a broad portfolio of cancer clinical trials. All of these accolades are due, in part, to the passionate and loyal support of our annual donors.
Momentum for increased annual giving was also created by the impact of our new signature event, the Winship Win the Fight 5K Walk/Run. Its embrace by so many people inside and outside of Winship has greatly exceeded our hopes and expectations. The Winship 5K was the brainchild of Dr. Curran, who pushed to get the inaugural race organized in record time and is a member of the radiation oncology department’s team, the EmoRay-ders, one of the top and most enthusiastic fundraising teams.
"The Winship 5K has really created awareness of Winship, both within Emory and the community," said Mark Hughes, director of annual giving. "We are seeing an increase in donations from participants and even from non-participants who are using the occasion to honor or memorialize loved ones. We hope to sustain and grow this level of interest, especially in the face of fewer federal dollars available for cancer research."
In fact, many donors express their enthusiasm for our research and the contributions Winship is making in the fight against cancer, not only in Georgia, but on a national and international scale. "Our research component is what sets us apart from other cancer programs allowing us to more quickly translate discoveries to patient treatment and care."
The over $1 million raised in annual giving this year includes both restricted and unrestricted gifts. Donors choose to restrict their contributions to a specific program or type of cancer or make unrestricted gifts, which fund Winship’s highest research priorities. Top priorities include the recruitment of lead investigators for Winship’s floor in the new health sciences research building opening its doors next year, and expanding our already extensive clinical trials offerings. Winship has approximately 300 therapeutic clinical trials open to accrual now, an increase of more than 75% since 2006. We are committed to expanding the availability of clinical trials so that Georgians can get the most advanced treatments close to home.
To donate to the Winship Annual Fund, contact Mark Hughes at 404-778-1288 or mthughe@emory.edu or give online at www.winshipcancer.emory.edu/support.
DONOR PROFILE
William and Sherri Bornstein
"Cancer is so devastating to so many of us and our families."
As the chief quality and medical officer for Emory Healthcare, William Bornstein sees the need for philanthropic support from the inside out.
"There are so many things we do within Emory Healthcare that really impact lives in very important ways. I feel lucky to be part of that and have a desire to support it financially, in addition to the work I do. Winship is a great example of a unit within Emory that is world leading on all fronts of patient care, research, and teaching. And since cancer can be such a catastrophic disease that touches so many of us and our families, I support Winship’s Director’s Fund through MyEmory, the Emory employee giving program."
Dr. Bornstein and his wife Sherri (an Emory alumna) have also supported the Winship Patient Assistance Fund to help those who face financial challenges in receiving quality care. "I feel financial status shouldn’t be a barrier to getting the kind of cancer care Winship delivers."
DONOR PROFILE
Mary J. K. Burns
"I want to protect my grandchildren from this disease."
Mary J. Burns of Atlanta lost both her husband Edward and her younger son Alan to pancreatic cancer. Alan underwent Whipple surgery at Winship, a procedure available at only a handful of cancer centers in the country.
"Pancreatic cancer is such a vicious disease. I want everyone to be aware of it. My first contact with Emory was at Crawford-Long (now known as Emory Midtown) where my husband was treated. Everyone was just wonderful to us and, as a result, I joined the auxiliary and volunteered there for many years. When my son got sick, they took the best care of him and my family at Winship and Emory University Hospital. I donate to Winship because I’ve experienced the care and support they give to patients and because they’re working on developing ways to diagnose the disease earlier and treat it.
"I’ve continued my support every year because of what they’ve done for us and for what I hope they can do to protect the rest of my family. I live at Wesley Woods, so I’m very close by and feel a personal connection to Winship."
DONOR PROFILE
Sid and Jeanette Haggard
"We’re so impressed with the research going on at Winship."
Sid and Jeanette Haggard have a long history with Winship and Emory Healthcare. Both of their mothers and Jeanette were treated for colon cancer there.
"It’s hard to put into words," Jeanette said. "So many of the people I’ve come in contact with at Winship have been so positive and helpful in getting me through the treatment. They are outstanding—professional and caring, so patient-oriented. "
"We had a private tour of the Winship labs and were so impressed with the research being done," Sid added. "With our family history of colon cancer, we decided to concentrate our giving there."
In addition to sustained annual giving to the Partner in Research program, the Haggards have purchased several pavers in the Healing Garden in memory of loved ones, and donated a painting through the Healing Arts Program in honor of Winship physician Dr. John Kauh and the staff who cared for Jeanette during her battle with colon cancer.
DONOR PROFILE
Elizabeth B. White
"I want to make someone else’s cancer journey a little easier."
Elizabeth B. White, president of Peachtree Special Risk Brokers LLC, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and chose Winship for her treatment.
"Life humbles you very quickly when you have cancer. Sitting in the waiting rooms at Winship put it all in perspective. I saw people from all walks of life there and realized that you never know what life holds or what the person next to you is going through. I was lucky to have good insurance and financial resources, but not everyone is so fortunate. I was completely touched by my experience and wanted to do something meaningful."
On the last day of her radiation treatment, White stopped by the Patient and Family Resource Center and gave a substantial donation to Winship and renews it every year on that special anniversary. Her gifts are designated to the Patient Assistance Fund, which aims to ease the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis for those most in need. "It’s my way to celebrate that important milestone and give something back."
DONOR PROFILE
Lynn Cochran-Schroder and Bill Schroder
"Everyone at Winship was so wonderful to my family."
From the first moment Winship started its Partner in Research program in 2006, Lynn Cochran-Schroder and her husband, Bill Schroder, have been generous annual donors. They are founding members of the Winship Advisory Board and also support the Carol Maddox Forrester Brain Tumor Research Fund.
"We’ve been very active advocates for Winship for a long time and have so many connections to Winship and Emory Healthcare," Lynn said. "Bill’s uncle, Spalding Schroder, was even a founding member of the Emory Clinic. But the reason I treasure Winship so much is because Dr. Jeffrey Olson and his team were so wonderful to my family and me when my first husband, Felix Cochran, was being treated for a glioblastoma. I can’t say enough to describe the level of care at Winship. If I should ever need cancer treatment, I’d go there in a heartbeat."
DONOR PROFILE
Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW of Georgia
"Many of our auxiliary sisters have been diagnosed and treated at Winship."
The Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of Georgia has been contributing annually to Winship for many years, including their 2012 donation of $11,600 for Winship’s Partner in Research Fund. In past years, they have directed their annual support to research for breast cancer, lymphoma, and other cancers.
"Our members' passion for this cause stems from the overwhelming number of our friends and loved ones suffering from many types of cancer," said Carol Coggins, auxiliary president. "We want to make a difference so we spend a lot of time and imagination fundraising—making and selling creative crafts, holding dinners and dances, putting on silly stage shows, and even a Mardi Gras festival.
"We believe that every dollar we donate gets this world one step closer to finding the cure. As a group, we chose Winship because we believe very strongly in the outstanding research and patient care taking place there."
