Giving Back

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Tampa Organizations Fund Dreams of Budding Scientists

Proud parents and mentoring scientists joined more than 30 SPARK and LINK students at Moffitt Cancer Center’s annual Research Day on Aug. 14. Also looking on proudly were Sandy Rief from the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, Kathleen Belmonte from the Saunders Foundation, and Andy Kramer from the Tampa-area American Cancer Society.

All three groups sponsor SPARK (short for The Summer Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge) – a science educational program that places advanced college-age students in Moffitt’s laboratories for the summer. The students work with experienced investigators, scientists and physicians, gaining hands-on experience in daily research. Junior and senior faculty at the University of South Florida College of Medicine and Moffitt Cancer Center provide additional leadership and mentoring. Areas of study include immunology, cell biology, drug discovery, biostatistics, clinical investigations or cancer control.

"Moffitt provided a fantastic opportunity for me to get involved and do research in a real research lab," said Elizabeth Ciaravino, a biology & pre-med major at Georgetown University. "Not many undergraduates have an opportunity to get hands-on experience. The process has great value and gives students the guidance and confidence to grow on their own."

"SPARK is an investment in the future of science and medicine," reports W. Douglas Cress, PhD, director of Moffitt’s Summer Intern Program. "The interns gain experience in daily research and learn to work independently as well as part of a team."

SPARK summer intern students have ranged from a National Merit Scholar from Tampa to a University of South Florida, New College junior who entered an M.D./Ph.D. program at Harvard Medical School upon graduation.

Moffitt Cancer Center deeply appreciates the ongoing support of the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, the Saunders Foundation and the American Cancer Society for nurturing the next generation of scientists and physicians.

Chic, Charity and Cheers!

The women’s cancer initiative features limited edition T-shirts designed by Michael Kors and a charity shopping weekend

SAKS Fifth Avenue and Moffitt Cancer Center are once again joining forces this October to raise awareness and support for women’s cancers.  With 12,000 women in Florida confronting breast cancer, the need is urgent to find a cure.

SAKS Fifth Avenue’s annual charity shopping weekend will take place October 15 to 18 at SAKS in Tampa’s Westshore Plaza.  This year, celebrated designer Michael Kors has created a limited edition T-shirt exclusively to benefit KEY TO THE CURE that will retail for $40 at SAKS Fifth Avenue stores and on SAKS.com. A portion of the proceeds from each shirt sold will be donated to charity partners across the country, including Moffitt Cancer Center.  The T-shirt debuts at SAKS Fifth Avenue on October 1. Proceeds from shirt sales will benefit ovarian, breast, uterine and cervical cancer research at Moffitt.

“KEY TOTHE CURE has helped immeasurably over the years to help Moffitt Cancer Center make great progress in women’s cancers,” said Susan Stern, executive director of the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation.  “Community partnerships like this one with SAKS Fifth Avenue accelerate our efforts to save the lives of women all across Florida and beyond.  We appreciate the enthusiastic commitment by SAKS to help women stay beautiful inside and out.”

Kickoff Party -- Wednesday, October 14, 2009 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Location: Saks Fifth Avenue - WestShore Plaza Patron Party at the home of Cheryl and Harvey Adams Wednesday, October 21, 2009 SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION $75 Event Ticket $150 Patron Ticket Event Ticket Patron Ticket Goodie Bag $1,000 Courage Sponsor Four (4) tickets to the KEY TO THE CURE Kick-off Party on Wednesday, Oct. 14 Four (4) tickets to the Patron Party at the home of Cheryl and Harvey Adams on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Patron Party Bag Name recognition in program and signage displayed during the event $2,500 Hope Sponsor Six (6) tickets to the KEY TO THE CURE Kick-off Party on Wednesday, Oct. 14 Six (6) tickets to the Patron Party at the home of Cheryl and Harvey Adams on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Patron Party Bag Name recognition in program and signage displayed during the event $5,000 Key Sponsor Eight (8) tickets to the KEY TO THE CURE Kick-off Party on Wednesday, Oct. 14 Eight (8) tickets to the Patron Party at the home of Cheryl and Harvey Adams on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Patron Party Bag Name recognition in program and signage displayed during the event Name recognition in print advertising, press releases and Moffitt publications, including Legacy magazine, a publication for Moffitt supporters mailed to more than 60,000 homes

FALL FOR THE CAUSE Is Coming to Naples

Women in the greater Naples area won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear experts from Moffitt Cancer Center discuss the progress in women’s cancer research and care.  Bring a friend and come learn how Moffitt is on the cutting-edge of breast and gynecologic cancers for Florida’s women. 

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Port Royal Club, Naples, FL

Ticket – $100
Patron Ticket – $250
Sponsorships start at $1,000
Proceeds benefit women’s reproductive cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Please RSVP by Friday, October 16, 2009
Call Sue Bliss in the Moffitt Foundation at 813-745-4860 or 800-456-3434 x4860
www.Moffitt.org/Giving 

Keynote Speakers from Moffitt Cancer Center
Johnathan Lancaster, MD, PhD
Director, Center for Women’s Oncology
Chair, Department of Women’s Oncology
Program Leader, Gynecologic Oncology

Susan Minton, D.O.
Associate Professor of Oncology

Robert Wenham, MD, MS, FACOG
Clinical Director, Gynecologic Oncology
Medical Director, Moffitt Clinical Research Network
Principle Investigator, Total Cancer Care
Department of Women’s Oncology

Moffitt Merit Society Welcomes Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio

The Moffitt Merit Society recently welcomed Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio as a member of this women in leadership and philanthropy group of the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation. Mayor Iorio met with Susan Stern, executive director of the Moffitt Foundation and Celia Ferman, a Moffitt Merit Society steering committee member, at the Mayor’s office where she received a membership certificate and pin.

Mayor Iorio credited the Moffitt Merit Society as an opportunity for service-oriented women, especially mothers, to help prevent and cure cancer for coming generations. “Women naturally ask ‘what kind of world will my children live in?’” Mayor Iorio remarked. “Women are very futuristic and they see it through the eyes of their children.” Noting the advances in cancer knowledge and treatment, she added that “the difference between the 1970s and now is hope."

The Moffitt Merit Society was named for the first known women in medicine, Merit Ptah, who lived in Egypt 5,000 years ago. Carrying on this legacy, the Society supports women’s cancer initiatives at Moffitt Cancer Center including groundbreaking research of women scientists, The Center for Women’s Oncology, and educational opportunities for young women studying science and medicine.

To learn more about joining the Moffitt Merit Society, please contact Leana Lopez in the Moffitt Foundation at (813) 745-1317 or visit us at www.Moffitt.org/Merit.

Come Tweet With Us

Stay up to the minute with the Moffitt Foundation by following us on Twitter. Our tweets let you know about our upcoming events and other news about the power of philanthropy in Moffitt’s research and patient care.

Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?  Find out what the Foundation is doing at Moffitt Giving on Twitter.  New to Twitter?  It’s easy to create an account and to get on board. Just go to www.Twitter.com.

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