Subject: Summary of the Fifth District AHEPA Cancer Research Foundation
Please join us November 8 at our Gala to support and continue our progress (https://givebutter.com/bkvRZz)! Help us keep our tradition moving to conquer cancer.
I am pleased to share with you a brief overview of the Fifth District AHEPA Cancer Research Foundation, Inc., including its history, mission, and notable research support outcomes.
History and Mission
The Foundation was established in October 1988 by the Fifth District Order of AHEPA and soon joined by the Daughters of Penelope. Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, it was founded with a singular purpose: to support cancer research.
Early fundraising was grassroots-based, beginning in 1989 with donation canisters in local businesses. In 1990, the Foundation awarded its first research grant of $5,000 to Fox Chase Cancer Center, setting the precedent for decades of impactful grant-making.
Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to raise funds and award research grants to institutions dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. Trustees and board members are unpaid volunteers, ensuring all proceeds go directly to research. Fundraising methods include canister programs, galas, memorial/tribute donations, and community partnerships.
By 2016, the Foundation celebrated a major milestone, surpassing $1 million in total grants awarded.
Research Support and Outcomes
Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $1.2 million in grants to leading institutions in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. These “seed” grants enable researchers to launch promising projects and secure larger funding.
Examples of Supported Research:
- Dr. David C. Lyden (Weill Cornell / Children’s Blood Foundation): Groundbreaking studies on exosomes and metastasis, published in Nature (2015) and Cell (2020), showing how tumor-derived exosomes determine organ-specific spread. His work advances liquid-biopsy approaches for predicting metastasis.
- Dr. Erica Golemis (Fox Chase Cancer Center): Research into Musashi RNA-binding proteins as cancer drivers. Findings published in Clinical Cancer Research and PNAS identified these proteins as potential therapeutic targets, with AHEPA support acknowledged.
- Dr. Edna Cukierman (Fox Chase Cancer Center): Work on pancreatic cancer tumor microenvironment. Developed antibodies that reprogram cancer-associated fibroblasts from tumor-promoting to tumor-suppressive roles, producing pre-clinical therapeutic candidates.
- Dr. Coral Omene (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey): Genomic profiling of triple-negative breast cancer in Black women, examining obesity’s impact on treatment outcomes. Findings may guide more personalized therapies.
Impact: The Foundation has seeded transformative discoveries, advanced innovative therapies, addressed disparities in cancer outcomes, and supported research published in top peer-reviewed journals.
Conclusion
The Fifth District AHEPA Cancer Research Foundation demonstrates the power of grassroots philanthropy in driving progress against cancer. With an all-volunteer ethos and unwavering mission, it continues to catalyze discoveries that shape the future of cancer research and treatment.
Join us at the Gala on November 8 (https://givebutter.com/bkvRZz)! If you cannot join us, please consider a donation to support our research efforts (https://givebutter.com/NnvbVF).