Hutch Holiday Gala raises a record-breaking $13.5 million

Listwin sets stage with largest private donation in Fred Hutchinson history

Dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns, guests at the 28th annual Hutch Holiday Gala shared in a magical December night that raised $13.5 million for cancer research at Fred Hutchinson.

Don Listwin, head of the Listwin Family Foundation, set the stage for the record-breaking evening when he announced a $10 million gift to support the center’s Early Detection and Intervention Initiative. Listwin’s donation makes him the largest private benefactor in Fred Hutchinson history.

“One in four deaths is the result of cancer. With this donation, I join Fred Hutchinson in its commitment to changing these odds,” said Listwin, who lost his mother to ovarian cancer.

Listwin challenged the gala audience to make an additional $2 million in direct donations during “Help the Hutch,” which the sold-out crowd of 850 people eagerly met.

“Private gifts like Don Listwin’s are critical to support early detection research,” said Dr. Lee Hartwell, president and director. “The profound generosity and dedication that Don displayed at the gala is inspiring. This kind of leadership will help us win the fight against cancer.”

A live orchestra filled the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers with music as community and business leaders stayed late into the night dancing.

Hosted by the Grace Heffernan Arnold Guild and the Hutch Holiday Gala Board of Trustees, the Dec. 6 gala also offered guests the opportunity to bid on exciting trips, special dinners and luxury items. Auction items and corporate donations raised $1.5 million. Top-selling auction items included a 2004 Cadillac Escalade provided by General Motors, which raised $64,000; dinner for 10 on The Boeing Company’s yacht, Daedalus, which sold twice for $22,000 each; and a SilverSeas 10-day cruise, which sold for $12,000.

For the first time this year, United Airlines brought its STAR ALLIANCE partners (Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore Airlines and Varig Brasil) to the table and collectively contributed more than $100,000 in airfare to 25 destinations that helped raise more than $200,000.

Once again, the gala’s largest corporate sponsor, Moneytree, Inc., donated nearly $190,000 by making a donation each time a live auction item reached fair market value and by offering a business-to-business challenge to encourage companies to increase their gala support.

Thanks also go to Costco Wholesale, Turner Construction and Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, which were all $25,000 corporate sponsors.

Moyer: honor, courage, dedication

2003 Hutch Award winner, longtime center supporter dedicated to helping others

Although he won a record 21 games last season, Seattle Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer would be the first to say that one player can’t win all by himself. It takes teamwork.

And so does eliminating cancer.

That’s why Jamie and his wife, Karen, have gone to bat many times for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. “We believe so much in what they’re doing at Fred Hutchinson, we wanted to play our part,” Karen said.

As founders of The Moyer Foundation, Karen and Jamie have been the catalysts behind numerous fund-raising projects supporting Fred Hutchinson and many other worthy causes during the last several years.

So it’s appropriate that Jamie was named the 2003 Hutch Award winner in January. Moyer received the award — which recognizes the major-league player who exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of baseball star Fred Hutchinson — at the Hutch Award Luncheon on Jan. 26 at Safeco Field.

The Moyers have been involved in supporting cancer patients and research for more than 10 years. Last spring they teamed with the center to create The Gregory Fund®, which is dedicated to funding research for early cancer detection.

The fund is named in honor of former patient Gregory Chaya, whose life inspired the Moyers to join the fight against cancer.

The Moyers became involved with Fred Hutchinson when Gregory came to the center for a successful bone-marrow transplant. “He’s 13 now and living a pretty normal life,” Jamie said. “The way we look at it, Fred Hutchinson saved his life.”

Hutch Award Luncheon raises $260,000

Sports stars galore helped draw more than 1,000 baseball fans to the Hutch Award Luncheon Jan. 26 at Safeco Field. The audience gathered to honor Jamie Moyer — an all-star pitcher for the Seattle Mariners and a philanthropic leader — with the Hutch Award, named in honor of the late baseball star Fred Hutchinson. Through their Moyer Foundation, Jamie and his wife, Karen, presented a check for $200,000 to the center’s Gregory Fund, which raises money for early cancer-detection research. Baseball stars Dusty Baker, Dan Wilson, Aaron Sele, Andre Thornton, Miguel Olivo and Lindsay Gulin, along with Seattle Seahawks star Shaun Alexander, turned out to help honor Moyer. The luncheon audience raised an additional $260,000 through donations and auction items.

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel hosts Happy Hour for the Hutch on June 18

Celebrate the end of the work week with cocktails, appetizers, music and exciting auction items at the annual Happy Hour for the Hutch on Friday, June 18, hosted by The Fairmont Olympic Hotel. All proceeds from the after-work party will benefit Fred Hutchinson research. A festive kickoff for the Shore Run and Walk — Happy Hour will run 5-8:30 p.m. in the Spanish Ballroom of The Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Organizers hope to surpass last year’s fund-raising total of $183,000. For more information contact Suzanne Sullivan at (206) 667-5896 or e-mail ssulliva@fhcrc.org.

Santa Breakfasts raise $102,000

The Traditional Fred Hutchinson Santa Breakfasts drew more than 3,300 children and their families to celebrate the winter holidays and support cancer research. The annual event, hosted by the Tim & Dan Watts Guild, raised $102,000. Special thanks go to KOMO 1000 News for sponsoring the breakfasts.

The Hutchinson Society

More than 60 people gathered at the elegant home of Jacquelyn and Jeremy Jaech for the annual Hutchinson Society event earlier this year. Members of the society’s Nobel Laureates Circle in attendance were honored for their exceptional support of Fred Hutchinson, including Nobel laureate Dr. E. Donnall Thomas and his wife, Dottie; James and Sherry Raisbeck; and Bonnie and Jim Towne. Guests discussed exciting advances in cancer research with Dr. Mark Groudine, director of the Basic Sciences Division, and Dr. Barbara Trask, director of the Human Biology Division.