KMPS, KISS radiothon raises $221,000
Infinity Broadcasting stations rally listeners to support Fred Hutchinson’s lifesaving cancer research
Nearly 1,400 Puget Sound-area residents and businesses pledged more than $221,000 for Fred Hutchinson research during the “Call for a Cure” radiothon Oct. 3, hosted by Infinity Broadcasting’s 94.1 KMPS and KISS 106.1.
“People are so incredibly generous,” said Roger Buckingham, director of the center’s annual giving program. “This radiothon far exceeded our expectations and the outpouring of community support and the efforts of Infinity Broadcasting were overwhelming.”
Throughout the 14-hour event, KMPS and KISS radio hosts interviewed Fred Hutchinson scientists and former patients and their families, who shared heart-felt accounts of their experiences with cancer.
Callers pledged $174,000, while $47,400 came from corporate-challenge gifts. Woods and Associates, Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, Washington Mutual, and Silver Cloud Inns and Hotels offered matching gifts to inspire listeners to donate. Two special pledge challenges, totaling $20,000, came from families that wished to remain anonymous.
Catch a Cure for Cancer Day a big success
A team of Seattle sports stars, celebrities and media helped raise nearly $250,000 for cancer research at Catch a Cure for Cancer Day earlier this year.
Led by Jamie and Karen Moyer of The Moyer Foundation, the event featured a radiothon on KOMO 1000 News and two dinners at the Union Square Grill where patrons were waited on by celebrities, including actor Tom Skerritt, Seattle Supersonic Luke Ridnour and KING-TV’s John Curley.
The money will go to The Gregory Fund®, which supports early cancer detection research at Fred Hutchinson. The center and The Moyer Foundation launched the fund last summer in honor of former patient Gregory Chaya, whose life was saved by a bone-marrow transplant at Fred Hutchinson.
Catch a Cure for Cancer Day was supported by D.A. Davidson, Consolidated Restaurants, the Seattle Mariners and Fox Sports Net.
Next year’s event will be expanded into Catch a Cure for Cancer Weekend, with events running Aug. 12-15. The KOMO 1000 News radiothon will be Aug. 13.
Volunteers needed
If you have a few hours to spare and would like to join a fun, friendly community that is making a difference in the fight against cancer, we want you! Fred Hutchinson’s Annual Giving Department needs volunteers to hand write thank you notes to donors, fold letters and stuff envelopes.
If you live in the Puget Sound area and would like to join our volunteer crew, please contact Rachelle McCallum at (206) 667-5242 or rmccallu@fhcrc.org.
Allison Bamford’s festive artwork for Spirit of Giving cards made her ‘famous’
When Allison Bamford was just 7 years old, she learned that her mother, Marci, was sick with cancer. On top of that devastating news, Allison would have to move with her family from Kansas to Seattle, where her mother would be treated at Fred Hutchinson.
Uprooted from their home for six months, the Bamfords lived at the center’s Pete Gross House, a low-cost apartment building for patients. There, Allison attended class at the Hutch School, geared exclusively for out-of-town pediatric patients and family members.
A rather shy girl at the time, Allison began to blossom in the supportive environment of the Hutch School. And it was there that she created the watercolor artwork that now adorns Fred Hutchinson’s Spirit of Giving holiday cards (see adjacent story).
Proud of all of her children, Marci said she has special reason to brag about Allison these days. “I’ve sent the cards to everyone in the world,” she said. “Allison calls herself ‘famous.’”
Dire as it seemed at the time, the Bamfords’ experience at Fred Hutchinson — the medical treatment, the family’s living arrangements at Pete Gross House and the children’s stint at the Hutch School — was “a blessing,” said Marci, now back home and doing fine. “I can’t say enough about Fred Hutch-inson. I just knew I was getting the best of everything.”
Corporate holiday cards that help in the fight against cancer
Companies searching for meaningful holiday gifts for employees, clients or other associates need look no further. They can easily make donations to Fred Hutchinson in lieu of gifts with Spirit of Giving holiday cards.
By purchasing Spirit of Giving cards, businesses contribute to lifesaving cancer research at Fred Hutchinson. Those receiving your cards will know you’ve made a generous investment to benefit humankind on their behalf.
For more information, contact Shelley Kuni at (206) 667-6327 or skuni@fhcrc.org.
Sally Reiquam’s gifts in memory of family
Sally and Howard Reiquam developed a lasting relationship with Fred Hutchinson after losing their teenage daughter, Jennie, to cancer. Their loss led the Seattle couple to establish a gift annuity with the center in Jennie’s memory.
When Howard died of prostate cancer, Sally established another gift annuity in his memory. “I believe Fred Hutchinson knows best how to use the money I give, so I give to ‘greatest need,’” Sally said. “I’m hopeful my remaining children and grandchildren will benefit from the research carried out by this remarkable organization.”
With each gift annuity, she received a charitable deduction and a fixed income for life. Annuity rates are based on one’s age. (See sample annuity rates on the inside back cover of Quest.)
If you would like to receive information to learn more about how gift annuities, bequests and other planned gifts are vital to funding cancer research, please call (206) 667-3396, e-mail plannedgiving@fhcrc.org or mail the coupon on the inside back cover of Quest.
