October 23, 2007
'Friends' grow, Dana-Farber prospers
Chief Financial Officer Dorothy Puhy (left) accepts a check representing this year's record-breaking fundraising efforts from Friends Co-Presidents Nancy Socol (center) and Lauren Frei.
The annual meeting of the Friends of Dana-Farber represents the culmination of the hard work that members of the all-volunteer organization put in during the past year. On Oct. 9, the group met to announce which programs they would be supporting financially next year, along with introducing the new board members and recognizing its newest Friends Fellow and Sidney Farber Volunteer award recipient.
The Friends organization experienced tremendous growth this year under the direction of outgoing Co-President Nancy Socol and current Co-President Lauren Frei. The group's fundraising tally was a record-breaking $1.8 million. The funds, which are divided among various research and patient care efforts, were presented to Dana-Farber Chief Financial Officer Dorothy Puhy.
"I'm always honored to receive funding from the Friends," said Puhy. "You raise the money through events that do a lot to publicize Dana-Farber and build goodwill, and then you take great care to determine worthy areas of funding. It's quite a process to undertake, and we appreciate it."
Members put a great deal of effort into organizing events, such as the Great Chefs Cooking for a Cure, the Saks Key to the Cure, and the 2007 Friends Golf Classic. One of the group's most successful programs this year was the Spring Gala honoring Dana-Farber Trustees Eileen and David Perini, who have established a robust program for cancer survivors involving care, research, and education at Dana-Farber. The event garnered more than $350,000.
Tobey Oresman, who co-chaired the 2007 gala while undergoing cancer treatment, was this year's Sidney Farber Volunteer Award recipient. The award acknowledges volunteers who help Dana-Farber's patients, their families, and staff. Given annually since 1995, it is presented to two Dana-Farber volunteers – one from the Friends – and directed to a fund of each recipient's choice. Named for Dana-Farber's late founder, the honor is made possible through the Dana-Farber Oncology Leadership Fund, established by Rowena and Charles Simberg of Scottsdale, Ariz. Oresman will direct the $2,500 prize toward helping patients receive better care after their cancer treatments end.
Other monies were allocated to support this year's Friends Fellow Alexi Wright, MD, of Medical Oncology, who, in accepting the award, said that "oncology patients are her inspiration." The funds will allow Wright to explore the relationship between doctors and patients and the healthcare decision-making process, especially when little data is available. Wright said she is "particularly interested in cancers that have metastasized and in improving cancer care and outcomes at the end of life."
Looking forward, Frei welcomed her new incoming Co-President Diane Flynn and the rest of the incumbent board members.
The meeting ended with program updates from staff in two areas that the Friends helped fund. The Rev. Walter Moczynski, M.Div., director of Pastoral Care, gave an overview of the design plans for the chapel in the planned new Yawkey Center for Cancer Care building, and Katherine Schneider, MPH, spoke on the expansion of genetic counseling since the founding of the Friends High Risk and Prevention Clinic in 1976.
