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Al's 2010 Year-End Blog

Dear Friends of the Foundation:

As we reflect on 2010, it has been a year of quiet growth for the Foundation. Despite the tough economic climate, the Foundation has been able to make significant contributions to advanced breast cancer research.

The third annual Golf for a Cure outing moved to Shaker Country Club in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, where we partnered with the Miracle Fund of University Hospitals to broaden the scope of the outing. The event sold out in advance of the June 17th date, and netted $60,000, which was in turn invested in the Miracle Fund at Ireland Cancer Center (at University Hospitals). This was the most successful Golf for a Cure to date, and we look forward to even more success in 2011 when once again we will host the event at Shaker Country Club on Thursday, June 18.

During October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, two friends of the Foundation, Eddie’s House (restaurant) and Hava Java (coffee shop) in Phoenix sponsored promotions to benefit the Foundation. Eddie Matney, executive chef and owner of Eddie’s House, offered both a luncheon and dinner entrée at his popular restaurant, the proceeds from which were donated in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. Likewise, Hava Java customers contributed during October as part of their fund-raising promotion. Our heartfelt thanks to Eddie's House restaurant and Hava Java for their friendship and support.

Finally, thanks to all our friends, donors, sponsors, volunteers, research partners, and others in the Mountains of Hope circle of supporters who continue to make the Foundation stronger.  As you consider your year-end tax planning, please remember that every dollar donated to the Foundation is a dollar directly invested in advanced breast cancer research with world-class scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, TGen Foundation in Phoenix, and the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals in Cleveland.

Donations can be made online through our website, www.MountainsOfHopeFoundation.org, or by mail to: P.O. Box 80500, Phoenix, AZ 85060-0500. Your gifts to the Foundation are fully tax deductible.

Our sincere wishes for peace and joy this holiday season – and for good health and prosperity in the New Year.

Happy Holidays!

Al

Allen J. Gula, Jr.
Foundation Chairman & CEO

Sight, Sound & Taste for a Cure benefits TGen . . .

LMC Home Entertainment Ltd. (www.lmche.com) opened its doors on October, 23 with a gala grand opening/fundraiser in partnership with the Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation.

Sight, Sound & Taste for a Cure was held in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month to raise awareness and funding for advanced breast cancer research. The venue was LMC Home Entertainment Ltd.’s state-of-the-art, world-class showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The event attracted more than 200 guests who mingled throughout the various theaters and media rooms while dining on culinary delights prepared by Chef Eddie Matney, celebrated Valley chef and owner of Eddie’s House restaurant. It was a festive atmosphere, featuring pink martinis from Belvedere Vodka, fine wines from Su Vino Winery, and premier cigars from Ambassador Fine Cigars. White House Design Studio provided the flowers.

Special guests for the evening were Joe Garagiola, legendary baseball player, and his wife, Audrie. Joe graciously posed for pictures and signed copies of baseballs and his book Just Play Ball, with proceeds donated to the Foundation.

The silent auction offered premium and unusual items, including a 65” plasma TV and McIntosh stereo amplifier donated by LMC Home Entertainment Ltd.; a custom men’s shirt package from Moda Georgio Custom Tailors; a humidor and cigar package from Ambassador Fine Cigars; Anquan Boldin autographed pink gloves from Cutters Performance Gloves and Grips; single-game use of a Phoenix Suns luxury suite for 18; a Barrett-Jackson VIP package; a Molina Fine Jewelers signature timepiece; autographed baseballs and books from Joe Garagiola; complete auto detail package from European Detail Specialists; Kids’ Security Package provided by the Arizona Diamondbacks; gift certificate from White House Design Studio; a picture by Jeanne Bonine; several necklaces designed by local artists; salon and spa packages from Leiden Mitchell Salon and Spa, Rachel Hall’s Classic Beauty and A Perfect Sole; an original painting by Kimberly Levi; hand-painted scarf by Gina Richmann; one-year Scottsdale Gun Club membership; autographed items by Grant Hill, Yogi Berra, Willie Mays and Dusty Baker.

The event, the first of its kind for LMC Home Entertainment Ltd. and for Mountains of Hope, would not have been possible without the support and sponsorship of Greg and Kathy Hunt of GM Hunt Construction, Mike Ware, co-owner of LMC Home Entertainment Ltd., Chef Eddie Matney, chef extraordinaire and owner of Eddie’s House, Cory and Christine Whalin and Matthew and Maureen Corey of Su Vino Winery, and Maria Lamberti of Belvedere Vodka. A special thank you to Kelly Hundelt, Foundation co-chair, who worked tirelessly to ensure the evening’s success. In addition to Kelly, I want to thank her team of volunteers:

Dense Deihl

Gary Hundelt

Oliver Hundelt

Betty Kielty

Bob Kielty

Liz Kielty

Leslie Kohler

Edna Lake

Jim Lake

Erin Massey of TGen Foundation

Annette Paul

Laura Prince

Christine Ridgeway

Camille Sullivan

Kathy Tatum

Connie Waddell

Joe Zabramski

Verna Zabramski

The joint efforts of everyone involved resulted in the Foundation’s raising $30,000, which will be invested in an advanced breast cancer research project at TGen (www.tgen.org).  Further details will be reported on this site in the upcoming months.

On a final note, LMC Home Entertainment Ltd. has generously committed to donating 5% of gross sales by attendees until the end 2009 to the Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation. Proceeds from those sales will also be invested with TGen.

Once again, on behalf of the Foundation, my sincere thanks to those who were part of this event, and those who continue to support the Foundation’s fight against advanced breast cancer.

With gratitude,

Allen J. Gula, Jr.
Foundation Chairman and CEO

Al's Year-End Blog

A Year-End Message . . .

As we reflect on 2009 in relation to the Foundation, it has been a year of growth and expansion. Despite the tough economic climate, the Foundation has been able to make significant contributions to advanced breast cancer research.

It has been a challenging year, but with the dedication of a terrific team of volunteers we have held four successful fund-raisers – three of them “first-time events”.
 
The year began sluggishly for the Foundation, but jump-started on June 17 with the second annual Golf for a Cure golf outing in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. Chaired by Tony Anselmo and Annette Paul, the event raised $32,000 for the beneficiary organization, the Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals in Cleveland.

Continuing the momentum in Cleveland, the first Zoo Walk for Hope was held at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in August 15.  A first-time event for the Foundation, more than 350 participants in signature purple tee shirts joined in the 5K walk, led by Cleveland Indians mascot “Slider”. Chaired by Annette Paul and Kathryn Kuhnle, this event generated another $16,000 for the Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals of Cleveland.
 
October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Foundation sponsored events in two cities. On October 4, Kincaid’s in Burlingame, CA was the site of the first Fight for a Cure brunch chaired by Lyle Sweeney and Dolores Stansfield. Kincaid’s provided a gorgeous setting overlooking San Francisco Bay where more than 150 guests enjoyed pink mimosas, a lavish brunch, and a unique silent auction. Featured guest speaker was Dr. Hope Rugo of UCSF Breast Cancer Center, whose research team was the beneficiary organization. The event raised $25,000 for the UCSF Carol S. Buck Breast Cancer Center.
 
Finally, on October 23, Sight, Sound, and Taste for a Cure – a unique event combining the grand opening of LMC Home Entertainment’s spectacular new showroom in Scottsdale, AZ with the Foundation’s fourth fund-raiser of the year. The event featured a menu of specialties prepared by Eddie Matney, one of the Valley’s top chefs and owner of Eddie’s House restaurant in Scottsdale;  beverages including wines from Su Vino Winery and pink martinis from Belvedere Vodka, cigars from Ambassador Fine Cigars; some terrific auction items; and special guests, baseball legend, Joe Garagiola, and his wife Audrie. Kelly Hundelt and I chaired the event which raised $30,000  to benefit the TGen Foundation in Phoenix.
 
This year we developed new partnerships – with both the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals in Cleveland, and the Diana Hyland Miracle Fund, an organization in Cleveland with the same goal as the Foundation:  to fight advanced breast cancer through specific research. The Foundation made a $50,000 donation in support of advanced breast cancer research to the Ireland Cancer Center in November. We hope to grow and develop this partnership further in 2010. We have now made donations to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, UCSF in San Francisco, TGen in Phoenix, and University Hospitals in Cleveland.  You may track the progress of the various projects we’re supporting on our website.
 
At this time I feel compelled to comment on the government’s recommendation for self-exams and mammograms for women.  From my own experience during my wife’s 10½-year ordeal monthly self exams and mammograms are essential in the early detection of breast cancer. It is a terrible mistake not to do monthly self exams and schedule annual mammograms – and no age is too early. This is how my wife detected her first lump, which was cancerous, and each recurrence thereafter. A lump can be detected through self-exam faster than any other means. In cases where lumps are not discovered through self-exams, annual mammograms are still the best course of catching the disease early. In my opinion it is irresponsible for the government to come out minimizing the importance of these two detection methods. The notion of “false positives” can be upsetting, but it’s a small price to pay.

Some additional features on our website we hope you will find useful:

• You can register  on our home page to receive a monthly reminder by email to do a  self-exam.  
• Also on our  website you can access daily news updates on breast cancer advances, research,  etc.
• Finally, we have  some great gift ideas for your last-minute shopping needs on our  site. Click here to SHOP!

Finally, THANK YOU to our friends, donors, sponsors, volunteers, research partners, and others in the Mountains of Hope circle of supporters who continue to make the Foundation stronger. As you consider your year-end tax planning, please remember that every dollar donated to the Foundation is a dollar directly invested in advanced breast cancer research with world-class scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, UCSF Breast Cancer Center in San Francisco, TGen Foundation in Phoenix, and the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals in Cleveland. Your gifts to the Foundation are fully tax deductible.
 
Our sincere wishes for peace and joy this holiday season – and for good health and prosperity in the New Year.   

Happy Holidays!
Al
Allen J. Gula, Jr.
Foundation Chairman & CEO

2009 “Walk for Hope” at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo . . .

August 15, 2009 was a beautiful summer morning at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. By 8:00 am the Mountains of Hope Foundation banner was hung to welcome more than 350 participants of all ages.  Families came together representing three generations - . grandparents, parents and children – who turned out that morning to support advanced breast cancer research and the Ireland Cancer Center, beneficiary of the Foundation’s 2009 Zoo Walk for Hope.

The pavilion was alive with music provided by John Pojman of Rolling Thunder Productions. Songs such as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” added an appropriate touch.  After a few heartfelt words of welcome by Al Gula, Jr., Foundation Chairman, the 5K walk got underway led by the big, pink, fuzzy creature, Cleveland Indians’ mascot, Slider, a friend to both the Foundation and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Slider led the walkers along a path roughly 3.1 miles – past the many scenic attractions the Zoo has to offer: primates, big cats, the Rainforest, giraffes, dinosaurs, and so many others. 
Most of the participants had donned their Walk tee shirts – the Foundation’s signature dark purple with white logo and the many event sponsors parading down the back.  There was a sea of purple that day at the Zoo as families stayed on after the walk and enjoyed a day with the animals.

Our heartfelt thanks to each of the participants for their support, to those who made donations but were unable to be with us, to the doctors and staff of University Hospitals, and to our sponsors:

Betty Bowers, Father Bill Dickinson



Rosemary Blessing, Dolores and Al Stansfield







Wynocker Family, Barry Family, Woodlawn Estates,
Apostle Family, Synk Family, Kuhnle Family, Paul Family

And, a special thanks to the co-chairs of the event, Kathryn Kuhnle and Annette Paul, their committees and volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure a fun, well-organized event.

However, the best part of the walk is the money that was raised to benefit the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals. We’re proud to announce $15,300.00 was raised in conjunction with this event.  These funds, along with the $32,000.00 generated from the second annual Foundation golf outing, will allow the Foundation to donate $50,000 to the Ireland Cancer Center this year. As always, every dollar raised will be invested in advanced breast cancer research. The progress and results of our funding will be shared on this site in the upcoming months.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to the success of the first annual Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation “Walk for Hope”.
With gratitude,

Allen J. Gula, Jr.
Foundation Chairman