Kicking For The Dream
January 9, 2014
High School Kicking Specialists Help Kicking for the Dream Raise Over $40,000 to Fight Ovarian Cancer in Its 2013 Fundraising Campaign
Billy Cundiff
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) January 09, 2014 -- NFL kicker Billy Cundiff says he is “overwhelmed” by the help he received from high school kicking specialists, as
Kicking For The Dream raised $40,981 in its 2013 fundraising effort.
"We are overwhelmed by the fundraising efforts of our high school participants,” says Cundiff. “These young men stepped up and got after it. They are an amazing example of making a difference in the lives of the women they love."
Two high school kickers who helped Kicking For The Dream reach its 2013 fundraising goal were Luke Taylor and Joseph Giglio.
“We are overwhelmed by the fundraising efforts of our high school participants,” says Cundiff. “These young men stepped up and got after it.”
Taylor, who is a kicker at Black Hills High School in Tumwater, WA, says he first heard of Kicking For The Dream when he attended a Billy Cundiff kicking camp in Boise, ID. It was in between kicking lessons where Cundiff introduced the project–created to fight ovarian cancer–to the campers.
“I went to the camp with my mom,” says Taylor. “When he started talking about what he had to go through with his mother-in-law, I glanced over to my mom and knew I had to be involved. I couldn't imagine what I would do if she had to go through this...so I knew I wanted to be part of this fund-raiser.”
Joseph Giglio, a kicker for the St. John’s College High School football team in Washington D.C., raised over $2,500 for Kicking For The Dream. He says after meeting Cundiff at a kicking camp in Florida, he knew he needed to be a part of the project.
"I have always been a true fan of Billy Cundiff’," says Giglio. "When I finally got the chance to meet him in Florida at a camp that he was helping coach, I heard him give a speech about his mother-in-law and ovarian cancer as a whole. After seeing how passionate Billy was about both kicking and helping women with ovarian cancer, I decided that this horrible illness needed as much attention and help as possible."
Cundiff says that bringing kicking specialists together -from every level- to join in the fight against ovarian cancer, is what Kicking For The Dream is all about. He says this year's success just validates the project concept.
“Together, regardless of their background, and regardless whether they kick in high school, college or in the NFL, these kicking specialists raised a ton of awareness about ovarian cancer, and money for cutting edge research to fight this disease,” says Cundiff. “These guys are first class and we couldn't be more honored to have them on our team."
Cundiff says as impressive as the 2013 Kicking For The Dream team was, he believes the 2014 fundraising team will even be bigger.
"We expect the success of this year’s high school kickers will only serve to inspire other high school kicking specialists to join our effort next year,” says Cundiff. “This program is really taking off."
Cundiff says all money raised by Kicking For The Dream goes directly to
Colleen’s Dream Foundation, a foundation he and his wife Nicole started in 2012 as a result of his mother-in-laws’ battle with ovarian cancer. He says the 2014 fundraising effort will start in September to coincide with the NFL season.
About Colleen's Dream Foundation:
Colleen’s Dream Foundation started in 2012 and supports research for early detection and improved treatment for ovarian cancer.The story of Colleen’s Dream started in 2007 when Billy Cundiff’s mother-in-law, Colleen Drury, was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer. It was only then that Colleen and her family realized a new world that was filled with invasive surgery, harsh chemotherapy, and lots of uncertainty.
Colleen’s Dream Foundation believes it is important to raise money for research that will lead to reliable early detection testing and improved treatment for ovarian cancer.
Because so little is known about ovarian cancer in proportion to other women’s health issues, we have an incredible opportunity for research and education.
Colleen’s Dream is working with some of the top research hospitals and universities that are researching ovarian cancer. By offering seed funding to young investigators, the Foundation funds cutting-edge research by some of the brightest, young minds in the world.
Colleen’s Dream Foundation is a qualified 501 (c) (3) tax exempt non-profit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona.
SOURCE Kicking For The Dream
Scottsdale girl’s lemonade stand raises nearly $10,000 for ovarian cancer research Chloe Cundiff made $1,000 on a cup of lemonade once. Then, she donated it all to a non-profit for ovarian cancer research. The 9-year-old Scottsdale girl raised almost $10,000 in lemonade stand sales from the first day of summer to Oct. 1. She was the grand prize winner of the “Take a Lemonade Stand” program, which donated 100 lemonade stands to Arizona kids this summer to teach them entrepreneurial skills and instill a spirit of community giving, according to a press release. Cundiff has donated 100 percent of her profits to the Scottsdale-based Colleen’s Dream Foundation, which was started by her mom and dad to raise money for ovarian cancer research.
Written by Mandi following her Mount Everest Base Camp Trek
Written by Mandi following her Mount Everest Base Camp Trek
Written by Mandi Chambless for Cancer Wellness, Your Slice of Life
Greg Conry, a dedicated supporter of ovarian cancer research, biked 3,200 miles across America to raise money for Colleen’s Dream! Greg grew up in Westphalia, Iowa and was the placekicker for the Harlan Community Cyclones. Greg "The Leg'' went on to be a very successful collegiate kicker at Peru State College. He also kicked for the National Arena League Sioux City Bandits for several seasons. He and his wife, Carly, teach and reside in Hinton, IA. Greg and his family are also avid bikers and Greg completed his 18th RAGBRAI in 2023. Greg began supporting Colleen's Dream Foundation through Kicking for a Dream in High School and College. Then in June 2020, Greg launched Greg's Ride Across America! He rode nearly 3,000 miles on his bike from Oceanside California, to Dewey Beach, Delaware! Greg raised over $19,000 for Colleen's Dream Foundation during the course of his 42 day journey! Check out these stats: 2,911.7 miles 132,480 feet of climb 190 hours, 45 minutes on the bike 15.3 mph average 13 states ridden through 8,200+ miles driven $19,000 and counting raised 81 miles averaged per day 13 days of near century or century rides (100 miles) Greg's dad, Tom Conry, created a great video capturing Greg's Ride Across America! Colleen's Dream Fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Read all the details about his Ride for the Dream on the Facebook page.
The recent partnership between Pacific Retail Capital Partners (PRCP) and Butterfly Effect (BE) will fly to new heights on May 8 in support of women around the globe. For World Ovarian Cancer Day, photos taken with the interactive “Social Butterfly” murals located at Pacific Retail shopping centers across the nation will benefit ovarian cancer research on behalf of nonprofit, Colleen’s Dream Foundation (CDF). CDF is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating individuals and raising awareness for ovarian cancer, a particularly evasive disease nicknamed the Silent Killer. For 24 hours, individuals can visit the painted butterflies as part of a movement created by Tasha Wahl and the Butterfly Effect. These murals encourage passersby to snap a photo with the butterfly and share it on social media. A donation will be made to ovarian cancer research for every photo shared with the tags #ColleensDreamFoundation , #PacificRetail and #ButterflyEffec t . The unique series of butterflies can be found at eight participating Pacific Retail centers: Broadway Commons in Hicksville, N.Y.; Colonie Center in Albany, N.Y.; Eastridge Center in San Jose, Calif.; Military Circle in Norfolk, Va.; The Shops at Montebello in Montebello, Calif.; Northpark in Ridgeland, Miss.; the Shops at South Town in Salt Lake City, Utah; and Yorktown Center in Lombard, Ill. “We are in the unique position to make a significant impact in the name of women’s health,” said Najla Kayyem, Senior Vice President of Marketing for PRCP. “We already have learned from Colleen’s Dream Foundation about ovarian cancer. Particularly, the alarming fact that early detection methods do not exist. We’re proud to stand in solidarity with women around the world battling the disease.” CDF raises awareness for ovarian cancer and supports research that will lead to improved treatment and reliable early-detection. No such screening currently exists, which is a leading factor as to why ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer. Of all women diagnosed, 25 percent die in the first year, largely because diagnosis occurs in the later stages of the cancer. “Many people are in the dark about the dangers of ovarian cancer,” said Nicole Cundiff, CEO of CDF. “One in 78 women will develop the disease, the signs and symptoms are so vague, and your yearly wellness visit doesn’t test for it. That’s why shining a national spotlight on ovarian cancer through this partnership means everything to us.” Since its inception in 2012, CDF awarded 48 research grants to 27 institutions totaling more than $1.2 million. Past recipients of Colleen’s Dream funding include, the University of Arizona Cancer Center, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Duke Cancer Institute and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, among others. To learn more about ovarian cancer, CDF or how you can help, visit www.colleensdream.org . For more information about Butterfly Effect, visit https://butterflyeffectbethechange.com/ . About Colleen’s Dream Foundation Colleen’s Dream is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Nicole Cundiff and her husband, Billy, a 12-year veteran kicker in the NFL. Colleen’s Dream is dedicated to funding investigational scientific research with the primary goal of developing and establishing an accurate and accessible early detection test for ovarian cancer. For more information about Colleen’s Dream Foundation, or to donate, call (480) 269-2266 or visit www.colleensdream.org . About Pacific Retail Capital Partners Pacific Retail Capital Partners (PRCP) is one of the nation’s premier retail operating groups of large open-air and enclosed shopping centers, with more than $1.5 billion in retail assets presently under management in the United States. Based in Southern California, PRCP provides end-to-end sourcing, assessment, underwriting, valuing, developing, and asset management of retail real estate with a proven track record of repositioning properties. PRCP strategically manages over 10 million square feet of retail destinations. The executive team has over 150 years of collective real estate expertise in leasing, marketing, operations, design, development, investment and finance. With a keen focus on enhancing the value and quality of its growing portfolio, PRCP is dedicated to creating a unique, strategic vision for each property and exceeding the highest expectations of retail investors, retailers and consumers. To learn more, visit pacificretail.com or follow social media at: Facebook: facebook.com/pacificretailcapitalpartners Instagram: @pacificreta
Scottsdale-based nonprofit grants $450,000 to Phoenix research institute, TGen SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — April 3, 2018 — Colleen’s Dream Foundation , a Scottsdale-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting ovarian cancer research, recently awarded Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) $450,000 to fund a clinical trial for a newly developed ovarian cancer drug treatment. Colleen’s Dream celebrated its fifth annual fundraising event, the Evening of Dreams Gala in late February. This year’s gala was record-breaking for the foundation, with more than 650 attendees and $200,000 raised from the live auction and paddle raise portion of the evening alone. Combined with prior Colleen’s Dream donations to TGen, this support will fully enable the clinical trial. “The research being done at TGen is some of the most exciting we’ve ever seen,” said Nicole Cundiff, CEO of Colleen’s Dream Foundation. “Whether the drug they developed leads to another amazing discovery, or it becomes a first line ovarian cancer treatment, we truly believe what they’re doing will move the needle and we couldn’t be more proud to support an institute located here in Arizona.” TGen, based in Phoenix, alongside an international team of collaborators, discovered a mutation in a gene known as SMARCA4, which drives a specific type of extremely aggressive ovarian cancer known as Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Hypercalcemic Type (SCCOHT). SMARCA4 is known as an “epigenetic” gene that broadly controls how other genes are regulated in the genome. When SMARCA4 is mutated, it is broken and cancer can develop through sweeping epigenetic imbalances. From this discovery, TGen evaluated experimental drugs that can restore epigenetic balance. One such drug, seclidemstat, has shown promising preclinical results in ovarian cancers and also is currently being clinically evaluated in other cancers driven by epigenetic imbalances. Seclidemstat was developed by Salarius Pharmaceuticals of Houston, which was established with the help of Dr. Sunil Sharma, TGen Deputy Director of Clinical Sciences and Director of TGen’s Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Program. “Our partnership with Colleen's Dream has been critical for driving our translational research toward clinical,” said Dr. Will Hendricks, an Assistant Professor in TGen’s Integrated Cancer Genomics Division. “We look forward to building on preclinical studies of epigenetic anti-cancer drugs that have identified seclidemstat as a promising lead for ovarian cancer treatment.” Colleen’s Dream Foundation raises funding to support research that will lead to improved treatment and reliable early-detection of ovarian cancer. No such test currently exists, which is a leading factor as to why ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer. Of all women diagnosed, 25 percent die in the first year, largely because diagnosis occurs in the later stages of the cancer. Since its inception, Colleen’s Dream awarded 48 research grants to 27 institutions totaling more than $1.2 million. Past recipients of Colleen’s Dream funding include, the University of Arizona Cancer Center, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Duke Cancer Institute and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, among others. Colleen’s Dream first awarded TGen a $30,000 grant in February 2017, which supported the institute’s understanding of the epigenetic events of the SMARCA4 mutations in SCCOHT and led to the most recent clinical trial. To learn more about ovarian cancer, Colleen’s Dream Foundation or how you can help, visit www.colleensdream.org . To learn more about this clinical trial, including when it will start and who might be eligible, please contact Callie Hammersland, TGen Clinical Research Manager, at 602-343-8653 or chammersland@tgen.org . # # # About Colleen’s Dream Foundation Colleen’s Dream is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Nicole Cundiff and her husband, Billy, a 12-year veteran kicker in the NFL. Colleen’s Dream is dedicated to funding investigational scientific research with the primary goal of developing and establishing an accurate and accessible early detection test for ovarian cancer. For more information about Colleen’s Dream Foundation, or to donate call (480) 269-2266 or visit www.colleensdream.org . Media Contact: Keller Perry The James Agency Keller@TheJamesAgency.com (480) 248-6710 About TGen Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases, through cutting edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial contribution to help our patients through efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated with City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and cancer and diabetes treatment center: www.cityofhope.org . This precision medicine affiliation enables both institutes to complement each other in research and patient care, with City of Hope providing a significant clinical setting to advance scientific discoveries made by TGen. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org . Follow TGen on Facebook , LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen . TGen Media Contact: Steve Yozwiak TGen Senior Science Writer 602-343-8704 syozwiak@tgen.org
Colleen’s Dream Foundation celebrated its 2018 Golf Tournament and Evening of Dreams Gala on Feb. 23 and Feb. 24. The golf tournament was played at the Biltmore Golf Club, Adobe Course on Friday, followed by dinner and awards. In its fifth year, the Saturday evening gala took as its theme Dream in Color, and was held at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa. The event is celebrated each year on the anniversary of Colleen Drury’s passing. Colleen is the namesake and was the inspiration for the ovarian cancer nonprofit. The foundation was founded by her daughter Nicole Cundiff and Nicole’s husband, Billy, in 2012. Ten-year-old Chloe Cundiff was awarded the Dreamer of the Year Award for raising nearly $10,000 for Colleen’s Dream during her summer break by selling lemonade. The evening’s program concluded with 29-year-old Brittany Crosby, an ovarian cancer fighter who shared her story of diagnosis and her current battle with the disease. The 660 guests at the gala enjoyed live music provided by The JJ’s followed by an after-party, which moved to a different section of the ballroom where there was an additional dance floor and a DJ set by DJ Soloman. A Champagne fairy with Showstoppers Interactive Entertainment poured drinks. The golf tournament and gala raised funds for ovarian cancer research, with the majority going to Phoenix research institute TGen for a clinical trial. The two events, plus the VIP kickoff reception on Feb. 22, enabled Colleen’s Dream to award $350,000 to TGen. PHOTOS COURTESY COLLEEN’S DREAM FOUNDATION
The fifth annual Evening of Dreams Gala benefiting Colleen’s Dream Foundation took place in February at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge and raised approximately $270,000, with the majority of the funds going to TGen for an ovarian cancer treatment clinical trial. The evening featured a silent auction, hosted cocktail hour, dinner and live auction. The program included a review of the foundation’s year by co-founder and chair of the Board of Directors Billy Cundiff. Then, the 2017 Dreamer of the Year, was awarded to Chloe Cundiff.Chloe is the granddaughter of Colleen, the foundation’s namesake, and the daughter of co-founders Billy and Nicole Cundiff. The 9-year-old raised nearly $10,000 for the foundation by selling lemonade during her summer break .Emmy Award-winning writer and television host Teresa Strasser served as the evening’s emcee .colleensdream.org
Colleen’s Dream Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting research for early detection and improved treatment for ovarian cancer, awarded $20,000 in research grants to the University of Chicago Medicine. The two grants of $10,000 each support a pair of young researchers studying the disease that affects approximately 20,000 newly diagnosed women in the U.S. each year. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of gynecological cancers as it often goes undiagnosed until it is in an advanced stage and has metastasized (or is metastasizing) beyond a woman’s ovaries. The Arizona-based non-profit awarded the two grants to UChicago Medicine post-doctoral researchers Peter Hart, PhD, and Abir Mukherjee, PhD. The two work in the laboratory of Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD and Iris Romero, MD. Lengyel is the Arthur L. and Lee G. Herbst Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology at the University of Chicago the chairman of UChicago Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology. Romero, an associate professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology, specializes in treating women at risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Together, Lengyel and Romero run a lab dedicated to translational ovarian cancer research. “Part of our mission is to support young investigators, such as Drs. Hart and Mukherjee, to encourage their curiosity and to help push the envelope of cutting-edge research,” said Nicole Cundiff, co-founder and CEO of Colleen’s Dream Foundation. “We’re eager to see what these gentlemen will discover in their pursuit to learn more about how ovarian cancer spreads.” Hart, 31, will use the funding to examine whether a common diabetes treatment called metformin can prevent ovarian cancer cells from spreading and growing into secondary tumors. By learning how this treatment affects ovarian cancer, Hart hopes his work could ultimately lead to novel therapeutic strategies that keep the disease from spreading. “While there have been major strides in research of breast and other highly prevalent cancers, there has been slower progress in improving outcomes for ovarian cancer,” Hart said. “Understanding how an economical and safe medication like metformin affects ovarian cancer metastasis may help us improve survival and quality of life for women with this disease.” Mukherjee, 36, studies the interaction between ovarian cancer cells and fat tissue in the abdominal cavity to learn more about how these cells influence each other and affect cancer’s growth and metastasis. His studies have identified potential targets and through this grant he hopes to explore whether targeting a specific enzyme could lead to better treatments. “Ovarian cancer patients often have a high metastatic burden and have cancer that often recurs after undergoing chemotherapy,” Mukherjee said. “The need of the hour is to identify novel therapeutic targets for this fight.” About the University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences The University of Chicago Medicine, with a history dating back to 1927, is one of the nation’s leading academic medical institutions. It comprises the University of Chicago Medical Center, Pritzker School of Medicine and the Biological Sciences Division. Its main Hyde Park campus is home to the Center for Care and Discovery, Bernard Mitchell Hospital, Comer Children’s Hospital and the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine. It also has ambulatory facilities in Orland Park and the South Loop as well as affiliations and partnerships that create a regional network of care. UChicago Medicine offers a full range of specialty-care services for adults and children through more than 40 institutes and centers including an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. It has 811 licensed beds, nearly 850 attending physicians, about 2,500 nurses and over 1,100 residents and fellows. Harvey-based Ingalls Health joined UChicago Medicine’s network in 2016. Visit our research blog at sciencelife.uchospitals.edu and our newsroom at uchospitals.edu/news. Twitter @UChicagoMed Facebook.com/UChicagoMed Facebook.com/UChicagoMedComer About Colleen’s Dream Foundation Colleen’s Dream Foundation is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to funding investigational scientific research with the primary goal of developing an accurate early detection test for ovarian cancer. Currently, no such test exists, making ovarian cancer the deadliest of all gynecological cancers. Colleen’s Dream was founded in 2012 by Nicole Cundiff and her husband, Billy, a 12-year veteran kicker in the NFL. In the short time Colleen’s Dream has been operational, the foundation has granted more than $700,000 to ovarian cancer research and quickly became the largest, privately funded, ovarian cancer specific nonprofit in the state of Arizona.
