31 Years of Hutch Holiday Galas Raise More Than $54 Million for Cancer Research

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31 Years of Hutch Holiday Galas Raise More Than $54 Million for Cancer Research
    SEATTLE, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- An unprecedented appeal from a Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center scientist at last night's Hutch Holiday
Gala pushed the cumulative total of funds raised through 31 years of the
event to more than $54 million.
    The annual black-tie event, which is the Hutchinson Center's largest
fund-raiser, launched into its fourth decade with guests donating more than
$5 million in a single evening. The Gala took place from 5 p.m. until
midnight at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel.
    "Help the Hutch," a portion of the live auction during which every
dollar donated is matched by a challenge donor, raised more than $3.7
million. Jim Roberts, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center's Basic Sciences
Division and his wife, Pamela Becker, offered up a $1.5 million donation as
a challenge gift to benefit a new source of Hutchinson Center pilot-study
funding dubbed the Synergy Fund.
    "By providing a monetary challenge to our colleagues and guests at the
Gala, we hope to stimulate the collaborative spirit and scientific
innovation for which the Hutchinson Center is renowned," Roberts said. "The
Synergy Fund -- as a new resource for pilot studies at the Hutchinson
Center -- is intended to help compensate for the diminishing availability
of similarly earmarked funding from other sources such as the National
Institutes of Health."
    Mark Groudine, M.D., Ph.D., the Center's deputy director, said the
Roberts/Becker challenge marks the first time a faculty member has provided
a gift to boost the Gala's fund-raising potential.
    "By making a challenge donation, Jim and Pam encouraged the generosity
of Gala guests and established an important new resource for our
scientists," Groudine said. "Leading-edge cancer research begins with pilot
studies, through which we are able to test new ideas. The Synergy Fund will
allow us to focus more time and energy on some of our most exciting and
promising collaborative pilot-study projects."
    Japan-based Sojitz Corporation answered the challenge by contributing
the first $500,000 toward the Synergy Fund. Representatives from the
company said they made the donation in honor of Sojitz' 50-year trading
partnership with The Boeing Company.
    Gala patrons also responded with enthusiasm to lavish live-auction
packages such as an opportunity to attend fall fashion shows in New York,
which sold for $17,000, courtside box seats for U.S. Open women's tennis
matches for $20,000 and a travel package via a Boeing delivery flight to
China for $35,000. A three-magnum vertical of Sloan Napa Valley red wine
sold for $15,000.
    Hosted by the Hutchinson Center's Grace Heffernan Arnold Guild and
Hutch Holiday Gala Board of Trustees, the Hutch Holiday Gala featured
spectacular live and silent auctions, an elegant dinner and late-night
dancing with more than 850 business and community leaders in attendance. To
learn more about the Hutch Holiday Gala, call (206) 667-4399 or visit
http://www.hutchgala.com. More information about the Hutchinson Center is
available at http://www.fhcrc.org.
    At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams
of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent,
diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers,
including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for
health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world. For more
information, please visit http://www.fhcrc.org.
    CONTACT
    Christi Ball Loso
    (206) 667-5215
    closo@fhcrc.org
SOURCE Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
http://www.fhcrc.org
http://www.hutchgala.com
CONTACT:
Christi Ball Loso, +1-206-667-5215,
closo@fhcrc.org, for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center