"A Round For Life" Gala Dinner and Golf Tournament, which has raised nearly $4 million in the past 19 years for Desert Cancer Foundation, is looking to surpass last year's total of $340,000.
"'A Round For Life'" gala was a success with its special brand of humor, joy and compassion," said event Chair Lew May. NBC weathercaster and funny man Fritz Coleman kept the crowd in stitches with his unique of humor. Actor John Callahan, best known from the popular soap opera All My Children, also attended." So far, the golf tournament played at two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses netted $5,000 for Desert Cancer Foundation thanks to the generosity of Indian Ridge members Jerry and Helen Stern as a gift to Desert Cancer Foundation. The check was given by the eight golf tournament winners symbolically to golf winners are now automatically entered into next year's Invitational 'A Round For Life' PRO/AM Golf Tournament at Indian Ridge Country Club, and of $350 was underwritten by Indian Ridge members Jan and Rod McDonald. The silent auction featured everything from jewelry dinners and vacations. A Trip of A Lifetime raffle, including round trip airfare for two on Turkish Airlines to one of 271 worldwide locations was also featured.
Since 1994, Indian Ridge Country Club and its members have been the largest contributors to the Foundation through the annual dinner gala, auctions, and golf tournament. This event and its club venues have raised over $25 million in services.
Desert Cancer Foundation Co-founders Cory and Art Teichner, and their neighbors and friends, started the tourney in 1995. "Indian Ridge members have worked tirelessly for nearly two decades to raise money for the important work Desert Cancer Foundation does to help Coachella Valley cancer patients with services from screenings to surgeries," May said.
For two decades, Desert Cancer Foundation has been providing financial assistance for cancer-related medical care to Coachella Valley residents, according to Louise Fasana, executive director. "Desert Cancer Foundation helps those who would otherwise be denied the treatment that they so desperately need, paying for cancer surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, biopsies, screenings, and diagnostics. To date, Desert Cancer Foundation has paid for medical treatments valued at more than $45.4 million."
Desert Cancer Foundation has strong community support. “The ability to make the most of every donated dollar is due to the strategic collaborations with our local medical community of hospitals and doctors providing services to Desert Cancer Foundation clients at a greatly reduced cost,” explains Fasana. “For every dollar donated, Desert Cancer Foundation receives seven dollars in healthcare services."
About Desert Cancer Foundation:
Founded in 1994 with the mission of helping Coachella Valley families facing cancer, Desert Cancer Foundation’s primary role is to fund cancer diagnosis and treatment for residents who would otherwise be unable to access medical services due to financial limitations.
Since 1995, Desert Cancer Foundation has helped local residents through its Patient Assistance Program by funding cancer-related medical treatment. In 2005, Desert Cancer Foundation expanded its assistance programs to include funding breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for low-income, uninsured residents through the Suzanne Jackson Breast Cancer Fund.
To date, Desert Cancer Foundation has funded more than $45.4 million in cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment at a cost of $6.4 million by forging strategic partnerships with physicians, medical centers, imaging centers and other health care professionals who support the foundation’s mission and provide state-of-the-art medical care at approximately one-seventh the usual rate.
In 2011, Desert Cancer Foundation assisted 670 people through the Patient Assistance Program and the Suzanne Jackson Breast Cancer Fund and spent $565,199 on medical care valued at $5,204,544.
Indian Ridge Country Club
76375 Country Club Dr.
Palm Desert, CA 92211
760-772-7272
Photography by: Sherri Breyer
