Joan’s Fund actively pursues and accepts donations throughout the year from individuals, organizations and companies.

Future Fund-Raising Event

Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, The Winking Lizard Party Center in Bedford Heights, Ohio (Cleveland area) will be the site of a celebration of the life of Gerry McLaughlin who lost his life to head and neck cancer 20 years ago. His daughter, Erika McLaughlin Svitak, promises an evening of food, drink and fun. For event details, check this site or contact erikamclaughlin@hotmail.com

Recent Events

Spring Event - Ed and Lee Levy, Phil and Laura Bisesi, Carole and David Schuller, MD, vice president for medical center expansion and outreach

Spring Event - Phil with silent auction co-chairs Jodi Rhodes and Rachel Arceci

Spring Event - David Schuller, MD, vice president for medical center expansion and outreach, and wife Carole

Spring Event - Eva Grayzel shares her story

Spring Event - Representatives from Delta Dental and OSU's College of Dentistry enjoy the evening

6th Annual Spring Event

Presented by DELTA DENTAL on May 4, 2007, the Sixth Annual Spring Event for Joan’s Fund was a great success. With more than 200 people in attendance at the Westin Great Southern Hotel, $50,000 was raised to support head and neck oncology research.

Jodi Rhodes and Rachel Arceci, Auction Chairs, made certain that there was wide variety of enticing items for the Silent Auction. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as they vied to become a winning bidder. Grab bags, created by Jeanette Ferguson, were quickly snapped up by those eager for a surprise.

Phil Bisesi, Co-Founder of Joan’s Fund, and David E. Schuller, MD, Senior Executive Director, Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute and Deputy Director, Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, emphasized the importance of these funds for research and expressed appreciation for the attendees continued support. Special guest of the evening, professional story teller Eva Grayzel, kept the audience spellbound as she told of her fight after diagnosis with Stage IV Oral Cancer.

A special thanks to Presenting Sponsor, DELTA DENTAL, and Marathon Sponsors: WellCare Healthy Communities Foundation, Ohio State Medical Center CCC - The James, and Sequent.

We are also grateful for the generosity of Heidelberg Distributing Co., Capital City Personnel, Inc., Matt Ellis and Standard Time Band, our auction donors and many contributors. Of course none of this would have happened without the hard work of Event Chair Kathleen Ramirez and the dedicated members of the Joan’s Fund Committee.

The John Young Memorial Golf Tournament held in August 2007 raised $2,500.

Christine Locher, tax senior associate at KPMG and a treasured Joan's Fund volunteer, has been honored by her company with its national award for volunteerism. Christine has directed this $1,000 reward to Joan's Fund.

Once again, a terrific team of volunteers staffed a merchandise booth at all OSU home football games with proceeds going to Joan’s Fund.

To volunteer for 2008, contact Sharon Renkes srenkes@sbcglobal.net

Jan. 20, 2008 The Knights of Columbus of Christ the King Parish held a Pancake Breakfast at TAT Restaurant in Columbus with proceeds going to Joan's Fund.