The countdown is on

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Jenn Parker

One month to go til Dragon Boat Upstate Festival April 21 at Portman Marina on Lake Hartwell!

In the past six years, Dragon Boat teams, often made up of doctors, patients, family members, friends and co-workers, have rallied together and raised over $500,000 for cancer research and rehabilitation at the GHS Cancer Center.

That’s pretty impressive.

You know what else is impressive? Hearing from the paddlers themselves about why they join a team, fundraise and row like there’s no tomorrow. Last month, we shared one of those stories with you.

We just couldn’t resist sharing another one of our paddlers’ stories with you. Here’s why Bryan Dove paddles, in his own words:

“I have fought cancer for the past six years. During this battle I lost a kidney and my bladder. I am pleased to say that I am cancer free and thrilled to be a part of this event!

I started in the Moving On program just six weeks ago and I have received so much from it. I never dreamed my strength would come back to me. I have been able to do much more from the help I received from Noreen and her staff.

I thank God for healing me from cancer and Greenville Hospital System for their effort to help so many in so many different ways.”

Why do you paddle? Share in the comments below! You can also give in honor of your favorite paddler or team here.

Posted in Cancer, Community, Giving, Greenville Hospital System | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Winning the fight

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Zach Price

Janet Winn (left), joined by Joe Stephenson, M.D. (right), presents Debbie and Rick Cunningham with a special gift on behalf of the Winn family. The clock represents the time their gift will provide families battling cancer as research results in new treatments and one day, a cure.

Today I’d like to share one of the most touching moments I’ve experienced at the Office of Philanthropy and Partnership.

Our great friends, the Winn family, lost a patriarch, Karl Winn, to cancer five years ago. Instead of letting that tragedy rule their lives, the Winns turned their grief into a cause that they would all rally behind. They formed Winn the Fight to raise funds that would fight cancer in honor of Karl.

I attended the first meeting where the family’s cause found a direction. Oncologist Joe Stephenson, M.D. told the Winns about a major need for cancer research, a tissue banking initiative at the GHS Cancer Center. They got on board and pledged to raise the $250,000 needed for the tissue bank.

Over the next four years the Winns would raise over $200,000 (much of it $10 at a time) through barbecues, auctions, and their boat at the Dragon Boat Upstate Festival. The family expected to reach their goal by the end of 2012, but in late 2011 they received an unexpected surprise.

A generous couple, Debbie and Rick Cunningham, heard about the great work being done at the GHS Cancer Center and its Institute for Translational Oncology Research (ITOR) and quickly took interest in the tissue bank. They decided to make a $50,000 gift to put the family over the top.

Two weeks ago I was fortunate to attend a celebration luncheon where the Winn and Cunningham families met for the first time. I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a room so full of gratitude and joy. For one afternoon two families, both deeply affected by cancer, became one. Their generous gift of time, talent, treasure and love, will play a part in transforming cancer care for everyone.

To learn more about the latest news in cancer care or to make your own gift in honor or in memory of a loved one, visit itor-ghs.org.

Posted in Cancer, Community, Giving | Tagged | Leave a comment

Why do you paddle?

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Jenn Parker

Here in the office, we’ve been gearing up for one of our biggest fundraising events of the year: Dragon Boat Upstate Festival!

On April 21, over 1,000 paddlers will descend on Portman Marina at Lake Hartwell to race against other teams, to celebrate their fundraising success (this year’s goal is $250,000 for cancer research and rehabilitation) and to honor loved ones who have battled cancer.

We recently asked our participants one question: “Why do you paddle?”

Here’s Carolyn’s story, in her own words:

“Why do I paddle?

I paddle because the year I was in chemo I rowed for the first time. I was weak and scared and alone in my fear. I went to practice and felt the power that comes only with teamwork. The day of the race I thought, ‘Our team of survivors doesn’t stand a chance.’  The goal is to have the honor of having a time good enough to row three times. The first time out we were pretty pitiful. Our oarsman, when we came in, took us to task. He reminded us that we were SURVIVORS! The next race we flew. We beat everyone’s time and met our goal.

Why do I row?

Because Dragon Boat taught me that no matter how weak and hopeless things seem, with teamwork all things are possible. We can all make a difference. You are stronger than you think. Working together we can find an early detection test that will make ovarian cancer deaths a thing of the past.

Why do I paddle?

Because I lost my beloved mother-in- law in 2005 to undiagnosed ovarian cancer, and in 2006 I was diagnosed.

Why do I paddle?

You can’t know the thrill of pulling together and flying across the water until you experience it.

Why do I paddle?

Because I love it!”

Want to hear more Dragon Boat stories? Visit dragonboatupstatesc.org to see videos from paddlers!

Posted in Cancer, Community, Giving | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Finding your giving groove

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Jenn Parker

A bike + a good cause = an awesome way to give

Let me start this blog post with an acknowledgement: I am not writing this to brag about my husband.

Well, okay, maybe a little bit.

My husband – after two years of watching me dive into the philanthropy world and graciously volunteering at several events – has officially caught the fundraising bug.

And it’s perfectly up his alley.

Tolar, an avid cyclist, has signed up for the Palmetto Peloton Project Stars & Stripes Challenge, which raises funds for local cancer research through the GHS Cancer Center and the Institute for Translational Oncology Research (ITOR). His fundraising goal for the May 28 race? $500.

I’m so proud of him! And, no, I didn’t arm wrestle him into fundraising – he jumped in all by himself.

So, while this post isn’t about bragging, it is about this: finding an opportunity to give back through your passion.

For Tolar, it was easy: take his passion for cycling and use it to do some good. For me, it’s fun: taking my love of storytelling and using it to keep donors and supporters connected with GHS.

What about you? How can you use your passion to give back in our community? Here are a few fun upcoming ideas, just to get you started:

  • Love pancakes? Visit any Greenville-area IHOP on Tuesday, Feb. 28, and make a donation to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (which benefits GHS Children’s Hospital locally) – you’ll get a free stack of pancakes!
  • Love to shop? Purchase any of the $5 Kohl’s Cares Series books, toys and cookbooks, and 100% of your purchase benefits pediatric patients and families at GHS Children’s Hospital!
  • Love to build? GHS is building a home for Habitat for Humanity, and we need your help to make it a reality!

If you try any of the above ideas, be sure to let us know about your experience in the comments below!

Posted in Cancer, Community, Giving | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Giving hope

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Jenn Parker

Sadie's birth sparked something special in her mom: The desire to give back.

Gratitude is contagious. I’ve seen it firsthand.

Take Tiffiney Addis, for example. Her family’s life changed in July 2009, when her daughter, Sadie Mae, was born prematurely. Little Sadie, weighing in at about a pound and a half, spent the first few months of her life in the Bryan Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital of Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS).

Every day, Tiffiney and her husband, Scott, walked past the NICU’s Wall of Hope, a longtime fixture featuring past NICU patients who grew up to lead active lives. Tiffiney told me later that she had the same thought each time she poured over the portraits:

“Okay, if they can make it, maybe we can make it. Maybe we’ll be okay.”

After Sadie came home from the hospital, Tiffiney wasn’t quite done with the NICU yet. This time, though, Tiffiney wanted to support the NICU staff and families like hers. That’s when the Rescued by Love photo contest was born and when the first seed of gratitude was planted.

Tiffiney took her outstanding talents – she’s the owner of Tiffiney Photography in Westminster – and used them to help the NICU.  She snapped children’s portraits, posted them on her website, Tiffineyphotography.com, and asked folks to “vote” for their favorite by providing a donation to the Bryan NICU. She shared her family’s story, spread her passion for giving back and explained just how much these gifts would mean. In 2011, donors raised over $8,000 for patients and families. The contest was such a great success, Tiffiney began planning to repeat it in 2012

And that’s when the story gets even more awesome.

When Dania and I met with NICU staff to talk about the 2012 Rescued by Love contest and their biggest needs, they told us about one of their dreams: Updating the Wall of Hope by having new portraits made and extending those into new areas of the NICU. And just where would we find a photographer with intimate knowledge of the NICU who would also be willing to donate time and talent for this new project?

Tiffiney, a NICU mom, has spent the past couple of weeks getting in touch with NICU families, sharing stories, and photographing a whole new wave of NICU patients to add to the Wall of Hope, the same wall that lifted her spirits and gave her strength when she needed it most.

You can help bring hope to the halls of the NICU in two simple ways – you can support the 2012 Rescued by Love photo contest by voting for your favorite portrait March 1-10, or you can give now to the Bryan NICU. Click here to make a difference!

Posted in Children's Hospital, Community, Giving | Tagged , , | 1 Comment



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