Board to present check to St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise
WHEN: Thursday, November 30th at 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute, 100 E. Idaho St., Boise, Idaho
WHO: Doug Oppenheimer, John Jackson, Dr. David Pate, Dr. Dan Zuckerman, Bill Whitacre, Bill Gilbert
STORY: Organizers of the Killebrew-Thompson Memorial (KTM), a leukemia and cancer research benefit held each August in Sun Valley, Idaho, announced this week that their 2017 contribution totals $1,000,000. The funds are split between the event’s two beneficiaries: St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise, Idaho and the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
This year’s donation marks the largest amount of funds raised in the organization’s 41-year history, bringing the total contributed since the event’s inception in 1976 to more than $16.6 million.
“We are overjoyed with the success of the 2017 KTM. The generosity our donors showed during the Auction Gala was astounding- it was truly something special to witness. We can’t thank them enough for making this landmark donation for cancer research possible,” said KTM Executive Director, Hannah Stauts.
The Killebrew-Thompson Memorial (formerly known as the Danny Thompson Memorial) has become one of the leading fundraisers of its kind for cancer research, and is the single largest annual donors to St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI) every year. The idea for the KTM tournament was founded by Hall of Fame baseball legend and Idaho native, Harmon Killebrew, and Idaho Congressman Ralph Harding. Killebrew wanted a way to honor his former Minnesota Twins teammate, Danny Thompson, who died of leukemia at the young age of 29. For four decades the Killebrew-Thompson has gathered celebrities, members of Congress and large corporate sponsors in Sun Valley to enjoy four days of activities that benefit advancements in cancer research. Funds donated to St. Luke’s MSTI and the University of Minnesota are leveraged nearly fivefold with Federal and other grant programs, helping to increase the KTM contribution to the million-dollar level annually.
Dr. Dan Zuckerman, Executive Medical Director of St. Luke’s MSTI, was thrilled to hear they would be receiving $500,000 from the 2017 tournament proceeds. “Killebrew-Thompson has once again astounded us with their generosity and commitment to the fight against cancer. This is one of the premier cancer charity events in the country and St. Luke’s MSTI is proud to be one of the beneficiaries. It is because of KTM that we can offer such an array of cutting edge clinical trials and experimental therapies to cancer patients all across Idaho.”
On November 30, KTM Board Members John Jackson, CEO of Jackson Energy, and Doug Oppenheimer, President of Oppenheimer Companies, will present a $500,000 check for MSTI’s portion of the event proceeds to Dr. Zuckerman, Dr. David Pate, CEO of St. Luke’s Health System, Bill Whitacre, Chairman of the St. Luke’s Health System Board of Directors, and Bill Gilbert, Chairman of St. Luke’s Health Foundation Board of Directors.
“The Board of Directors of the Killebrew-Thompson is very pleased with the success of this year’s event and our ability to continue to contribute to cancer research,” stated Joe Puishys, Chairman of the KTM Board of Directors, “While the fight for cancer is ongoing, the efforts of our beneficiaries are helping to improve the lives of cancer patients and their outcomes across the country.”
The Killebrew-Thompson also plans to host a Sun Valley donor and volunteer appreciation event this winter, and will present their donation to the University of Minnesota next spring. The 42nd KTM golf tournament is scheduled for August 15-18, 2018 in Sun Valley. To learn more about the tournament, please see www.ktmgolf.com.
About Killebrew-Thompson Memorial
Founded in 1976, KTM is now one of the leading fundraisers of its kind for cancer research, and remains one of the single largest annual donors to St. Luke’s MSTI. The idea for the KTM tournament was founded by Hall of Fame baseball legend and Idaho native, Harmon Killebrew, and Idaho Congressman Ralph Harding. Killebrew wanted a way to honor his former Minnesota Twins teammate, Danny Thompson, who died of leukemia at the young age of 29. For four decades, the Killebrew-Thompson has gathered more than 300 people from across the country participate in this lively four-day affair consisting of a two-day golf tournament, an auction gala dinner, and a benefit concert. The 2018 tournament is scheduled for August 15-18 in Sun Valley and will be the 42nd year of the tournament.
About St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI)
St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute is the region’s largest provider of cancer services and a nationally recognized leader in cancer research. It provides advanced care to thousands of patients every year through clinics in Boise, Fruitland, Meridian, Nampa and Twin Falls, Idaho. It is also home to Idaho’s only cancer treatment center for children, only federally sponsored center for hemophilia, and only blood and marrow transplant program.
About the Masonic Cancer Center
The Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota creates a collaborative research environment focused on the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer; applying that knowledge to improve quality of life for patients and survivors; and sharing its discoveries with other scientists, students, professionals, and the community. Founded in 1991, the cancer center became a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in 1997, one of only 42 institutions in the United States and two in Minnesota to hold that designation.