A V Foundation SPORE Clinical Trial Supplement Grant Awarded To The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

(Cary, N.C.)--- The V Foundation for Cancer Research, one of the nation’s leading cancer research fundraising organizations, announced that a Supplement to the Lung Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant to support innovative clinical trials was recently awarded to Dr. Jill M. Siegfried at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The $1 million grant was given in honor of Emily Miner, a 39 year old mother of two who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Miner received the grant in her honor at the 2009 V Foundation Wine Celebration.

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One Team One Cause

V Foundation Mission

The 12th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration took place August 6&7 in the Napa Valley, raising a total of more than $2.2 million for critical cancer research. The event is a signature fundraiser for legendary sportscaster and coach Jim Valvano's eponymous V Foundation, raising more than $35 million since it was first held in 1998.

As guests sipped glasses of single vineyard Nickel & Nickel Cabernet, Chairman Bob Lloyd announced that The V Foundation had reached their goal of raising $100 million dollars for cancer research. The room cheered as Duke Coaching Legend Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski joined Lloyd onstage alongside Nick Valvano, Jimmy V's brother, to pledge their support in raising the next $100 million. "Give till it hurts, you can afford it," teased Krzyzewski, who offered up a heartfelt, albeit humorous, keynote speech to kick off the evening. Local Vintner, Chicago-Area Socialite and cancer survivor Teri Kuhn spearheaded an impassioned Fund-A-Need to benefit Leukemia research. Cyril and Blakesley Chappellet were also honored with a Vintner Grant to benefit Melanoma research in honor of a cherished family friend.

Giving was the order of the day for the roughly 530 guests who assembled in the Napa Valley to enjoy private dinners and receptions, as well as an update on research advances from The V Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board, before arriving at the grand finale gala dinner and auction at Nickel & Nickel Winery. The evening was one of extraordinary generosity on all fronts, with the largest and most diverse auction catalog ever assembled for the event. "As our cause catches on, the donations have exceeded our wildest dreams," notes Julie Constantin, the Marin-based Venture Capitalist who helped create the first V Wine Celebration event more than a decade ago. Original owner of Screaming Eagle, Jean Phillips, donated a 3-liter in honor of fellow vintner and good friend, Teri Kuhn of Pillar Rock, and her battle with Leukemia. Tickets to events such at the ESPYs, the Superbowl, and courtside seats at the Duke University vs. UNC college basketball game were just a few of the outstanding auction lots offered. Popular items included a week's stay in a luxurious Maui oceanfront home, an Audi drive-and-dine experience, international vacations in Fiji, Bali, Tuscany and Argentina, and lots of fabulous wine. Spotted in the crowd were V supporters including Steve Bornstein (President of the NFL Network), Cheech Marin, Donna Orender (President of the WNBA) and Robin Roberts (Network Anchor GMA/ABC).

"Cancer touches everyone, and everyone has the power to do something about it. This group and this event are a great example of that -- we are very proud of everyone who's involved here; donors, bidders, and researchers. This weekend is always about saying thanks, and renewing our commitment to the fight. An organized team is a really, really powerful thing. I think we proved that again this year, and we'll keep doing it until we've got a cure," says Bob Lloyd, Chairman of The V Foundation. "But it doesn't mean we can't have fun doing it, right?"

The V Foundation Wine Celebration will be held again August 5 & 6, 2011, with 100% of all net proceeds and new cash donations from events applied directly to innovative cancer research grants and opportunities. For more information or tickets to the 2011 event visit www.winecelebration.org.

About The V Foundation: Since 1993, The V Foundation has raised more than $100 million, awarding cancer research grants to 92 institutions in 38 states and the District of Columbia. The V Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of some of the top physicians and research scientists from prominent universities and cancer centers nationwide, assures that only the cancer research projects with the most potential are funded. Best of all, 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net event proceeds go directly to cancer research and related programs. Recognized for its prudent fiscal management, The V Foundation has earned a top four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator, for a seventh consecutive year. Only 2% of the charities in the US have achieved this high honor.

For more information, or photos of the event, please contact Tori Wilder at 707.227.8310 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

“Mutual commitment helps overcome the fear of failure —
especially when people are part of a team sharing and achieving goals.”

— Mike Krzyzewski

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A Message from the Chairman

Bob Lloyd,
V Foundation Chairman

Bob Lloyd is the founding Chairman of The V Foundation and a co-founder of the V Foundation Wine Celebration in Napa Valley. Bob and Jimmy V were best friends, and it was Bob who promised Jim that The V Foundation would succeed, and be instrumental in finding cures for cancer.

Dear Friends,

Thank you to all who shared in the extraordinary 11th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration event on August 7 & 8th and for being part of our winning team! The weekend was a huge success with all of our generous donations garnering an impressive $2,255,850 with 100% of every dollar going towards cancer research. Our guests celebrated throughout the weekend at lavish vintner dinners and outdoor wine receptions.

And of course, everyone was elated to witness personal story telling from our host Coach K, as well as bidding on the many luxury auction lots at Nickel & Nickel during the Gala event. The evening was particularly memorable as the 440 attendees honored our Vintners Grant recipient, Emily Miner by rising over $700,000 for Lung Cancer Research. It seems that each year the event receives more and more positive feedback as people immerse themselves in the wine country life-style and revel in the reunion spirit it exudes, all the while raising money for cancer research.

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Breeders' Cup selects The V Foundation

Breederscup.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=4221182

NEW YORK (June 1, 2009) — The Breeders' Cup today announced it has selected The V Foundation for Cancer Research as its primary non-profit beneficiary for the 26th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held November 6-7 at Santa Anita Park located in Arcadia, Calif. The Breeders' Cup has set a goal to raise a minimum of $100,000 for The V Foundation, the organization founded by ESPN and Jim Valvano in 1993.

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A Message from the Chairman

Bob Lloyd,
V Foundation Chairman

Bob Lloyd has been Chairman of The V Foundation since 1999. Bob and Jimmy V were best friends, college roommates, teammates, and served in the military together. Bob was among the group of Jim’s closest friends who promised him that The V Foundation would succeed and be instrumental in finding cures for cancer.

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the V Foundation Wine Celebration Board, I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the success of this year ’s 10th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration in beautiful Napa Valley. Because of your generosity this past August, $3.9 million was raised in our fight to find a cure for cancer. You fully funded the $1M Pediatric Fund-A-Need grant at UCSF for neuroblastoma. Thanks again to everyone. Your donations are truly meaningful.

Since the V Foundation Endowment has been fully funded, again thanks to your continued generosity, all of the funds raised in August 2008 will go towards grants so that we can help find cures for cancer. There are very few foundations that give 100 cents on every dollar towards research grants. We are pleased that The V Foundation can award these funds to the best and brightest researchers who the V Foundation Scientific Review Committee feel have the best opportunity to make an impact on curing cancer.

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See you later cancergator!!

Emily Miner is cancer free! Emily Miner gave up smoking at age 6. "I was on a camping trip with my cousins," the 39-year-old Californian recalls. As the family sat around the campfire, her uncle lit a cigar. Intrigued by the sharp scent of the smoke, Emily persuaded him to let her try it. "I took a huge puff and turned green," she says. "That was it for me."

Thirty years later, Emily was a picture of healthy living: She ran a family winery in Napa Valley with her husband, Dave, had two young daughters, and was training for a half-marathon. So the discovery that a deadly disease was ravaging her was nothing short of shocking.

It started out as back pain, a recurring twinge. When in mid January 2008, an MRI showed a tumor on her spine and spots on her lungs, Emily and her oncologist assumed it must be breast cancer that had spread, a diagnosis not unknown in young, healthy women. No one was prepared for the biopsy result, which showed that these were actually symptoms of Stage IV lung cancer. It had metastasized to her spine. In August 2009, Emily Miner bravely took the stage at the V Foundation Wine Celebration and was awarded as the Vintners Grant Recipient. In a touching, heartfelt moment, Emily spoke to the guests and expressed gratitude for their support of lung cancer research in her honor. As a tribute, guests donated over $700,000 to the Fund-A-Need during the auction. The grant will be made in Emily’s name, who was recently featured as the “New Face of Cancer” in Women’s Health magazine. By November of 2009, doctors were able to shrink the cancer into one lobe of her lung and successfully remove all of the cancer and lymph nodes at USCF. In January 2010, Emily Miner awaited her PET scan results ...