The proceeds from the 2010 SSBTR Walkathon and donations collected before and afterwards were distributed to Barrow Neurological Institute,the National Brain Tumor Society, Phoenix Children's Hospital, TGen and Steele Research Hospital in Tucson. Our fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th so we're already working on 2010 and need your help to set another record and get us that much closer to finding a cure for brain tumors.
The Barrow Neurological Institute will use 100% of their share for "bench" (laboratory) research and "translational " (spanning the lab to the clinic) research, all designed to determine both the cause of, and a cure for, brain tumors. This work will be done in the Neuro-Oncology Research Laboratory at the Barrow's Ina Levine Brain Tumor Center. Here the goal is to understand the underlying genetic mechanisms that induce resistance therapy in human brain tumors. This laboratory is defining the genes responsible for resistance to currently available therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation. The identification of genes associated with cellular resistance will permit a more effective use of current therapeutic agents and it will assist in the design of new, more effective, treatments.
The National Brain Tumor Society(NBTS) is a national nonprofit that exists to find a cure for brain tumors. Since the inception of its research grant program in 1992, BTS has given more than $7 million to carefully-selected basic scientific research that is specific to brain tumors. This year alone, BTS awarded $1.3 million dollars to leading researchers across the United States for projects that include new approaches to immunotherapy and the exploration of naturally-occurring tumor suppressors, among many others. Although all funds from the SSBTR Walk-A-Thon go directly to the BTS Research Grant Program, BTS also provides education and support services for patients, survivors, families and caregivers.
The Children's Cancer Center at Phoenix Children's Hospital will use 100% of their share for clinical research to find the best therapy for childhood malignancies. The single biggest reason for success in the battle against childhood cancer has been the long-standing and widespread participation of childhood cancer patients in clinical trials. The availability of these well-designed trials, at PCH, offers children with oncologic disorders an opportunity both to receive state-of-the-art treatments and to contribute to improved outcomes for all patients with these diseases.
Translational Genomic Research Institute (Tgen) is a non-profit, biomedical research institute whose mission is to make and translate genomic discoveries into advances in human health. Tgen is active in research involving multiple types of brain tumors which affect both adults and children.
The SSBTR is exceptionally proud of the efficiency with which donations will be used. The standard that most non-profits hope to attain is that 80% of the proceeds will get to the bottom line (in this case, brain tumor research). No more than 20% should be spent on such things as administration, cost of fund raising (i.e. printing), legal, accounting, etc.
For the 2010 Walkathon it is expected that expenses will not exceed 5% of revenues so that at least $.95 of every dollar raised will be used to fund brain tumor research. And, it is very possible that expenses will be kept below the 3% level.
At least 95% of all the money raised by the 2010 Walkathon will be used directly for brain tumor research. These funds will be granted to The Brain Tumor Society, the Barrow Neurological Institute and Phoenix Children's Hospital. Event-related expenses, for such things as postage, promotion and printing shall not exceed 5% of revenues.
This will be one of the most "efficient" charitable events put on anywhere in the country. In general, non-profits strive to have at least 80% of revenues go to the bottom line, whereas in this case it will be at least 95% and possibly as much as 97%.
