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MOMENTUM: 2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT
M OM E NTUM : 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REP OR T #TACKLEC A NC ER #STR ONGE R TOGE TH E R TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE MIAMI DOLPHINS ....................................... 3 OUR MISSION ................................................................. 5 DCC BY THE NUMBERS ................................................. 6 YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY ....................................... 7 FROM THE MIAMI DOLPHINS OUR HEAVY HITTERS ..................................................... 8 PROFILE: TEAM GINA .................................................. 10 Dear DCC Supporters, On behalf of the entire Miami Dolphins organization, thank you for your support of DCC V. We were pleased to present a $4.65 million gift for innovative cancer research, with all the funds staying right here in South Florida. The Miami Dolphins are committed to our community and supporting organizations who care for our fans and their families. We are honored to help the University of Miami build a world-class cancer center for a world-class community! Special thanks to the DCC V Board of Directors, including Chairman Richard Berkowitz for his leadership and dedication to the DCC and the South Florida community. To the sponsors, riders, runners and walkers – thank you for helping the Miami Dolphins tackle cancer! KICK-OFF PARTY........................................................... 11 OUR PARTNERS ............................................................ 12 PROFILE: WALTER REYES ............................................. 15 FAST FACTS ABOUT SYLVESTER ................................. 16 CHECK PRESENTATION ............................................... 17 PROFILE: YOLANDA HERNANDEZ .............................. 17 FROM SYLVESTER’S DIRECTOR ................................... 19 PROFILE: A.J. DUHE ..................................................... 19 ABOUT SYLVESTER ....................................................... 21 I look forward to seeing you all for DCC VI! PROFILE: MATT ALLEN ................................................. 21 PROFILE: TEAM LEVINE ............................................... 22 DCC VI ........................................................................... 23 PROFILE: VAUGHN EDELSON...................................... 23 Stephen M. Ross Owner, Chairman of the Board Miami Dolphins BOARD OF DIRECTORS ............................................... 25 DCC STAFF.................................................................... 25 PROFILE: WILL LEAHY .................................................. 25 FROM OUR LEADERS ................................................... 26 OUR NEW NAME .......................................................... 27 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 3 OUR MISSION The Dolphins Cycling Challenge is dedicated to improving people’s lives through the financial support of innovative cancer research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. We are honored to be the signature health initiative of the Miami Dolphins Foundation and we hope to continue to inspire and engage the South Florida community through our bike ride, 5K run/walk, and other events. We’re proud of how far we have come, and are looking forward to working with each of you to continue building momentum for DCC, year after year. Together, we can #TACKLECANCER. 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 5 DCC BY THE NUMBERS 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 311 860 1,913 2,289 2,358 200 350 550 650 700 50 90 160 200 – – – – – 414 $533,106 $1,070,000 $2,200,000 $3,100,000 $4,650,000 RIDERS VOUNTEERS KID RIDERS RUNNERS & WALKERS RAISED Since 2010, we have donated a total of $11.55 million to fund innovative cancer research at Sylvester. YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY. When it comes to fundraising, our partners and corporate teams get pretty creative, throwing events like “DCC Jeans Fridays,” company bake sales, and even a golf tournament. Plus, DCC V marked our largest growth in point-of-sale programs, with support from companies like Walgreens, Frito-Lay, Johnsonville, Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza, and Papa John’s. These programs create unique marketing opportunities for both the companies and the DCC, while helping to raise funds for cancer research. DCC donation cards were placed at the register of all Walgreens stores in South Florida for two weeks. At check-out, cashiers asked customers if they wanted to help “tackle cancer.” The answer was a resounding “Yes!” and the promotion raised more than $100,000. Thank you, Walgreens, for letting us share your corner of Happy & Healthy! For the Miami Dolphins vs Green Bay Packers home game, Johnsonville drove their “Big Taste Grill” to Miami to serve up some delicious brats. DCC staff manned the grill and served fans pre-game outside the stadium. Johnsonville donated 100% of the proceeds to the DCC. Way to go, Johnsonville! Frito-Lay and Publix collaborated on a program in which a percentage of every Smartfood® Popcorn bag sold at Publix was donated to the DCC. The promotion ran for three weeks in South Florida locations, with the DCC reaping the rewards of Americans’ love for their favorite popcorn brand. Thanks, Frito-Lay! 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 7 DCC V HEAVY HITTERS OVER $100,000 Robert Merlin Steve Harmon Wilson Alers John Costa Ted Hockenberry Matt Allen Ben Moody William Hearon Ruth Ames Maximo Cruz James Hoffman Carlos Gonzalez Eric Pfeil Mark Johnson Ric Arango Joe Curbelo Geoffrey Horst Stuart Miller Paul Riemer Ron Katz Carolina Arenas Richard Danahy Jeffery Hoyos Stephen Nimer Craig Robins Jonathan Kingsley Mia Ares-Borcky Scott Davis Kent Infante Joseph Rosenblatt Rick Kolb Paulo Bacchi Marc deBaptiste Valerie Jenkins Paul Castronovo OVER $50,000 Celia Schieffelin Jeff Krasnoff Bruno Bacchi Jeff Dellenbach Abbey Kaplan Jon Jaffe Anthony Seijas Cristian LaCapra David Baer Darci DeMatteo Kristin Karp Joseph Natoli Ronan Swords Paola Lieto Robert Baer Clara Diaz-Leal Parker Arden Karson Walter Reyes Deede Weithorn Christina Mandich Melissa Bales Ellen Downey Dan Katz Jim Werbelow John Zamora Mary jane Mark Richard Ballard Mark N. Edoff Josh Katz Mike Maroone Glen Barber Michael Essington Sue Kawalerski OVER $25,000 OVER $5,000 Richard Berkowitz Danette Alfonso Jim Mehalso Michael Basch Rene Estevez Brian Kettler Lisa Bernstein Jose Alonso Lauren Miller Rene Beal Lauren Fallick James Kirvin Pascal Goldschmidt Ira Baer Sarah Moody Peggy Benua Carlos E Fernandez Avery Klann Jerry Goodwin Jeffrey Bass Sheryl Moore Michael Berkowitz Franco Ferracci Tammy Klingler Bruce Gross Nancy Batchelor Michael Pappas Cliff Beverly John Flood Daniel Klumpp Yolanda Hernandez Jon Batchelor Matt Papunen Tony Blank Veronica Flores Erin Kobetz Mohammad Jahanzeb Andrew Bernstein Jeffrey Peck Allen Blenden Brent Fonner Keith Koenig George A. Pincus David Burstyn Arturo Pena Mark Block Edward Forbes Robert Kopanicak Leslie Miller Saiontz Deborah Caplan Richard Pollack Bonnie Blomberg Faith Anne Forbes Billy Krauss Amanda Chase Juan Porro Don Boerema Allison Freidin Jo-Anne Kunin Ron Baer OVER $10, 000 Sean Clancy Pedro Portela Kim Bokamper Alissa Gargano Gianni LaCapra Rick Beckwitt Bruce Clipson Mario Romine Tim Borcky William Gargano Steven Laskowski Andrew Berkowitz Alex Daly Ronald Rubinoff Anne Bramman Matthew Ginsberg Sanford Lechner Jim DiLullo AJ Duhe Michael Samuels Bruce Brecheisen Chris Glenn Carl Lender Vaughn Edelson Rudy Fernandez Steve Schieffelin Jane Broderick Gabriel Gonzalez Glen Levine Andrew Eidelberg George Fetko Mark Skweres Piero Buitano Louis Gonzalez Tim Lewis Eric Feder Dominick A. Froio, Jr. Bill Sternheim Jill Burg James Goodwin Nick Mandich John Herman Tom Garfinkel Mark Sustana Harry Burg Melissa Gracey Mark Mandich Lisa Hillier Paul Genke Jimmy Tate John Butler Ivy Greaner Chris Mandich Eric Horowitz Marcie Getelman Reimer Kenny Tate Tom Calloway Claudia Grillo Charles Maxey Krishna Komanduri Sean Gill Toomas Truumees Patrick E. Campbell Daniel Gross Jessica Mayer Ronnie Levine Tom Glaser Dan Caspersen David Haber Betsy McCoy Marc Lippman Jacob Glaser Geoffrey Aaronson Rudayna Chanouha Bill Hake Anne McNamara David Lubarsky Joshua Goldstein Thomas Abraham Omar Chanouha Jerri Halgowich Ashwin Mehta Michael Mandich Sandy Grossman Raul Aguilera Jonathan Chase Jessica Halprin Adrienne Messing Bonnie Mandich Jarett Grushka Ela Alayon Nicole Christodoulou Karen Hammond Carlos Migoya Greg McPherson Joe Halprin Robert Alderman Chris Clements Henry Hernandez David Miller OVER $2,500 Terry Shore Jerrett Montgomery Jeff Shupert Nat Moore Lisa Siegel John Moore Michael Simkins Devin Moss Adam Singer Andrew Munn Gabriel Sirkman Ryan Murphy Tim Sorensen Don Nardini Sean Spire Luis Navarro Allan Spiro Joseph Navarro Hernan Spivak Steve Nouss Mary Ann Sprinkle Christina Pappas Scott Sproull Bari Pasternack Gina Stelnik Axay Patel Roger Storms Dennis Patin Kenneth Strauss Maxwell Pawk Craig Studnicky Joey Perez Joe Suarez Susie Perez Jack Sznapstajler Michael Petrolino Sandy Tate David Podein Sara Teeter Alan Pollack Thinh Tran George Radu Laura Van Gorden Brittany Reid Griffin Van Nest David Reimer Fernando Vilela Frederick Rich Mayco Villafana Joan Richardson Carlos Villanueva Dan Richey H B Warren Christopher Roberts Andrew Weisenborn Nelson A. Rodriguez-Varela H. Jordan Weitz Jacob Roffman Ryan Whitten Stan Rudman Shadi-Omar Williams Twan Russell Thelma Williams Brent Saiontz Aaron Wolfson Antonieta Sauerteig Jayson Yao Andrew Scibelli Eric Zeitlin PJ Senoski Adam Zissman Jorge Serna Tom Shea Chris Shea LIFETIME HEAVY HITTERS Brad Miller OVER $600,000 Stuart Miller OVER $200,000 Matt Allen Carlos Gonzalez Joseph Natoli Stephen Nimer OVER $100,000 Richard Berkowitz Eric Feder Pascal Goldschmidt Jerry Goodwin Jon Jaffe Michael Mandich Bonnie Mandich George Pincus James Werbelow OVER $75,000 Rick Beckwitt Paul Castronovo Jim DiLullo Bruce Gross Mohammad Jahanzeb Walter Reyes Dan Richey Joseph Rosenblatt OVER $50,000 Mike Dee Michael Maroone Leslie Miller Saiontz Celia Schieffelin OVER $25,000 Lisa Bernstein Alex Daly Barbara Havenick William Hearon Yolanda Hernandez Eric Horowitz Ron Katz Krishna Komanduri Greg McPherson Jim Mehalso Robert Merlin Jeffrey Peck Jimmy Tate Deede Weithorn OVER $10,000 Ron Baer Ira Baer Glen Barber Jeffrey Bass Andrew Berkowitz Bruce Brecheisen Mark Brockelman David Burstyn Omar Chanouha Jonathan Chase Nicole Christodoulou Sean Clancy Bruce Clipson John Costa Joe Curbelo Richard Danahy Vaughn Edelson Andrew Eidelberg Jason Emmett Rudy Fernandez Paul Genke Marcie Getelman Reimer Tom Glaser Jacob Glaser Allan Goldstein Sandy Grossman Jarett Grushka David Haber Bill Hake John Herman Lisa Hilllier Arden Karson Avery Klann Rick Kolb Cristian LaCapra Ronnie Levine Marc Lippman David Lubarsky Christina Mandich Mary Jane Mark Carlos Migoya David Miller Sarah Moody Ben Moody Nat Moore Devin Moss Terry Mullen Luis Navarro Gil Oren Chris Palermo Mike Pappas Matt Papunen Allegra Parisi Dennis Patin Arturo Pena Michael Petrolino Eric Pfeil David Podein Alan Pollack Pedro Portela Fred Rich Paul Riemer Craig Robins Ron Rubinoff Stan Rudman Twan Russell Michael Samuels Kenneth Schwartz Anthony Seijas Jorge Serna Mark Sustana Ronan Swords Kenny Tate Griffin Van Nest Andrew Weisenborn John Zamora Carole Sheets 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 9 TEAM GINA Led by one of Miami’s most wellknown radio hosts, Paul Castronovo – of “The Paul and Young Ron Morning Show” fame on BIG 105.9 – Team Gina is a loving tribute to Paul’s wife Gina, a survivor of cancer. Paul explains, “Becoming part of DCC was a no-brainer for me. I wanted to honor Gina and her battle with breast cancer, plus I needed to lose some weight. Gina won her battle, but I’m still fighting a losing battle with my weight!” Paul is encouraged by seeing the numbers of riders grow each year, and enjoys the sense of community created by the event. “From the teams, to the families cheering from the sidelines, to the amazing support staff – everyone pulls together to make the event a home run.” In addition to riding, Paul uses his platform as a radio personality to promote DCC. He tells his listeners how to get involved, and hosts a “Martinis & Meatballs” event each December as Team Gina’s signature fundraiser. After the event, Paul and Gina host a wrap party for the team at their house, with help from Anthony and his crew from Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Bruce Hunter from Shaw Ross wines. The two companies have been sponsors of Team Gina since day one. “When you or someone you know is facing cancer, it’s easy to feel helpless. Getting involved with DCC – as a rider, a runner, volunteer, a sponsor, or whatever works for you – gives you the chance to make a real difference. Gina and I know first-hand just how important Sylvester’s research is, and DCC plays a large role in funding that.” AND HERE’S THE KICK-OFF. DCC V kicked off Friday night with a party at Sun Life Stadium. Participants picked up their weekend credentials, took photos with players, cheerleaders, and TD, mingled with their teams, and carbo-loaded with a hearty pasta dinner. The Miami Dolphins and DCC media partner, WFOR CBS4, broadcast a live 30-minute program from the party with co-anchors Rick Folbaum and Irika Sargent. The program covered why DCC riders participate, the logistics of implementing a tri-county ride, and the history of the DCC, along with live interviews of Dolphins’ players and alumni, with breaks showcasing Sylvester’s work with patients. In addition, WFOR ran public service announcements for the DCC for six months leading up to the event. Between the team of anchors and reporters who rode in the event, the live kick-off special, and WFOR’s generous in-kind support, we can’t imagine a more rewarding partnership. 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 11 OUR PARTNERS Due to the generosity of our corporate partners, we are able to direct 100% of participantraised funds to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. 12 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 13 WALTER REYES 1963-2015 Walter rode in just one DCC event. But he made an impact that will be felt for years to come. As the CFO of Keyes Company and Captain of Team Keyes, Walter set a goal of recruiting 100 Keyes associates to raise $100,000 for DCC V. He ended up with 150 people on his team, and raised an incredible $170,000. While at a Dolphins charitable event, he met fellow DCC rider Henry Hernandez. The two began training together a few times a week. In January 2015, Walter and Henry were out cycling when a car struck them from behind. Henry was critically injured, but Walter died at the scene. Everyone who knew him was devastated. His light had shone so bright. Three weeks later, Team Keyes rode in DCC V to honor Walter, accompanied by his wife and daughters. They completed the ride surrounded by the people who had loved and admired him – including all of us at the DCC. Walter taught us how to work with companies and motivate employees. He showed us what one man with limitless passion and enthusiasm can accomplish. Though he’s gone, he’ll always be part of us. Miss you, Walter. See you at the finish line. 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 15 FAST FACTS ABOUT SYLVESTER First opened in 1973 Six treatment facilities throughout South Florida, with a seventh opening in Coral Gables in 2016 at The Lennar Foundation Medical Center on the University of Miami campus The only cancer center in South Florida to be named a Cancer Center of Excellence by the Florida Surgeon General More than 40% of Sylvester’s patients are from Broward and Palm Beach Counties 250 physicians and scientists devoted exclusively to cancer care and research Multidisciplinary clinics include chemotherapy, radiation oncology, imaging, stem cell transplant, interventional radiology, pain program, surgery, psycho-social/ integrative medicine, and pediatric oncology More than 7,000 patients each year More than 3,400 patients have participated in approximately 200 clinical trials each year at Sylvester since 2012 To learn more about groundbreaking research and cancer care at Sylvester, visit Sylvester.org. RAISING MILLIONS? CHECK. On behalf of the 2,800 DCC riders, runners, walkers, sponsors, volunteers, and donors, the Miami Dolphins presented the DCC V gift to Dr. Stephen Nimer and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center on April 25, 2015 at Sylvester’s Annual Gala. The $4.65 million gift represents 100% of participant-raised funds and will be used by Sylvester to make life-changing discoveries leading to more individualized treatments, better outcomes, and more hope for patients. YOLANDA “YOLY” HERNANDEZ Director, Special Projects University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Development Office Yoly is more than an employee of Sylvester. She’s also a cancer survivor who’s been in remission for 25 years, and one of Team UM Sylvester’s top fundraisers for DCCV, having raised $30,510. “My secret is being enthusiastic about what the DCC does and passing that on to my extensive network of grateful patients, family, friends, and colleagues. Because of my own cancer survival story, they understand the importance of this fundraiser and rally behind me every year.” Yoly believes it’s vital to understand that Sylvester is the only academic cancer center in the South Florida region. She explains, “Our team of experts discover, develop, and deliver the world’s most effective ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. But more important, funds raised for Sylvester stay in South Florida, guaranteeing that the day you or a loved one may need cancer treatment, you won’t have to go very far.” Yoly is not a cyclist, so she participates in DCC as a Virtual Rider. She also volunteers at the event, cheering on her teammates and the rest of the DCC participants. “Whether you ride, run, walk, or volunteer, you can make a big impact.” Yoly certainly has. 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 17 FROM SYLVESTER’S DIRECTOR Dear Friends, Thank you! You helped us raise a record amount of $4.65 million in February for DCC V. Through the generosity of our sponsors, every dollar raised at the DCC supports groundbreaking cancer research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Your support comes at a critical time for cancer research. Gone are the days when cancers were defined solely by their location and stage. Today, through advances here at Sylvester and at academic cancer centers around the nation, we’re striving to analyze the make-up of each person’s cancer, to determine what’s driving its growth and - most importantly - to learn what will prevent it from growing. Specifically, your generosity during DCC V is helping us fund these critical research areas at Sylvester: t t t t Precision Medicine - With your help, we’re able to discover, develop and deliver more personalized ways to prevent, diagnose and treat each patient’s cancer. And that will lead to faster responses, fewer side effects, better outcomes and more hope. Cancer Prevention, Control and Survivorship - Research in this program aims to lead innovative, high impact cancer control research - within South Florida’s diverse population - to reduce the burden of cancer disparities and to allow patients to return to normal lives as quickly as possible. Pediatric Oncology - The Institute for Children and Adolescents with Cancers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center will house an adolescent-to-young-adult program to prevent, detect, and treat all forms of cancer afflicting this special group. Team Science - Your funds also will be used to support projects with a focus on collaborative efforts to address the key scientific challenges we face that require expertise in many different areas of cancer research; putting together world class teams is a main focus of our cancer center. Your investment helps us provide life-saving treatments and hope to more cancer patients in South Florida than ever before. Equally as exciting, our work is leading to better outcomes for our patients - outcomes that are far better than those achieved at other hospitals throughout the nation. But our work isn’t nearly done, and neither is yours. Together, we can reduce the burden of cancer on our society. Please help us achieve our shared vision. Keep riding, running, walking, and supporting the DCC. On behalf of the thousands of cancer patients, specialists, cancer researchers and staff at Sylvester, I thank you for your efforts from the bottom of my heart. Stephen D. Nimer, M.D. Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center A.J. DUHE Former Linebacker for the Miami Dolphins Linebackers are known to be the toughest guys on the field. So it’s a good thing we’ve got A.J. on Team Dolphins, helping us tackle cancer. “To me, there’s no goal as important as finding a cure for cancer. I lost both of my parents to cancer, my wife Frances lost her dad when he was in his 60s, my brother-in-law passed away in his early 50s, and so many of my friends have lost loved ones at an early age. It’s just an awful, awful disease.” A.J. says soberly. While he may have been aggressive on the field, A.J. prefers a more subtle approach when it comes to fundraising. “I emailed 300 people, telling them why DCC is so important to me, and then I sent a couple of follow-up emails.” Evidently, it worked – A.J. raised close to $7,500. Plus, he got to catch up with fellow Dolphin alumni in the hospitality tent, reminiscing about old football games and planning next year’s ride for the DCC. “I’m getting in shape now so I can do a longer ride, and talking my wife, Frances, into joining me.” Sounds like a winning strategy to us. 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 19 SYLVESTER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER One in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. That means moms, dads, wives, husbands, sons, daughters and other loved ones will hear those dreaded three words, “You have cancer.” But at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, we work every day to discover, develop, and deliver the most comprehensive diagnostics and the most effective targeted therapies for each patient’s individual cancer. Today, our discoveries – and the discoveries of other cancer research powerhouses throughout the nation – are revolutionizing the way cancers are prevented, detected, treated, and cured. Here, more than 130 oncologists – each specializing in just one type of cancer – work with more than 115 cancer researchers to understand what’s driving each patient’s cancer. Then, we deliver the most targeted therapies in the world, leading to better outcomes than we could have dreamed of even a few short years ago. Every year, more than 7,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients find help and hope at our flagship center in Miami and at our outpatient facilities conveniently located throughout South Florida. At Sylvester, we have witnessed the power of discovery and harnessed it for the advancement of prevention, detection, and treatment of individual cancers. Today, our cancer experts and researchers work in teams to realize Harcourt Sylvester Jr.‘s vision of a center with comprehensive, groundbreaking cancer care. That’s because cancer is not one simple disease, but rather hundreds of diseases, all with different drivers that fuel growth, resistance, survival, and movement. We believe that the most effective means to prevent, detect and treat unique cancers will not come from isolated clinical trials or researchers working alone. Instead, it will come from the collective minds of cancer researchers and other experts, pooling their knowledge and arriving at new solutions together. This collaborative research – or team science – is furthered every day with the funds generated by the DCC. We bring together some of the world’s best minds in cancer research and clinical care, and relentlessly pursue our dream of a world where no one knows cancer. Recruiting highly specialized and talented research scientists and physicians is of vital importance. By bringing the best and the brightest to South Florida, Sylvester is able to provide the best cancer care in the region. And that expertise is funded in part by the dollars raised through the DCC. Our research is recognized by some of the world’s most prestigious funding organizations and scientific publications. We have nearly 200 cancer clinical trials underway, and receive nearly $25 million annually in research grants. We are accredited by some of the nation’s most impressive organizations, including The Joint Commission, the American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Oncology Practice Initiative, Health Grades’ Patient Safety Award, and a State of Florida Cancer Center of Excellence. Most important, we collectively hold a passion for living in a world without cancer. We work tirelessly each day to bring discoveries from the lab to the clinic, so that from bench to bedside, we’re delivering the most effective cancer treatments. And all that results in better outcomes, faster responses, fewer side effects, and more hope. MATT ALLEN Five-Year Heavy Hitter Captain, Team Related “Related is committed to the well-being of our community and our employees. So the Dolphins Cycling Challenge is a natural fit for us,” says Matt Allen, EVP and Chief Operating Officer of the Related Group. Matt, who serves on our board, led one of DCC’s largest teams. “Related employees trained for months in order to bike, run, or walk in DCC V. We also had family, friends, and co-workers who volunteered, helped fundraise, and cheered from the sidelines.” Together, they raised more than $385,000 for Sylvester. Even Matt’s kids and their friends got into the act, creating a Halloween Haunted House that raised $1,200 in donations for DCC. “Even though they’re kids, they’ve been affected by cancer, too.” Matt’s father-in-law, and the children’s grandfather, was diagnosed with an advanced case of bone cancer a few years ago. “He was given less than a 2% chance, but he survived. This brought home how lucky we are to have an institution of Sylvester’s caliber right here in South Florida. And there’s nothing I won’t do to support it.” 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 21 TEAM LEVINE “I will never forget the quiver in my mother’s voice when she first told me that she was diagnosed with cancer. I promised myself that I would get her the best care possible, and that I would help lead the family in a campaign to beat this diagnosis,” Glen Levine tells us. “Fortunately, I already knew that Sylvester was a worldclass cancer treatment center, because of my previous involvement with the Dolphins and DCC.” The Levine family are long-time supporters of the Dolphins, and have held season tickets since 1984. So when they first announced DCC I, Glen decided to do the Century Ride. “I had never ridden such a distance, and the challenge of doing so in the aqua and orange was daunting, but hard to resist. I crossed the finish line at City Place to cheers of friends, family, and strangers. Best of all was the pride I saw in my children’s eyes.” Anidjar & Levine, Glen’s law firm, has sponsored every DCC since its inception. And Glen has participated in close to 100 competitions including all the subsequent DCC rides, Ironmans, marathons, and some shorter races. “But it all started with DCC.” When the date for DCC V was announced, Glen’s mother was in the middle of her treatment at Sylvester. Glen quickly organized his entire family – including all eight grandchildren – into a team to run the 5K. “We raised almost $20,000! And all of that money went directly to cancer research, which was so important to my family and our supporters.” As it happened, the date of the run coincided with the end of Glen’s mother’s cancer treatment. “To our family, running the race together was symbolic of my mother’s victory over cancer, and the love and concern that got her to the finish line.” GET READY FOR DCC VI DCC VI will take place on Saturday, February 20, 2016, but we’ll begin gearing up for the big event with the inaugural Fall Family Fest, held on two dates in November in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. This fun-filled day starts with a family bike ride, in which kids aged 3 to 16 will be able to ride safely on closed streets with their families. After the ride, celebrate with us as we watch the Dolphins away game and enjoy fall festival activities, including a special kids zone and great food and drinks. You can even register on site for the upcoming DCC VI event in February. November 8 – Fort Lauderdale VAUGHN EDELSON Two-Year Heavy Hitter Devoted Daughter Vaughn supports the DCC because it combines her passion for cycling with funding for cancer research — something that became particularly important to her in 2013 when her father was diagnosed with nodal marginal zone lymphoma. November 15 – Miami DCC VI – February 20, 2016 Starting this year, the DCC will be a one-day ride with all the routes ending at the stadium, so you can celebrate at the finish line party with your friends, family, and colleagues. There will also be a concert, kids zone, and delicious food and beverages. ROUTES 5k Run/Walk Sun Life Stadium Dolphins Ride 13 miles from Dolphins Training Camp 1st & 25 25 miles from Fort Lauderdale Miami Ride 28 miles from UM Campus Boca Ride 50 miles from Boca Raton Perfect Season Ride 72 miles from West Palm Beach Hurricanes Hundred Loop 100 miles starting/ending at Sun Life Stadium Information on each route and associated fundraising requirements can be found at RideDCC.com. “During DCC V, my dad was 10 days post-stem cell transplant. So Sylvester was dad’s second home— hence mine, too—since October 2014.” Vaughn notes that talking about cancer, even when fundraising, can be hard. “But when you open your heart and explain the reason why you are asking for support, people respond with amazing generosity. So don’t be afraid to ask. We can’t all be doctors or researchers, but everyone wants to help. Give them that opportunity. And take advantage of social media!” Unfortunately, Vaughn’s father passed away in April. Her resolve for riding next year is now even stronger. “I’m doing it for the physical challenge, I’m doing it because it makes me feel like I’m making a difference, and I’m doing it because I had so much fun at DCC V. But most of all, I’m doing it in memory of my dad, and in hopes that I can help other families who are facing a cancer diagnosis.” 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 23 DCC VI: 2015-2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ADVISORY BOARD Tom Garfinkel Chairman President & CEO Miami Dolphins Marshall Ames Chairman, Lennar Foundation Luis Navarro Partner, Navarro Hernandez PL Marcus Bach-Armas Director, Corporate & Legal Affairs, Miami Dolphins Dr. Stephen Nimer Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Richard Ballard CEO, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Jeff Shupert Vice President, AutoNation Eric Feder Vice-Chairman President Lennar Commercial STAFF Richard Berkowitz Immediate Past Chairman CEO, Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants Jeremy Campos Senior Director of Finance Operations, Miami Dolphins Michael Mandich CEO Matt Allen Executive Vice President & COO Related Group Deborah Caplan EVP, Human Resources & Corporate Services, NextEra Energy Jennifer DeWitt Director of Communications and Corporate Team Development Stuart Miller CEO, Lennar Corporation Dr. William J. Goodwin Chief Medical Officer, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Amanda Chase Director of Operations and Logistics Nat Moore SVP, Alumni Relations & Special Projects, Advisor to CEO, Miami Dolphins Joe Natoli Senior VP, Business & Finance, University of Miami Jeff Peck President, Southern Refrigeration Engineers/Gold Coast Repairs George Pincus Shareholder, Stearns Weaver Jason Jenkins Senior Vice President, Communications & Community Relations, Miami Dolphins Shira Kastan AVP, Strategic Relations, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Todd Kline Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, Miami Dolphins Will Leahy Operations Manager Alec Hamilton Partnerships Manager Olivia Truby Communications Coordinator Anthony Karpinski Operations Coordinator WILL LEAHY DCC, Manager of Logistics & Operations “My best tip for fundraising? Make it personal. Let people know why you are doing what you are doing, who you are doing it for, and what it means to you,” recommends Will Leahy. In 2012, Will signed up for DCC III’s Century Ride. “I had very little experience with cycling, and had never ridden more than 20 miles. But my cousin Austen had recently passed away from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She was the epitome of a fighter, so I fought through my own obstacles, and rode 100 miles in her honor. And there are thousands of stories just like mine.” Inspired by those stories, Will decided to come work for us. “Being able to say that my going to work every day helps people live longer – that’s an amazing feeling. And I know that’s something I can hold on to as long as I work for DCC.” Another amazing feeling? “Being at the finish line as the first riders start coming in, with hundreds of people lined up to cheer them on. It’s been incredible to see the community’s growing support for DCC. And being part of the team that gives everything they’ve got to pull off this world-class event is beyond rewarding.” 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 25 FROM OUR LEADERS Dear DCC V Supporters, Friends, 2015 was a transformative year for the Dolphins Cycling Challenge. Here are just a few things we accomplished: t Moved the event to a new permanent date in February after the SuperBowl t Created a new party on Friday night to kick off the weekend t Built a village for the start and finish t Added a 5K run/walk to expand the number of participants and fundraising choices t Expanded our Heavy Hitter fundraisers from 170 to more than 300 t Increased our donation to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center by 50% to $4,650,000! Each year, cancer fighters have come together to ride, walk, and run to raise money for Sylvester Like life, time seems to speed up as we mature. The 15 months between DCC IV and V flew by. As a participant in the DCC since the very first year, I am struck by how much we have accomplished in such a short period of time; we went from raising $500,000 our first year, to raising over $4.65 million in year five, bringing our total to $11.55 million since 2010. There’s no stopping us now. DCC’s success is fueled by the courage of our supporters who ride, run, walk, volunteer, and donate – asking their loved ones, colleagues, peers, and strangers to spare what they can for such an important cause. Last year alone, those brave requests resulted in over 32,000 individual donations. Comprehensive Cancer Center. In just five years, the Dolphins Cycling Challenge has grown into the largest NFL event-fundraiser and one of South Florida’s most anticipated events. To date, we’ve Cancer touches just about everyone, myself included. That’s why Sylvester Comprehensive raised $11.5 million to fight cancer in our community. Cancer Center is vital to the South Florida community. Without a world-class cancer center Cancer is the plague of our generation. It strikes randomly – young or old, male or female, rich or in our own backyard, we simply can’t call ourselves a world-class community. Sylvester is now poor. Cancer does not care who you are or whom you love, what you do or what you stand for. There poised to be designated as a National Cancer Institute — and the Miami Dolphins and the is not a person among us who has not been touched by this disease. Dolphins Cycling Challenge can help get them over the goal line. I am deeply grateful for the support and commitment of my fellow board members, our sponsors We only kicked this game off five years ago, but we’ve got momentum on our side. And we and team captains, our Heavy Hitters and all of our individual donors. Special thanks are also due won’t stop until we #TACKLECANCER once and for all. to our DCC staff, the staff of the Miami Dolphins, the University of Miami and our cornerstone sponsors, Lennar and AutoNation. On behalf of the DCC team, thank you. We look forward to many more years to come! Most of all, I’d like to thank the thousands of individuals who volunteered, biked, ran and walked in DCC V. Thanks to your hard work and enthusiasm, we are helping the Sylvester Comprehensive Michael Mandich Cancer Center become a National Cancer Institute-designated facility which will allow it to continue CEO, Dolphins Cycling Challenge nge innovative research and treatment programs for the benefit of everyone in our community touched by cancer. I am truly honored to have had the privilege of chairing DCC V. My heartfelt thanks go out to you all. Richard A. Berkowitz Chairman, DCC V Chief Executive Officer Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants WHAT’S IN A NAME? With thousands of participants raising millions of dollars, the Dolphins Cycling Challenge has become a signature event for the Miami Dolphins and a beacon of hope in South Florida’s fight against cancer. We’re proud of what you’ve helped us accomplish through the Dolphins Cycling Challenge. In just five years, we’ve raised over $11.5 million, 100% of which funds innovative cancer research at Sylvester. But as we’ve evolved, our mission has expanded, and so has the event itself. That’s why we’re changing our name from the Dolphins Cycling Challenge to the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. Our new name respects our roots and the impact already made, while encompassing articipation. To learn more about our expanded goals and increased options for participation. what we’re planning p g for the future, ure,, please p visit DolphinsCancerChallen nge.com. DolphinsCancerChallenge.com. 2014 – 2015 ANNUAL REPOR T 27 The Dolphins Cycling Challenge is a REGISTERED 501 (c) (3) organization, and all donations to PARTICIPANTS are fully tax-deductible. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free (800) 435-7352 within the state referencing license #CH36491. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. 100% of contributions will be utilized by Dolphins Cycling Challenge, Inc. to advance cancer awareness, research, or fundraising initiatives. Dolphins Cycling Challenge 347 Don Shula Drive Miami Gardens FL 33056 [email protected] 305.943.6799 © Dolphins Cycling Challenge Inc. All rights reserved.
