2011 News
Joe Participates in Discussion on "This Week in Pediatric Oncology" Podcast
LIsten here to the panel interview that discusses the shortage of funding for childhood cancer research.
Joe and Ali visit the White House
Vice-President Joe Biden kindly invited Joe and Ali to visit him in his White House office. After enjoying a half hour of one on one conversation with the VP, they enjoyed a photo op and received a promise to pass on a B+ shirt to the President.
B+ Awards $270,000 in Research Grants this Year
This year, we are announcing awards totaling $270,000! Based upon the proposals received in response to our national 'Request for Proposals" (RFP), the 2011 grant winners are as follows:
•Dana Farber (MA) & Penn State Milton Hershey Children's Hospital (PA) (Co-funded and managed by Solving Kids Cancer) -- $145,000. We are partnering with a fantastic childhood cancer organization, Solving Kids Cancer, to fund a Phase I clinical study dealing with Neuroblastoma patients.
•Clinical Trials at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), Rush Hospital, and John Stroger Hospital (IL) -- $50,000. EVERY child with cancer should be afforded the same chance at life, regardless of their parents' income. If that sounds idealistic, so be it. Dr. Mary Lou Schmidt is an amazing doctor at UIC and our contributions, funded largely through Al Carter, Hugh Plumb, and the B+ Racing Program, will give literally thousands of children a better chance of survival.
•Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital (DE) - Dr. Andy Kolb -- $25,000. Dr. Kolb is an outstanding clinician, researcher, and passionate advocate for our kids. Andy is one of the folks that I had the 'pleasure' of jumping out of an airplane with at 2 1/2 miles above the ground! Your support will benefit Andy's research in the Cancer Therapeutics Lab as it relates to his work with Ewing's Sarcoma patients.
•Van Andel Research Institute (MI) - Dr. Giselle Sholler -- $25,000. Dr. Sholler is a very accomplished researcher who is investigating a novel therapy that deals with a specific protein inhibitor.
•Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital (DE) - Dr. Ayyappan Rajasekaran -- $25,000. Dr. Raj, the recipient of our $250,000 grant in 2009, is being awarded an additional $25,000 to support his efforts to develop a safer therapeutic approach to alleviate cancer treatment-related side effects in children.
B+ Foundation Helps Lead Childhood Cancer Conference in D.C.
On September 22nd, nearly 50 childhood cancer organizations gathered in Washington to organize themselves into a more efficient and effective coalition. As a result, a unified front is being developed to establish an ongoing collaboration between all these nationwide organizations. Joe and The B+ Foundation is proud to be one of the three leaders of the conference. Watch for more details.
B+ Racing Team is Racing for a Cure for Childhood Cancers
Al Carter and Hugh Plumb race cars, and now they're racing for a cure. Their race car and uniforms are proudly sporting the B+ logo to increase awareness nationwide as they race in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge that takes them across the country. Joe took the opportunity to talk with "Grey's Anatomy" actor Patrick Dempsey about childhood cancer research.
B+ Racing | Article | News Video | Patrick Dempsey Interview | For Co-Sponsors
On July 20th, they brought their 2 B+ racecars and 2 pacecars to Wilmingtonto show fans and B+ Heroes. Then a police escort led them all to A.I.duPont Hospital to visit the kids in the pediatric cancer unit. The kids enjoyed seeing the cars and meeting the B+ drivers.
French artist, Erwin Dazelle, painted a mural with the kids at A.I.duPont Hospital, which will be on display on the hospital wall. Article | Video | Photos
Sandlot Hero Recognizes Joe and B+
Sandlot Hero is an organization that recognizes "ordinary people inspiring the world in ways that matter and last beyond 100 years." Recently, they recognized Joe for his B+ efforts and built a webpage to share B+ with the Sandlot Hero Community. Visit the site and watch the video here.
Joe and B+ are Featured on WHYY
WHYY public television interviewed Joe for a story they call "A Life Being Positive." Watch the video here.
Childhood Cancer HTS Lab Dedicated to Andrew & B+
Thanks in part to a $250,000 grant from B+, the Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research established a High-Throughput Screening Lab, the first in Delaware. Our grant purchased robotic equipment to help speed the discovery of improved chemotherapeutic drugs for children. It will accomplish in mere days what it takes a human scientist years to do! Special thanks to Dr. Rajasekaran, the director of NCCCR, and Dr. Napper, the director of the HTS Lab.
There will be a plaque placed on the wall next to the HTS robot with a picture of Andrew that reads "In recognition of the generous support of The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. Always remember why we work so hard -- for Andrew and all of the children fighting cancer." Photo Diagram | Article
St. Mary Magdalen Selects Student Athlete for the Andrew McDonough B+ Award
Congratulations to David Sullivan, the 2011 recipient of the Andrew McDonough B+ Award. Each year, Andrew's school, St. Mary Magdalen in Wilmington, DE, presents the award to the 8th grade student who tries their best to "Play Like Andrew." That means:
* Try your best - respect God by using the talents that God gave you
* Put the team before yourself
* Proudly represent SMM
* Keep it all in perspective (it's only a game, after all)
* Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
Northwestern University Dance Marathon Selects The B+ Foundation as Primary Beneficiary!
The students who run the Northwestern University Dance Marathon, one of the largest student-run philanthropies in the country, have unanimously chosen The B+ Foundation as the primary beneficiary of their 2012 fund-raising. This is fantastic news for B+ because last year NUDM raised over $1 million! Think of all the families we’ll be able to help with the money these dedicated students will raise. We’ll also be able to accelerate our research grant funding and have opened a Midwest regional office in suburban Chicago for The B+ Foundation. Thank you, Northwestern!!
Watch the NUDM video announcement and visit the NU dance site.
Rep. Carney invites Joe to the State of the Union Address
Delaware's Representative John Carney (D-DE), a long-time supporter of B+ and family friend, invited Joe to attend the President's State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. At pre-address cocktail parties, Joe discussed the need for more funding for childhood cancer research with other congressmen and women including Representative Pelosi. Thank you, Rep. Carney. Watch this video of Rep. Carney and Joe.