Stories About Donors and Giving

Fall 2009

Supporting service

Robert Hart appreciates the value of skilled physicians who genuinely care about their patients. He has been that patient a few times in his life, and he says the care provided at clinics associated with the University of Minnesota is far and away the best he has received.

Tapping the potential of natural killer cells

Clark Starr, Ph.D., was two months away from retiring in 1997 when he and his wife, Jane, got devastating news. Clark had myelodysplasia, a disease in which the bone marrow doesn’t make enough healthy blood cells. It can progress and become acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Gift to bioethics center will make a real-world difference

As the second wave of the H1N1 flu pandemic hit this fall and health-care providers awaited a vaccine for the fast-spreading virus, questions about rationing loomed large. “Who gets to go to the front of the line, who should be vaccinated first?” asks Debra DeBruin, Ph.D.

A family affair

As a child, Barry Friswold spent a lot of time in the hospital. It was his sister Michelle who had leukemia. Parents Fred and Marie Friswold spent as much time as they could in the hospital with Michelle before she died at age 4. The hospital room was too cramped for the whole family to be together.

Backing a world leader

Kathy Goswitz, now 62, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 19. Her sunny disposition masks decades of struggles with numerous complications of the disease, including hypoglycemia unawareness, a kidney transplant, toe amputation, and other ailments.

Girls’ snack-stand proceeds honor aunt, benefit brain cancer research

Curt O’Hagan is fond of remarking that seven years after his diagnosis of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), a degenerative motor neuron disease similar to the fasterprogressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), he is still a pest to his friends and family.

Couple’s gifts support injury prevention research and education — today and in the future

Curt O’Hagan is fond of remarking that seven years after his diagnosis of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), a degenerative motor neuron disease similar to the fasterprogressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), he is still a pest to his friends and family.

Estate gift supports two tracks of leading Alzheimer’s disease research

It’s an exciting time in Alzheimer’s disease research at the University of Minnesota. The world-renowned Nun Study, initiated here in 1986, returned to the University in March after nearly 20 years away and is still netting key insights into Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders.

ALS/PLS benefit raises research funding and spirits

Curt O’Hagan is fond of remarking that seven years after his diagnosis of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), a degenerative motor neuron disease similar to the fasterprogressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), he is still a pest to his friends and family.

Gifts in action

In the last decade, schizophrenia researchers have emphasized the importance of intervening early to treat this psychiatric disease, which typically first appears in a person’s late teens through early 30s, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Generally, the earlier that treatment begins, the better the outcome.

Finding answers

Clark Starr, Ph.D., was two months away from retiring when he and his wife, Jane, got devastating news. Clark had myelodysplasia, a disease in which the bone marrow doesn’t make enough healthy blood cells. It can progress and become acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

‘For decades to come’

As their three children were growing up, Rich and Mary Ostlund had become very involved in their kids’ activities. But when their youngest child went off to college, Rich and Mary suddenly had more time on their hands—and a bold idea.

Gifts in action

Twin Cities philanthropists Alfred and Ingrid Lenz Harrison challenged other donors in 2007 to give to the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Initiative at the University of Minnesota by offering a dollar-for-dollar match—up to $1 million.

Woman's love for felines inspires gift to study human-animal bonds

When Kay Quam decided to make an estate plan, she made sure to include her philanthropic interests in animal welfare and rescue groups, but she also wanted her bequest to address a more fundamental problem: Why are shelters filled with so many unwanted animals, especially cats?

Donor-funded research creates potentially life-saving MD therapy

Duchenne, the most common form of muscular dystrophy in children, is often fatal by age 20. To expedite the development of promising treatments for this tragic disease, a group of foundations is funding research that is yielding promising new results.

Spring 2009

Introducing Discover Your Legacy e-newsletter

The Minnesota Medical Foundation recently launched the inaugural issue of Discover Your Legacy, a quarterly e-newsletter that describes effective ways to support world-class health-related research, education, and care at the University of Minnesota through planned gifts.

'In our backyard'

University receives $40 million to help accelerate a cure for type 1 diabetes. The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation in December pledged $40 million for diabetes research at the University of Minnesota.

'A sense of hope'

Couple's commitments to Diamond Awardsshow confidence in the University's neurodegenerative disease research. Five years ago, ataxia was an unfamiliar disease to Patrick Bradley and Patty Carney-Bradley. They knew little about it, but they had heard that Minnesota Twins legent Bob Allison had it and eventually died from its complications.

Honoring an inventor and humanitarian: Daughter’s $50 million gift in father’s honor names children’s hospital

As she stood before a crowd saluting her with a loud standing ovation, Caroline Amplatz, J.D., was momentarily overcome by emotion. University of Minnesota officials had just announced Amplatz’s $50 million gift to its children’s hospital in honor of her father, retired University professor and medical device pioneer Kurt Amplatz, M.D.

Winter 2009

Cause for celebration

Minnesota Medical Foundation turns 70. Seventy years ago when a group of forward-thinking Medical School alumni got together to create the Minnesota Medical Foundation (MMF), the notion of establishing a foundation to help support an educational institution was a relatively new idea.

Simply outstanding philanthropists

Dedicated philanthropists who support the University of Minnesota through the Minnesota Medical Foundation received recognition from the Association of Fundraising Professionals last fall. Alfred and Ingrid Harrison, named Outstanding Individual Philanthropists, have been longtime supporters of children’s health at the University.

Passion and purpose: Schulze family foundation pledges $40 million for cure-focused diabetes research

After Pam Dallmann received an experimental islet cell transplant for diabetes, she caught a disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly destroys all insulin-producing islet beta cells in the pancreas so the body doesn’t produce insulin properly. It can lead to extreme highs and lows in blood sugar and life-threatening complications.

Fall 2008

Rolling for ataxia research

For many people‚ October in Minnesota signals the arrival of costume parties and peak fall colors. But for Vern Prososki and employees at St. Cloud–based Collection Resources‚ it marks the opportunity to bowl a few games and raise money for the Bob Allison Ataxia Research Center (BAARC).

Golf tournament raises nearly $47,000—plus a match—for ataxia research

The 7th annual Karen’s Hope Ataxia Benefit raised nearly $47‚000 for the Bob Allison Ataxia Research Center‚ which supports ataxia research and care efforts at the University of Minnesota. In its history‚ the event has raised about $315‚000 for this work.

Honoring Duluth Campus medical legends and leaders

“As charter dean, Bob Carter was hired to break eggs and make this medical school omelet,” says Richard Eisenberg, Ph.D., recalling the early days of the two-year Duluth Medical School, which admitted its first class in 1972.

Ensuring a lasting impact: Director of the Program in Human Sexuality makes another commitment to his program through an estate gift

For years Eli Coleman, Ph.D., has been the media’s go-to source for stories about sexual health. Need to know about sex education in schools? Need a quote about how to rehabilitate sex offenders? How about stopping the spread of HIV? Coleman’s your man.

Fighting breast cancer one stroke at a time

Michelle Macy grew up swimming. “I probably started swimming before I could walk,” says the Minnesota native. A competitive swimmer in college, she set a personal goal to swim the English Channel. When her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007—her goal became something bigger: a mission to raise money to fight the disease.

Grief leads to hope for others: Family’s research fund helps University physicians hone in on a cure for a devasting skin disease

The minute Sarah Mooreland was born, her parents knew that caring for her would be different from caring for their two other children. Clearly, something was wrong with Sarah’s skin. “We were totally shocked, we had never even heard of EB before.”

Spring 2008

Grateful patient hopes gift will advance macular degeneration research

Ruth Hanold has many reasons for supporting eye research at the University of Minnesota. She has had macular degeneration in both eyes for a decade and more recently was diagnosed with glaucoma and cataracts. The active 93-year-old moved to a community four years ago when her eyesight became so poor that she could no longer drive.

Raising money for and awareness of ataxia

When JoAnn Ciecierski was teaching doctors about her own disease‚ she and her husband‚ realized that ataxia awareness was a big problem.‚ JoAnn‚ who has the hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia type 1‚ had done a lot of research—her grandfather‚ father‚ and aunt also had ataxia. “I didn’t know how I was going to do it‚ but I had to do something‚” he says.

Family's gifts support resident research

To honor their parents, Leslie Turner, Fritz Corrigan, and Nancy Woodrow have endowed a fund for resident research. The three siblings have seen how the state has benefited from the U of M’s many areas of expertise. With their gifts to the Fritz and Mary Corrigan Resident Research Fund, they hope to help the U share that expertise with the next generation of obstetricians and gynecologists.

Anonymous gift boosts Minnesota’s Future Doctors program

Growing up in a household of modest means, Clemon Dabney had always wanted to be a role model for his siblings. Now he’s preparing to become a doctor. Georgette McCauley’s family fled war-torn Liberia in 2001. Today McCauley is a student studying to become a doctor so she can help others become more comfortable with Western medicine.

Winter 2008

Supporting students: Donors share their motivations for giving to SPH scholarships

Whether it’s honoring a dedicated educator, “paying it forward,” or simply supporting a longtime interest, donors to the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health (SPH) have many reasons for giving to student scholarships.

Fall 2007

A challenge to make a difference

The Harrisons became interested in the project when Scott Selleck‚ M.D.‚ Ph.D.—holder of the Martin Lenz Harrison Land-Grant Chair in Pediatrics‚ an endowed chair the Harrisons established in memory of their son Martin—told them he was going to be involved.

A prosperous partnership with the Minnesota Vikings

The Viking Children’s Fund has long supported promising research into childhood diseases. Through the football team’s official charity‚ the Viking Children’s Fund‚ the organization has been helping to keep kids healthy for nearly three decades by supporting innovative research in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota.

Keeping radiology at the forefront: Grateful for past ties to the radiology department, couple helps secure its future

The field of radiology looked a little different when Harvey Stone, M.D., studied at the University of Minnesota Medical School in the 1940s. No one taught ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or positron emission tomography—standard subjects for today’s students.

Motivated by experience: Shavers raise money for cancer research, benefiting the community that supported them

Many families have been affected by cancer in some way. But it hit the family of KARE 11 sports anchor Randy Shaver especially hard. Within 11 months, Roseann Giovanatto-Shaver, Randy’s wife, was diagnosed with melanoma, Roseann’s mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and Randy was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Sullivan scholarship surpasses goal

Former students and colleagues of W. Albert Sullivan Jr., M.D., heeded the call when they learned that an anonymous Medical School alumnus had agreed to match up to $106,500 in contributions to the Albert Sullivan Scholarship Fund.

Spring 2007

Family gives back to albinism doctors in gratitude for honest information and empathetic care

The morning after their son was born nine years ago, Michele Moylan and David Wheaton learned that little Riley had albinism. In fact, they had no idea Riley had albinism until their pediatrician came to the hospital to do a standard baby check the next day and noticed that Riley had white eyelashes and no pigment in his eyes.

Gifts in Doughman’s honor keep rolling in

It’s clear that longtime ophthalmology professor Donald Doughman, M.D., has made a difference in many of your lives.

Renovated practice lab to be upgraded in resident’s memory

Over the last several months, the department has received donations in memory of David P. Pond, M.D., a first-year ophthalmology resident. At the time of his death, many friends and colleagues in the ophthalmic community expressed interest in contributing to a memorial fund for David.

Additional funding needed for chair in ataxia research

When Jim Schindler passed away last year, he left more than $1 million in his estate to the Bob Allison Ataxia Research Center at the University of Minnesota in memory of his old friend. Thanks to Schindler’s generosity, funding for the position—called the James Schindler and Bob Allison Ataxia Chair in Translational Research.

Solving the puzzle of autis: A $1 million challenge fund will help the University crack the genetic code of a complex and growing epidemic

At 18 months, Jimmy Reagan was a happy, healthy, affectionate toddler. Then something happened. By the time he turned 2, Jimmy was frail and strangely agitated. He quit speaking, and he cried all the time. His parents were frantic.

A culture of collaboration: Endowed chair to honor longtime Cancer Center director

“John’s legendary skill is listening to what people are interested in and then pulling them together to work toward a common goal,” says Tucker LeBien, Ph.D., deputy director of the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, who has worked with Kersey for 30 years. “I’ve never witnessed anyone who is as good at that as he is.”

Giving others a new lease on life: Transplant recipient’s family hopes gift will encourage others to become organ donors

When Mona Libin received a new kidney in August 2004, she also got a second chance at a normal life. Before her kidney transplant at the University of Minnesota, Mona had been on dialysis—an often grueling process through which a machine performs the kidneys’ normal function of cleansing the blood.

Winter 2007

Stopping Alport syndrome: Gift for clinical trials network may help find effective treatments for children

A member of Al Schuman’s family—” a young man I absolutely adore,” he says—has Alport syndrome, a genetic kidney disease characterized by the progressive loss of kidney function and hearing. Most males who develop Alport experience renal failure in their late teens ortwenties. Currently, there’s no proven treatment.

Breathing easier: Donations to lung research help propel U’s program to the top

When Dave Amato was diagnosed with usual interstitial pneumonitis, the life-threatening lung disease was already at an advanced stage. There are lung transplant centers all over the country, including the transplant center here at the University of Minnesota.

Legendary leader: Endowed chair honors a pioneer in transplantation

By age 79, most people have retired. Not John S. Najarian, M.D. After 40 years as a pioneering surgeon in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Surgery, he remains devoted to his passion—transplantation.

Fall 2006

Family gives back to the International Adoption Clinic

The Singers had two grown biological daughters at home when they decided to adopt another child. Soon they were in Russia‚ holding 11-month-old Angela in their arms‚ experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. The moment she reached out for Teri’s hand‚ there was an instant connection.

Spring 2006

Library reaches out to ophthalmologists around the world

The Department of Ophthalmology’s library received two professional book collections in recent years, the first from Twin Cities ophthalmologist Harry Friedman, M.D. His collection was comprised of “books that were central to his life and to his medical practice,” says Ruth Alliband.

Former teammate honors Bob Allison’s legacy—and creates his own—with gift

Jim Schindler met Bob Allison on the baseball field. They played together in the minor leagues in the mid ’50s‚ and their personalities clicked off the field as well. At the Bob Allison Ataxia Golf Classic‚ an emotional Schindler announced that he would give $1 million to the Ataxia Research Center.

Winter 2006

Backing Minnesota talent: The Dean’s Scholars Society is helping promising students stay close to home

Medical School Dean Deborah Powell admits it: It’s been a while since she was in medical school. Still, she’s definitely in touch with the concerns of today’s medical students. In fact, Powell is tackling one of their biggest concerns—skyrocketing tuition—head on.