PHOENIX (March 2011)—The Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation raised $65,000 for advanced breast cancer research at their March 10, 2011 fundraising dinner, Cookin’ for a Cure at Eddie’s House. 100 percent of the funds raised are being donated to Phoenix-based TGen.

Celebrity Chef Eddie Matney cooked up succulent appetizers of lamb chops and pot stickers, which were passed around before the guests partook in the gourmet buffet setup he and his team (all clad in pink) prepared. The drinks were abundant, featuring chic Belvedere pink martinis and an array of Su Vino Wines.

Local news anchor and host of Good Morning Arizona, Tara Hitchcock, emceed the event. She brought a personal touch to the evening, sharing the story of her grandmother’s battle with cancer. Several of the celebrity guests took turns sharing the mike, expressing their support and announcing raffle prizes, including baseball legend and announcer Joe Garagiola and Cardinals tight end, Ben Patrick.

Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation co-founder, Al Gula, who organized the event, shared his appreciation with the attendees, celebrity guests and sponsors for their support. He expressed gratitude to Luis Gonzalez for his presence at the event, recalling fond memories of watching the World Series with his late wife, Lynn, the Foundation’s namesake.

He also acknowledged the Steering Committee members that helped make the event possible including event co-chair, Kelly Hundelt, and members, Verna Zabramski, Brenda Agee, Darlene Keller, Camille Sullivan, Edna Lake, Bijen Dyrek, Rob Davidson, Erin Massey and Tiffanie Hawkins. This team was responsible for the event’s logistics and for securing and organizing more than 50 high-end items for the raffle and auctions.

He thanked Chef Eddie Matney for providing the venue and decadent dinner for the evening’s guests. “Eddie’s charisma and personality make him a great host, and his generosity and caring make him a true friend of the Foundation,” Gula said.

This was the third event the Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation has held in Arizona. Al Gula, president of the Foundation, established the organization with his wife, Marilyn "Lynn" Gula, during her 10-year battle with breast cancer. When Lynn succumbed to the cancer in 2006, Al attached Lynn's name to the foundation and has worked to continue her mission to find better treatment, and ultimately a cure, for advanced stage breast cancer. 

Next up for the Foundation is Golf for a Cure on June 16, 2011 in Shaker Heights, Ohio. For more information, please visit www.MountainsofHopeFoundation.org.

ABOUT THE MARILYN B. GULA MOUNTAINS OF HOPE FOUNDATION
The Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, established in 2003 by Marilyn Barry Gula, a native of Northeast Ohio, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. Although controlled by powerful drugs, the cancer continued to recur until the drugs were ineffective and she lost her battle with this insidious disease on July 26, 2006. As a result, the Mountains of Hope Foundation was renamed “The Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation” to honor her memory and continue the work she began.  Based in Phoenix, every dollar donated is applied directly to funding highly-regarded researchers across the nation who study advanced stages of breast cancer, with the hope of making inroads to improve the detection, treatment and management of this deadly disease.

For more information, visit:
Website: www.mountainsofhopefoundation.org
Facebook:www.facebook.com/MountainsOfHopeFoundation
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=2627567
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MOHFoundation

ABOUT TGEN FOUNDATION
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona?based non?profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org

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