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| The V Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Name | V Foundation |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Jim Valvano, ESPN |
| Location | Durham, North Carolina |
| Area served | United States, International |
| Focus | Cancer research funding |
| Motto | "Finding a cure for cancer" |
The V Foundation The V Foundation is a nonprofit organization established to fund cancer research and honor the legacy of Jim Valvano. Founded in 1993 by Jim Valvano and executives at ESPN, the organization partners with medical centers, universities, and philanthropic organizations to award grants for cancer research and to promote public awareness through high-profile events. Its work intersects with academic institutions, private donors, and media corporations to accelerate translational research and patient-centered initiatives.
The organization was created following the 1993 1993 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament coverage and the public address by Jim Valvano at the ESPYS ceremony, catalyzing support from ESPN, North Carolina State University, and donors including members of the Valvano family. Early funding initiatives involved collaborations with Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and regional hospitals such as Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and North Carolina Central University. Over time, the foundation expanded grantmaking to researchers at institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, University of California, San Francisco, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Major milestones included the establishment of named awards, memorial lectures, and partnerships with sports franchises including New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Lakers for fundraising events.
The foundation’s mission emphasizes funding innovative cancer research across laboratory, clinical, and population studies at centers such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Sloan Kettering Institute. Programmatic priorities include young investigator awards, multi-year grants, and support for early-stage discovery at institutions like MIT, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. Specific programs have supported translational efforts linked to precision oncology at National Cancer Institute-affiliated centers, immunotherapy research at Karolinska Institute, and survivorship initiatives at City of Hope. The foundation also administers career development awards associated with societies such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology and collaborates with consortia like The Cancer Genome Atlas.
Fundraising channels include televised telethons, gala dinners, charity runs, and sports-related auctions with partners including ESPN, ABC Sports, CBS Sports, and franchises like Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Signature events have drawn celebrities from Hollywood Bowl fundraisers to charity golf tournaments in partnership with PGA Tour and LPGA organizations, as well as collaborations with musicians from Madonna and Bruce Springsteen-led benefit concerts. Corporate supporters have included Nike, Adidas, Anheuser-Busch, and Bank of America. High-profile auctions have featured memorabilia from Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, and LeBron James, while televised award partnerships with ESPY Awards and sports networks amplify outreach. Regional chapters and athletic conferences like the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference host fundraising drives tied to collegiate athletics.
Grant recipients have included investigators at Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Salk Institute, Scripps Research, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Funding priorities emphasize early-phase clinical trials, biomarker discovery, and basic science that can inform therapies developed at pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Merck & Co., AstraZeneca, and Roche. Outcomes reported by awardees have contributed to publications in journals including Nature, Science, The Lancet, and Cell. The foundation’s grants have supported work on targeted therapies linked to discoveries by researchers at Broad Institute and immuno-oncology advances paralleling efforts at National Institutes of Health intramural programs. Longitudinal impact assessments cite improvements in trial enrollment at centers like University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and reductions in time-to-first-in-human studies.
Strategic alliances include media partnerships with ESPN, philanthropic collaborations with Gates Foundation-aligned initiatives, and research alliances with academic medical centers such as University of Chicago Medicine and Northwestern Medicine. The foundation has worked with advocacy organizations like American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on joint awareness campaigns and grant reviews. International collaborations have involved European Society for Medical Oncology, World Health Organization-linked programs, and bi-national projects with Canadian Cancer Society. Corporate supporters and in-kind partners have included Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and IBM for data initiatives and fundraising platforms.
Governance has comprised a board of trustees with leaders from media, business, and academia including executives from ESPN, representatives from North Carolina State University, and medical researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine and Duke Health. Leadership roles have featured chief executives with prior experience at organizations like American Red Cross and United Way. Scientific advisory committees include oncologists from Memorial Sloan Kettering, translational scientists from Fred Hutch, and biostatisticians affiliated with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Honorary chairs and ambassadors have included athletes like Michael Jordan and broadcasters such as Bob Costas. Audit and compliance oversight align with nonprofit standards promoted by Independent Sector and state charity regulators.
Public campaigns have leveraged storytelling across platforms in collaboration with broadcasters like ABC, NBC, and CNN, and streaming partners including Netflix and Hulu for documentary features. Advocacy work has engaged policymakers associated with United States Congress members on research funding priorities and supported initiatives at National Cancer Policy Forum. Outreach to survivor communities involves partnerships with hospitals such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and patient advocacy groups like Livestrong Foundation. Educational campaigns have been amplified by celebrity endorsements from figures associated with Oscars-level visibility and sports hall of fame inductees, enhancing donor engagement and grassroots activism.
Category:Cancer charities