W. Martin Kast, Ph.D.

 In 2003, Dr. W. Martin Kast, professor at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, was awarded a Translational Grant to explore a new approach for dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy for cervical cancer. In the past eight years, Kast and his team have been focusing on the behavior of the human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.

Dr. Kast leveraged his 2003 Translational Grant to procure major subsequent funding through two grants from the NIH totaling $2.6 million.  Highly accomplished, Dr. Kast has published more than 250 articles and holds 18 patents.  Most recently, he was named the 2010 Eminent Scientist of the Year by the International Research Promotion Council and 2010 North American Immunologist by the World Scientists Forum.

The V Foundation’s grant has led to major discoveries for Kast’s team, including the identification of the uptake receptor for HPV and an escape-route of HPV from the immune system. Kast explained that the mechanism of immune escape for the virus is the “Achilles’ heel of the virus” and this is now the focal point of his research.  Kast is currently developing a therapeutic vaccine for HPV-induced cervical cancer and is leading the world in research for a cream that can be used for HPV infections.

The V Foundation grant has not only helped Kast generate more funding from the National Institute of Health, but has also allowed him to train his graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, who are currently multiplying his research efforts in their own laboratories.

Kast is passionate about the need for funding in cancer research and is incredibly supportive of The V Foundation.

“Everyone in this life will either be confronted directly or indirectly by cancer,” Kast said. “The direct correlation between funding levels and medical research discoveries really indicates that the more funding you put into [research], the more lives you save. You can hardly imagine how important your contributions are for making cancer a disease of the past.”

Kast is a professor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Urology. This is his eighth year at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

“You can hardly imagine how important your contributions are for making cancer a disease of the past.”

To donate, please visit jimmyv.org/holiday or call 1-800-4JIMMYV

       On March 1, 2012, The V Foundation Wine Celebration team put together a group of our biggest vintner supporters and hosted a wine reception at this year’s gala event at the TED conference in Long Beach. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design and is attended by some of the biggest thinkers and entrepreneurs of our time. Each year TED assembles a cast of characters capable of stirring the imagination as never before. Explorers, storytellers, photographers, scientific pioneers, visionaries and provocateurs from all parts of the globe and is hosted by some of the biggest names in technology and innovation.

This year the V was there and brought along our friends from Chappellet, Gargiulo, John Anthony, Silver Oak, Vineyard 7&8, Peju, Meteor, Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, PRIDE, Alpha Omega, William Cole, Frogs Leap, and the Napa Vintners Reserve. The evening was a fantastic success with the Tedsters (what they call their attendees) engaging with these amazing wineries and learning about the V Foundation.

The V Foundation also assisted in three wine receptions during the week, including a special reception for Gucci, the speakers for the conference, and a special private event for the top 50 attendees.

The V Foundation, Chappellet Wines, and Michael Jordan (the Master Sommelier from Los Angeles) did a special Masters Wine Tasting Class during the event and TED has expressed interest in expanding that program for 2013.

As a result of this years successful event we have been invited back for a larger role in 2013.

For Immediate Release                                                            Contact:  Max Duley

707-963-0611                                                                                                  max@winecelebration.com

The 13th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration took place August 5 & 6, 2011, in the Napa Valley, and raised more than $4 million for critical cancer research. The event is a signature fundraiser for The V Foundation, started by legendary sportscaster and coach Jim Valvano.

The 2011 V Wine Celebration weekend began with the Friday Night, “Let’s Get it Started” Party at The Pavilion at The Vintage Estates. Guests gathered to enjoy an evening of delicious food offered by renowned restaurateurs and chefs, accompanied by a broad selection of wines from legendary wineries. The inaugural BBQ Vintner Cook Off took place with vintners Cyril Chappellet, Robin Baggett, Jeff Gargiulo and Dave Miner preparing an assortment of grilled delights. Guests sang and danced along to a high-energy performance by band and concert act David Martin’s House Party.

Saturday morning began with the Research Symposium, where the latest breakthroughs in cancer research were presented. Attendees were able to ask questions of The V Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, which is composed of leading cancer physicians from across the country.

Guests soaked up the sunshine and relaxed Saturday afternoon at The Villagio Inn & Spa where they savored boutique and legendary wines and sampled food at the Innovators & Icons Marketplace.

Saturday’s activities culminated with the Gala Dinner and Live Auction at Nickel & Nickel Winery. As guests sipped glasses of single vineyard Nickel & Nickel Cabernet and dined on an elaborate dinner created by McCall’s Catering, Chairman Bob Lloyd and Duke Coaching Legend Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski livened up the crowd and implored the guests to give generously. Dr. Neil Aldoroty, Napa icon and four-time non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor, spoke of the severe need for money for cancer research and the extraordinary support from his wife Karen. A Vintner Grant to benefit stomach cancer was named in honor of Robin Baggett and Michelle Fields of Alpha Omega Winery. This year’s Fund A Need benefited brain cancer research and a special, touching speech, via video, was given by Olympic Gold Medalist and US and World Champion Figure Skater Scott Hamilton. Over $1 million was raised specifically for brain cancer research with the help of a $500,000 matching pledge from Accelerated Brain Cancer Cure. During the live auction, guests bid on popular lots like a trip via private jet from Napa to New York City to attend private fashion week events with legendary female vintners Beth Nickel and Teri Kuhn, a luxury vacation to Tuscany including a winemaking session with super-Tuscan vintner Alessandro Landini, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the London Olympics with VIP access, and an adorable Australian Labradoodle puppy named Vern. The Bentley Raffle earned $325,000 and one of our strongest  “V” supporters, Nancy Probst, was the lucky winner of a gorgeous new 2012 Bentley Continental GT Coupe. The evening finished with a private performance by the rock band legacy, The Doobie Brothers.

The 14^th V Foundation Wine Celebration will be held again August 3 & 4, 2012, with 100% of all net proceeds and new cash donations from events applied directly to innovative cancer research grants and opportunities. For more information, or photos of the event, please contact Max Duley at 707-963-0611 or max@winecelebration.com. For more information or tickets to the 2012 event visit www.winecelebration.org

About The V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $100 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received seven consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.  www.winecelebration.org

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Dr. Neil Aldoroty: Four-time Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Survivor

In October of 1993, Neil Aldoroty, MD, an accomplished, healthy, 47 year old doctor was stunned with the news he had Stage IV Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. For 20 years while he was practicing  he had annual medical check ups with lab work, chest X-rays, EKG’s , etc that always came back normal.  He and his wife Karen took pride in their health.  They watched what they ate, exercised by swimming and running every week, and had a wonderful mental and spiritual outlook on life. Immediately after Neil received this news he urgently reached out to Mike Montgomery, a childhood friend, who was the Men’s basketball coach in Stanford. At Stanford his entire medical history/chart was reviewed which collaborated his diagnosis of Stage IV Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Neil and Karen, numb from shock, were unwilling to accept his fate.

Unique Drug Combinations Improve Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

This New Approach to Therapeutic Discovery, led by Dr. Thomas F. Westbrook, was supported in 2009 with a V Foundation V Scholars Grant Researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine have found a new way to tackle a difficult-to-treat form of breast cancer – a discovery that is being translated into human studies with currently approved FDA drugs.

The 12th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration took place August 6&7 in the Napa Valley, raising a total of more than $2.2 million for critical cancer research. The event is a signature fundraiser for legendary sportscaster and coach Jim Valvano’s eponymous V Foundation, raising more than $35 million since it was first held in 1998.

As guests sipped glasses of single vineyard Nickel & Nickel Cabernet, Chairman Bob Lloyd announced that The V Foundation had reached their goal of raising $100 million dollars for cancer research.  The room cheered as Duke Coaching Legend Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski joined Lloyd onstage alongside Nick Valvano, Jimmy V’s brother, to pledge their support in raising the next $100 million. “Give till it hurts, you can afford it,” teased Krzyzewski, who offered up a heartfelt, albeit humorous, keynote speech to kick off the evening. Local Vintner, Chicago-Area Socialite and cancer survivor Teri Kuhn spearheaded an impassioned Fund-A-Need to benefit Leukemia research. Cyril and Blakesley Chappellet were also honored with a Vintner Grant to benefit Melanoma research in honor of a cherished family friend.

Giving was the order of the day for the roughly 530 guests who assembled in the Napa Valley to enjoy private dinners and receptions, as well as an update on research advances from The V Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, before arriving at the grand finale gala dinner and auction at Nickel & Nickel Winery. The evening was one of extraordinary generosity on all fronts, with the largest and most diverse auction catalog ever assembled for the event. “As our cause catches on, the donations have exceeded our wildest dreams,” notes Julie Constantin, the Marin-based Venture Capitalist who helped create the first V Wine Celebration event more than a decade ago. Original owner of Screaming Eagle, Jean Phillips, donated a 3-liter in honor of fellow vintner and good friend, Teri Kuhn of Pillar Rock, and her battle with Leukemia. Tickets to events such at the ESPYs, the Superbowl, and courtside seats at the Duke University vs. UNC college basketball game were just a few of the outstanding auction lots offered.  Popular items included a week’s stay in a luxurious Maui oceanfront home, an Audi drive-and-dine experience, international vacations in Fiji, Bali, Tuscany and Argentina, and lots of fabulous wine. Spotted in the crowd were V supporters including Steve Bornstein (President of the NFL Network), Cheech Marin, Donna Orender (President of the WNBA) and  Robin Roberts (Network Anchor GMA/ABC).

“Cancer touches everyone, and everyone has the power to do something about it. This group and this event are a great example of that — we are very proud of everyone who’s involved here; donors, bidders, and researchers. This weekend is always about saying thanks, and renewing our commitment to the fight. An organized team is a really, really powerful thing. I think we proved that again this year, and we’ll keep doing it until we’ve got a cure,” says Bob Lloyd, Chairman of The V Foundation. “But it doesn’t mean we can’t have fun doing it, right?”

The V Foundation Wine Celebration will be held again August 5 & 6, 2011, with 100% of all net proceeds and new cash donations from events applied directly to innovative cancer research grants and opportunities. For more information or tickets to the 2011 event visit www.winecelebration.org.

About The V Foundation: Since 1993, The V Foundation has raised more than $100 million, awarding cancer research grants to 92 institutions in 38 states and the District of Columbia. The V Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of some of the top physicians and research scientists from prominent universities and cancer centers nationwide, assures that only the cancer research projects with the most potential are funded.  Best of all, 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net event proceeds go directly to cancer research and related programs. Recognized for its prudent fiscal management, The V Foundation has earned a top four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator, for a seventh consecutive year. Only 2% of the charities in the US have achieved this high honor.

For more information, or photos of the event, please contact Max Duley at 707-963-0611 or max@winecelebration.com

“Mutual commitment helps overcome the fear of failure —
especially when people are part of a team sharing and achieving goals.”

— Mike Krzyzewski