2014 Financial Report

We received the 2014 Annual Financial Report for the Katie Gerstenberger Endowment for Cancer Research. It contains GOOD news.

• Market Value on 3/31/2013: $192,743
• Contributions between 4/1/13 and 3/31/14: $27,820
• Market Value as of 3/31/14: $238,316
• Distributions to Program (to the Jensen Lab at the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research): $8,496

That means that your generous donations and support have generated eight thousand four hundred and ninety-six dollars THIS YEAR for cancer research!

This research has already saved the lives of two cancer patients who had no other treatment options. The research will continue and expand to other types of cancers because of the continuing distributions generated by the principal of this endowment (combined with other sources). Your gifts are giving hope, care and cure to patients and their families - and saving lives.

These breakthroughs in curing cancer come just seven years after Katie's passing, and they are a beautiful legacy for her.

 Thank you for helping to create that legacy!

Center for Childhood Cancer Research OPENS!

This week, on Wednesday evening, my mother and I met Charlotte at the beautiful Hyatt at Olive 8 hotel to join in the celebration of the opening of

Seattle Children's Hospital's new Center for Childhood Cancer Research, which will be led by Dr. Michael Jensen. We listened to brief speeches, and took a tour of the new laboratory facility. If you live in the Seattle area, I encourage you to look up the center, or schedule a tour. It is a light, bright, exciting space, where dreams of HOPE are going to be translated scientifically into CURES. If you are looking for a cause, a place to lend your voice, or a charity to support, please consider the Center for Childhood Cancer Research.

The income from the

Katie Gerstenberger Endowment

for Cancer Research

supports this center and its work.

As of now, the principal in Katie's endowment is

$163,284. 

This is due to the generosity of Katie's family and friends, and

we thank you.

Our aim is to continue to support its growth, and to use the income to help researchers to find cures, so that other families do not have to watch their children suffer or die from cancer!

Please click on the links to read more about this event, and the center itself,
here, here, here and here.

Mini- Update on Financials at the Endowment

Here is some information that I received in response to my questions about the Katie Gerstenberger Endowment for Solid Tumor Research at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Question:  What is the current principal amount in the Katie Gerstenberger Endowment for Cancer Research?
In July of 2008, the Katie Gerstenberger Endowment at Seattle Children's Hospital had a principal value of over $79,480.00. Seattle Children's Hospital is nearing completion of its annual financial reports on endowment performances (this updated information will be available soon). Individual endowments (like Katie's) are pooled with Children’s United Endowment Fund (UEF). Due to last fall’s dramatic stock market downturn, Children’s UEF was negatively affected.

For the one-year period from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009, Seattle Children's UEF declined by 29%. In contrast, the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 38% in the same time period, which means that the UEF declined less than this benchmark index. The Good News: Recovery in the Unified Endowment Fund, from March 31, 2009 to June 30, 2009, was 15%.

Question: How much money has Katie's Endowment generated for cancer research in the past year?
Like the overall Children’s UEF, Katie’s endowment principal has declined in value; even so, the Katie Gerstenberger Endowment generated income of $2,494 between April 1, 2008-March 31, 2009. The principal remains in the endowment, and its income is used to fund research.

Since Katie’s endowment principal has declined in value, the distributions to support cancer research will be correspondingly smaller as we go forward. To recover the original value of the principal, Children’s will continue its prudent and broadly diversified investment strategy.

Question: What else can be done to help?
You can contribute to the endowment, and encourage family and friends to do the same, so that the principal recovers its original value faster. Simply put, more principal means more income generated, which equals more research toward finding cures for cancer.

Thank you for your support of Katie's Endowment for Cancer Research!