Masonic Cancer Center Annual Dinner-Igniting the Imagination 2022

Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

The Masonic Cancer Center annual dinner was held at the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center on April 29, 2022. 

It was our first gathering since the COVID-19 isolation. Two hundred attended the dinner which include donors, researchers and many whose lives have been touched by cancer.  Those gathered received updates on the progress at the Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center. 

The attendees were a most honorable and distinguished group as you could ever find. There were past and present Grand Lodge of Minnesota leadership, the CEO of Masonic Charities and its various board members, the President of the University of Minnesota, the Director of the Masonic Cancer Center, as well as staff, scientists, researchers, and medical professionals as well as donors and those interested in the current research. But probably the most important guests were any cancer survivors as they represent the progress that has been made in treating and curing cancer.   

During the social gathering before dinner there were five interactive exhibits where everyone could speak with an expert in the represented field. 

 

Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Director& CEO Minnesota Masonic Charities and President of the University of Minnesota Joan Gabel

Joan Gambel, the 17th President of the University of Minnesota and the first woman to serve in that position, began the dinner with her opening remarks. 

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She stated that with an accelerated gift from the Minnesota Masonic Charities, the University of Minnesota has just recently been able to kick off "The 10,000 Families Study". The goal is to study the health of 10,000 Minnesota families, to better understand the influences of genetics, lifestyle and environment on their health. 

photo by Tom Hendrickson

I was very happy to hear the update regarding the Masonic Discovery Lab which was started in March 2020. The university has brought together over 30 researchers under one roof to find the next breakthrough in cancer research. 

Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

The seating arrangement for dinner was carefully crafted to ensure that staff from the Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center were seated at each table along with a variety of individuals to ensure meaningful dialogue as well as learn more about each other.  At my table we had an Epidemiologist and I the opportunity to learn more her job in investigating why some people are more susceptible to cancer than others. 

Photo by Tom Hendrickson

The Masons of Minnesota relationship with the University of Minnesota began with a one-million-dollar gift to build the Masonic Memorial Hospital in 1955. 

In April 2008, I had the opportunity to be present at the luncheon when Minnesota Masonic Charites presented the University of Minnesota with a gift of $65 million dollars. This was the largest gift ever made to the University. The message with the check was simple, seek a cure for cancer. In recognition of that gift, the name of the University's cancer center was changed to the Masonic Cancer Center -University of Minnesota. 

Since 2008 the Minnesota Masonic Charities has provided $160 million dollars to the University, President Joan Gable announced at the dinner. Minnestoa Masonic Charites is the largest donor to the University. 

There has been great improvement in the survival rate for the many different types of cancer since 1955 when the relationship began between MMC and the University. That is due to the improvement on the research on the causes, prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. 

To those of us who have lost loved ones from this terrible disease, attending this annual event and hearing the progress that is being made give us great hope.  While the fight to eradicate cancer is not over, the survivors of today give us all hope for tomorrow. 

One day, at this annual dinner, we all hope to hear that the cure for cancer has been found. Minnesota Masonic Charities will have been instrumental in making that happen, when it does.

Photo by Tom Hendrickson