Papanicolaou Corps Donation Fuels Cancer Breakthroughs

The 19,000 member Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research announced its largest, record-breaking gift of $4.15 million to fund cancer research at UM/Sylvester, surpassing last year’s donation by $1 million. “We are so pleased to be able to present this gift to UM/Sylvester, especially given the current economy,” said Barbara Pessel, president of the Pap Corps, an all-volunteer fundraising group with members across the tri-county area that has supported cancer research at the University of Miami for 56 years.

Pessel stepped down as president at the annual donor luncheon at the Boca Raton Resort and Club on May 12th. During her two-year presidency, Pessel’s leadership helped guide the Pap Corps to increase and then reach its six-year, $14 million pledge ahead of schedule. This year’s gift not only set a record on its own, but far surpassed the Pap Corps’ original $14 million pledge, making the total six-year gift a generous $18.1 million.

The incoming president is Tutsie Lipkin, who has been the Pap Corps executive vice president and served the Boca West Unit for ten years as executive vice president, fund raising vice president, recording secretary, and liaison to the Pap Corps.

The leadership of the Pap Corps presented the $4.15 million check to UM/Sylvester Director W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., and Board of Governors Chair Joan Scheiner during the luncheon also attended by Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., F.A.C.C., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.

8th Annual Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research Walkathon and Health Fair

On March 29, 2008, more than 2,000 people participated in the 8th annual Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research Walkathon and Health Fair at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach. Pap Corps members, friends, and supporters enjoyed a brisk walk and later attended the health fair. UM/Sylvester physicians and staff performed more than 700 free health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, oxygen saturation, skin cancer, and for the first time prostate cancer. In addition, there were health information booths on cancer prevention and related topics, and the diagnostic imaging services that are now available at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach.

Sponsors included Bank Atlantic, Dory Slossberg Foundation, Dunkin Donuts, Protex International, Pyra Promotions, Restaurant de Italia, Ruthann and David Beckerman, Salon de Soleil, The Seiff Family, UM/Sylvester, Vista Food Exchange, White Hall Nursing Homes of Boca Raton, and 101.5 Lite FM -- featuring Ellen Jaffe, afternoon host and assistant program director -- who emceed the event.

About the Papanicolaou Corps

Since its inception, the Pap Corps has donated more than $30 million to UM/Sylvester, which is used strictly for research, says Barbara Pessel, president of the Pap Corps. “Since there are no professional fund-raisers in the Pap Corps, approximately 99% of every dollar raised goes towards reaching the goal…..finding a cure for every type of cancer,” she says.

Named in honor of cancer research pioneer, Dr. George N. Papanicolaou (developer/founder of the Pap Smear for cervical cancer), the Pap Corps is an all-volunteer group with more than 19,000 members across four South Florida counties that has supported cancer research at the University of Miami for more than 55 years.

The ongoing commitment of the Pap Corps funds the cancer center's multidisciplinary research programs and investigations of prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers, as well as new diagnostic tools for a variety of cancers at South Florida’s only university-based cancer center.

For more information about the Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research please call 954-425-8100 or visit www.papcorps.org. The Pap Corps office is headquartered at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, 1192 East Newport Center Drive, Suite 230 Deerfield Beach, Florida.