First Pitch Celebrity Gala Benefitting Pediatric Cancer Research November 17th, 2012 Hilton Stamford Hotel Stamford, CT “When I founded the Strike 3 Foundation in 2008, I did so with the compelling inspiration to reciprocate my good fortune. Privileged by a healthy and prosperous upbringing, yet forever touched by the childhood cancer of my sister, I now seek to raise awareness and support for this devastating disease.” -Major League Pitcher Craig Breslow President/Founder Strike 3 Foundation Making a pitch for our future www.strike3foundation.org A messageMessage from from Craig Craig 2012 marks another banner year for the Strike 3 Foundation. Earlier this year, we eclipsed the $1,000,000 mark in funds raised, quite an achievement given the organizations 4 years of existence. Once again, we have been able to meet our financial obligations, while expanding the organizations that we benefit. We were able to support Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program, grant the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center our largest award to date, fund in totality the Siblings and Survivor Program at the Children’s Hospital of Oakland, and sponsor a Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award. Additionally, the first Bailey Bowl raised over $50,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I am incredibly proud to report that in 2012 alone, the Strike 3 Foundation has supported 5 independent research and treatment programs. While there is no shortage of success, there is still plenty that is left undone. We constantly seek to impact more communities, and to continually improve treatment. As event co-chair of the Celebrity Gala, I have the privilege of spearheading this novel fundraising campaign. In the coming months, our staff will revisit previous corporate sponsors, solicit new partners, and brainstorm new and exciting ideas to keep our audience engaged. From hidden gourmet dessert bars, to live artistic performances, to surprise musical acts, the event boasts character that shatters the mold of the typical charity fundraiser. However, the true mission of Strike 3, is very much resonant through the bestowment of our Courage Award, given each year to a cancer survivor who shows remarkable strength and bravery, and who shows remarkable resilience and serves as a source of inspiration. Economists and financial experts agree that charitable giving has been affected by the economic downturn of the last 3 years. However, the Strike 3 Foundation continues to welcome the challenge of increasing revenue during this period. As this packet details, Strike 3 has shown remarkable resilience and growth, nearly doubling its revenue from 2009 to 2010, and again increasing funding in 2011by over 30%. This momentum gained is unequivocally the result of generous contributions from our donor base. Individuals and corporations have increased the magnitudes of their pledges and the strengths of their commitments. Strike 3 would not be able to boast year over year revenue growth without the generosity and unwavering support of its benefactors. Please accept my most sincere appreciation for your support, and for giving consideration to continuing to support this meaningful cause. As the face of the Strike 3 Foundation, I am lucky to receive much of the accolades for the work we do. However, I am neither alone in my devotion nor unaccompanied in responsibility. There is a tireless group of devoted volunteers who selflessly give up personal time to contribute and assist. These volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization. A look back does indeed confirm that our organization is moving in the right direction, but there is still work left unfinished. By aggressively pursuing additional corporate sponsors, implementing measures to retain our existing donor base, maintaining absolute financial transparency, and diligently monitoring expenses, we can continue our progress toward conquering this devastating disease. I remember distinctly what it felt like to learn that my sister had cancer. My hope is that someday in our lifetime, that diagnosis will never have to be given again. Sincerely, Craig Breslow Event Details November 17, 2012 Hilton Hotel, Stamford CT Cocktails & Silent Auction 6:30pm Host, President/Founder, & MLB Pitcher Craig Breslow Co-Host, Chief Operating Officer Joe Lizza Celebrity Emcees Bobby Valentine and Karl Ravech Isaias Valentin Award & Sponsor Recognition Diamond Elite Merchant Services, E*Trade, Aptuit Celebrate Strike 3 and enjoy an exciting night of dinner, auctions, entertainment, and celebrity mingling with… Andrew Bailey, Rajai Davis, Kevin Slowey, WWE Superstars, Suzyn Waldman, John Flaherty, and many more Dan Dunn’s Paintjam Returns! www.paintjam.com Special Surprise Entertainment www.strike3foundation.org About us Who We Are The Strike 3 Foundation was founded by MLB pitcher Craig Breslow as a charitable agency that heightens awareness, mobilizes support, and raises funding for childhood cancer research. The Strike 3 Foundation operates as an all volunteer agency, meaning 100% of public support goes to the causes we support. How We Work The Strike 3 Foundation acts as a fundraising engine for beneficiary organizations that share our mission of childhood cancer treatment and eradication. We have partnered with nationally recognized healthcare facilities as well as clinical research organizations to ensure that the donations we raise, and then distribute, are getting directly into the hands of those professionals who are positioned to put the funds to their best possible uses. Funding The Strike 3 Foundation is proud that nearly all our funding goes directly to support those children, families, medical professionals, and research institutions that we serve. Strike 3 values every contribution and pledges to maximize the impact of each gift. Each year, 100% of all money raised at our annual gala directly supports those that we serve. Our focus has expanded to not only include revenue growth, but also expense containment. We recognize the importance of being a trusted partner to our benefactors, particularly with the recent decline in the average size of donations being made to health organizations. Growth The Strike 3 Foundation is proud to report year over year revenue growth on the order of 40%. In early 2012, the organization eclipsed the $1MM benchmark in revenue generated. We believe that this impressive trending is a result of the combination of a generous and expanding donor base, dedicated volunteers, and absolute financial transparency. Beneficiaries Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital www.ynhch.com Strike 3 provides direct funding to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital as a founding sponsor of Connecticut’s first pediatric bone marrow transplantation program. We are now in the 4th year of our 5 year, $500,000 pledge to the hospital. Our current financial reserve has us positioned to undoubtedly meet our pledge in full, and to date we have donated $300,000. Connecticut Children’s Medical Center www.connecticutchildrens.org Strike 3 provides direct funding to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center as ground is broken on an innovative comprehensive pediatric oncology and hematology center, and to date has donated over $50,000. Conquer Cancer Foundation of The American Society for Clinical Oncology http://www.asco.org 2011 represented the first year that Strike 3 sponsored an American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator’s Award. The award provides funding to promising investigators to encourage and promote quality research in clinical oncology. In 2012, Strike 3 will make 2 one-year grants totaling $50,000 each, to 2 physicians currently within the last two years of his/her final subspecialty training at an academic medical institution at the time of grant submission. 2011 recipient, Sarah Tasian, MD from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, received this grant for her project titled “Predicting Biochemical and Genetic Responses to JAK Inhibitor Therapy in Patients with CRLF2-Overexpressing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia”. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia http://www.chop.edu The Strike 3 Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to The Center for Childhood Cancer Research (CCCR) at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The CCCR represents a bold research enterprise that provides CHOP patients access to a wide range of clinical trials—both proven and investigational therapies, many of which were discovered at CHOP. With more than 30 scientists primarily focused on cancer research and one of the country’s largest and most renowned clinical operations, CHOP is uniquely capable to make critical discoveries throughout the spectrum of pediatric oncology. Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland In 2011, Strike 3 presented a $25,000 grant to the Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland. The grant funded two new programs within the hospital's psychology oncology program -- a teen cancer support program and a siblings program, both of which will help with the counseling and therapy sides of cancer treatment. We are happy to report that Strike 3 will fund these programs with an additional $25,000 grant in 2012. The Facts Childhood cancers are …the #1 diseases that claim the lives of our children. …responsible for more deaths from ages 1-19 than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and AIDS combined. …the diagnosis for roughly 2 average size classrooms (35-46 kids) each school day. That’s ~10,500 children under age 15 and 3,700 adolescents ages 15-19 annually. …detected in about 1 in 300 boys and 1 in 333 girls before the age of 20. …the cause of ~150,000 potential life years to be lost annually. For every 6 research dollars per patient with AIDS and every 1 research dollar per patient with breast cancer, a child with cancer receives 30 cents Believe that Childhood Cancers are Curable • Mortality from pediatric cancer has been steadily decreasing (due to improved supportive care and clinical trials). • In December 2007, the CDC reported a 20% decline in the pediatric cancer death rate between 1990 and 2004.