The Mission
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on December 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization’s namesake Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women’s basketball coach.
Kay Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease. Before her death, she joined forces with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation for Cancer Research to form the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women’s cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.
Coach Yow felt as if the last months of her life were a result of her having the opportunity to participate in research projects coupled with clinical trials. With the creation of the Fund, she hoped to raise money to further cutting-edge research conducted by the nation’s top doctors and medical experts to allow more and more cancer patients to have access to experimental drugs. Since the majority of these research projects are privately funded, these researchers desperately need our support in order for them to continue to make strides in finding a cure for cancer.
Due to our unique partnership with The V Foundation, we utilize their Scientific Advisory Committee to ensure your donations support only the cancer research projects with the most potential. Thus, grant recipients funded by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund have remarkable standing within the scientific community. Our Board of Directors and staff aim to keep our operating and administrative expenses at a minimum in order for the majority of the money raised through our organization to be put towards cancer research.
Additionally, Coach Yow felt as if coaches not only shared a profession but a community. It is with this communal mentality that she, despite her humility, served as the platform to rally a nation of coaches to be a part of one team against one opponent – cancer. Her battle against breast cancer was fought in the public arena with the hope of inspiring others to make a difference in a fight that impacts each and every one of us. Coach Yow’s vision for the Fund encompassed not only her wish to fund cancer research but also her desire for coaches to enrich their lives by serving others. Even in her death, Coach Yow was helping others through the creation of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund whose mission is to extend and improve the lives of all those battling cancer.
Since the Fund’s inception, $5.18 million has been granted for scientific research and related programs focused on women’s cancers thanks to the generosity and continued support of our donors. However, there’s still much more progress to be made in the scientific community in regards to cancer research. Get involved today by simply making an online donation, attending one of our national events and/or hosting a 4Kay Event in your local community. Contact us today at info@kayyow.com or (919) 659-3302.
