A little help from our friends

Raising $3 billion to accelerate the pace and scale of innovation in cancer and infectious disease research is an ambitious goal, one that requires unprecedented partnership between Fred Hutch Cancer Center and its dedicated community of supporters and volunteers. 

Propelled by the celebration of Fred Hutch’s 50th anniversary and the generosity of its donors, the Campaign for Fred Hutch continues to gain momentum. Building on the progress it has made in advancing new, more effective methods for detection, treatment and prevention, Fred Hutch is charting a course for the next 50 years of discoveries.

Fred Hutch’s campaign committee plays a crucial role in rallying the community to the cause. These civic and business leaders volunteer their time, inviting members of their networks to tour the South Lake Union campus, connecting them with researchers to learn how they can support Fred Hutch’s work, or simply raising awareness about the importance of innovative science.

In this Q&A, three of the committee’s  leaders — Kathy Surace-Smith, Ric Anderson, and Kelly Price — share their motivations for volunteering their time, what they do to engage their networks, and their advice on how we can all contribute to the campaign’s success. 

Kelly, about a decade ago, your company, MainStreet Property Group, launched its employee giving program to support Fred Hutch. Why was that a priority for you?

KP: Yes, we set up a system called Mars Shot that made it very easy for employees to give to Fred Hutch on a monthly basis, and we provided matching incentives. It allows them to give from $1 a month up to as much as they want. We wanted to help employees create a habit over time that could really ignite a passion for giving. And we wanted to demonstrate that the program could be a template for other companies to use.

Ric, your relationship with Fred Hutch goes back decades. Why do you continue to support the organization as a volunteer leader? 

RA: Over the last 20 years, I’ve witnessed what Fred Hutch has done to eliminate cancer, and I want to see it through. If I have to do this for another 20 years, I'm going to do it because I recognize we're on the cusp of really game-changing science, with things like CRISPR and gene editing, immunotherapies, and using AI for cancer research. And this goes beyond cancer; immunotherapy has the potential to be really impactful for folks with autoimmune diseases. So it’s something I feel really passionate about.

And listen, we've all been touched by cancer, right? I've lost a couple of dear friends. Cancer research is one way that Seattle can be really impactful for the planet. 

How has the way you talk to your network about Fred Hutch changed over that time?

RA: The messaging has changed from, “This research really needs to happen to advance the ball” to “Your money is going to go to finding cures. You’re funding, if not the cure for our generation, certainly for our children’s.” So the message is that it’s tangible now. I can show you proof of where your dollars are going to save lives.

Kathy, you mentioned your career in the life sciences industry. How have you made the case for supporting Fred Hutch to the business community over the years? 

KSS: Fred Hutch is highly regarded within the business community, and partnering with the organization’s researchers to test a product or run a clinical trial is a very desirable goal. But companies are also made up of people, many of whom have experienced cancer just like everyone else. In fact, I just got a message through LinkedIn from a business leader whose mother-in-law is being treated at Fred Hutch. He’s considering a gift. I don’t know him, never met him, but he reached out to me because he saw my connection and said, “I’m just learning about philanthropy. Let’s talk.”

This campaign is an opportunity for the community to come together and be part of something impactful. This year alone, Fred Hutch is working to engage 50,000 donors. How are you going about that?

KP: The more people know about the amazing things happening at Fred Hutch, the more they'll be inclined to be involved and be a source of giving. So one of my focuses is opening the doors to Fred Hutch as much as possible for others to learn and to meet the scientists and the clinicians and the staff and team members who are so passionate about the work they do. And I spend a lot of time learning about the science and research so I can be knowledgeable and act as a spokesperson for Fred Hutch with my friends and other supporters. 

KSS: One of my favorite ways to engage people who show interest in learning more about Fred Hutch is to invite them to events. We have so many wonderful opportunities for people to get their friends and networks involved and deepen their connection to Fred Hutch. Events like Obliteride and Base 2 Space perfectly embody the spirit of grassroots, peer-to-peer fundraising while also being meaningful and fun. Quite literally thousands of people participate, becoming volunteer fundraisers themselves. It’s so inspiring, and the impact they have on Fred Hutch research is amazing.

That really is what the Campaign for Fred Hutch is all about: a chance for everyone to come together and contribute in their own unique way. We are so fortunate that so many people believe passionately in Fred Hutch’s mission and want to support it in any way that they can.

This conversation was condensed and edited for length and clarity.