August 20, 2024
PTACF Announces NEW $1 Million Endowment Fund For Children's Minnesota
Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund and Children's Minnesota are pleased to announce the new Hematology, Oncology Point of Care through Survivorship
Research Endowment Fund. The fund will support research by nurses and advanced practice practitioners aimed at addressing any stage of a patient’s care journey with a focus on the unique long-term physical, mental and social challenges patients can face months or years after completing cancer treatment.
“We are grateful to the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund for this new investment in not only research at Children’s Minnesota, but our nurses and cancer survivorship,” said Caroline Njau, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of patient care services at Children’s Minnesota. “This generous support will give our kid experts the ability to explore new avenues for treatment and care that can improve the lives of children diagnosed with
cancer."
The majority of children diagnosed with cancer will survive into adulthood. However, many of the children, adolescents and young adults considered cured can experience health issues long after completing treatment. Survivorship programs monitor survivors for the late effects of cancer and treatment, address any problems and educate them about their health risks.
"Children’s Minnesota is renowned for its exceptional patient care and nursing innovation,” said Kevin Werwie, President of Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund Board of Directors. “Their commitment to groundbreaking pediatric hematology and oncology research aligns perfectly with our mission to be a positive force in the health and well-being of children with childhood diseases. By creating this new endowment fund to address the challenges
of pediatric cancer survivors, we are investing in a brighter future for all children affected by cancer."
Research Endowment Fund. The fund will support research by nurses and advanced practice practitioners aimed at addressing any stage of a patient’s care journey with a focus on the unique long-term physical, mental and social challenges patients can face months or years after completing cancer treatment.
“We are grateful to the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund for this new investment in not only research at Children’s Minnesota, but our nurses and cancer survivorship,” said Caroline Njau, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of patient care services at Children’s Minnesota. “This generous support will give our kid experts the ability to explore new avenues for treatment and care that can improve the lives of children diagnosed with
cancer."
The majority of children diagnosed with cancer will survive into adulthood. However, many of the children, adolescents and young adults considered cured can experience health issues long after completing treatment. Survivorship programs monitor survivors for the late effects of cancer and treatment, address any problems and educate them about their health risks.
"Children’s Minnesota is renowned for its exceptional patient care and nursing innovation,” said Kevin Werwie, President of Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund Board of Directors. “Their commitment to groundbreaking pediatric hematology and oncology research aligns perfectly with our mission to be a positive force in the health and well-being of children with childhood diseases. By creating this new endowment fund to address the challenges
of pediatric cancer survivors, we are investing in a brighter future for all children affected by cancer."
August 4, 2024
Congratulations To OUr 2024 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Winners
Tobias Wernet & Tooli Wilkins
What a weekend! Four days of perfect (dry) weather and community to raise A LOT of money for the cause. Congratulations to the 2024 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic winners!
Adult Pine Tree Champions
Open: Tooli Wilkins/Tobias Wernet
Masters: Jackie Sperling Hosseini/Tim Burke
Grand Masters: Linnea Benson/Doug Matuska
Junior Pine Tree Champions
17U: Keely Ryder/Caleb Kennel
15U: Olivia McDonald/Santi Sanchez
13U: Sofia Livingston/Joshua LaTour
11U: Vera Scheglowski/Natan Belenky
Adult Pine Tree Champions
Open: Tooli Wilkins/Tobias Wernet
Masters: Jackie Sperling Hosseini/Tim Burke
Grand Masters: Linnea Benson/Doug Matuska
Junior Pine Tree Champions
17U: Keely Ryder/Caleb Kennel
15U: Olivia McDonald/Santi Sanchez
13U: Sofia Livingston/Joshua LaTour
11U: Vera Scheglowski/Natan Belenky
June 25, 2024
INTERNATIONAL PPB/DICER1 REGISTRY HONORS DR. YOAV MESSINGER WITH LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD
Congratulations to Children’s Minnesota pediatric oncologist and Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Hall of Famer, Dr. Yoav Messinger, on being honored with a Lifetime Service Award from the International Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB) /DICER1 Registry. The award was presented to Dr. Messinger virtually during a rare tumor meeting in Israel earlier this month following a presentation on DICER1 surveillance. Dr. Messinger’s work was also recognized at the International DICER1 Symposium, held in May in Minneapolis and virtually.
The Symposium, the Registry’s 7th annual scientific conference, brought together more than 150 clinicians and researchers worldwide, including attendees from U.S., Canada, Peru, Germany, France, Spain, Russia, Czech Republic, Israel, Pakistan and Oman, highlighting the worldwide impact of Registry research.
Dr. Messinger is the co-principal investigator of the International PPB/DICER1 Registry. He was recognized for his devotion to the Registry’s mission of improving the outcomes for children and adults with PPB and other DICER1-related cancers.
The Registry, funded by Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund, was founded at Children’s Minnesota in 1987 in partnership with Washington University-St. Louis and has since enrolled more than 1,200 individuals from 600 institutions and 60 countries worldwide.
The Symposium, the Registry’s 7th annual scientific conference, brought together more than 150 clinicians and researchers worldwide, including attendees from U.S., Canada, Peru, Germany, France, Spain, Russia, Czech Republic, Israel, Pakistan and Oman, highlighting the worldwide impact of Registry research.
Dr. Messinger is the co-principal investigator of the International PPB/DICER1 Registry. He was recognized for his devotion to the Registry’s mission of improving the outcomes for children and adults with PPB and other DICER1-related cancers.
The Registry, funded by Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund, was founded at Children’s Minnesota in 1987 in partnership with Washington University-St. Louis and has since enrolled more than 1,200 individuals from 600 institutions and 60 countries worldwide.
May 13, 2024
PINE TREE SELECTED FOR TWO HIGHLAND BANK COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT GRANTS
A special THANK YOU to Highland Bank who selected Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund to receive a two Community Involvement Program Grants for a total of $3,000 in support of our mission and cancer research initiatives at Children's Minnesota and around the world!
Since 1943, Highland Bank has grown within the communities they serve through the Community Involvement Program. Its mission is to help make the communities in which they do business stronger by supporting the charitable organizations and those in need in their market areas. To learn more about Highland Bank, please click here.
Thank you Highland Bank for your support of the 2024 tournament.
Since 1943, Highland Bank has grown within the communities they serve through the Community Involvement Program. Its mission is to help make the communities in which they do business stronger by supporting the charitable organizations and those in need in their market areas. To learn more about Highland Bank, please click here.
Thank you Highland Bank for your support of the 2024 tournament.
May 9, 2024
FIRST-EVER GAME, SET, CURE LUNCHEON A HUGE SUCCESS!
Over 160 people joined us for our first-ever Game, Set, Cure Luncheon on May 9 at Town & Country Club in St. Paul. Thank you to our program speakers Barry Dobson, Cheryl Yasis, Dr. Kris Ann Schultz and Chris Huizinga for sharing their stories and why they are involved with Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund and the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic scheduled for August 1-4 at Life Time White Bear.
We are always looking for more people to get involved with our event. If you are willing to share your time, talent or treasure as a volunteer, sponsor or donor with us, please visit www.ptacf.org or contact Lisa Mushett at [email protected].
We are always looking for more people to get involved with our event. If you are willing to share your time, talent or treasure as a volunteer, sponsor or donor with us, please visit www.ptacf.org or contact Lisa Mushett at [email protected].
November 29, 2023
PTACF Presents Check For $340,000 To Children's Minnesota
P\ine Tree Apple Classic Fund President Kevin Werwie and its Board of Directors presented doctors and staff at Children’s Minnesota with a check for $340,000 supporting targeted children’s cancer research and rehabilitation efforts for the largest pediatric cancer and blood disorders program in the upper Midwest. Sr. Vice President and Chief Development Officer and President of Children’s Minnesota Foundation Jennifer Soderholm accepted the gift on behalf of Children’s Minnesota.
Funds were raised as part of the 2023 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, which took place August 3-6, 2023, at Life Time in White Bear Lake, Minn. Celebrating its 38th anniversary this year, the event raised over $460,000.
“We are so excited to present one of the biggest checks during the 38-year history of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic event to Children's Minnesota,” Werwie said. “We are just so proud to be associated with this great work and can’t thank our players, sponsors, donors and volunteers enough for their generosity and steadfast support. The work that Children's Minnesota continues to do inspires us to keep doing this event. We know our work is not done as we hope to one day find a cure.”
The allocation of the $340,000 will be divided equally ($163,000 each) between the Pine Tree Endowment Fund and the Children’s Minnesota Annual Research Program Operating Fund supporting targeted research needs of DICER1 related tumors and coping with the long-term effects of cancer treatment. In addition, another $14,000 was earmarked towards the purchase of motion sensor technology selected by Lynn Tanner and Dr. Laura Gilchrist that is critical for the rehabilitation efforts of cancer patients at Children’s Minnesota.
In 2020, Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund announced the establishment of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research and the appointment of Dr. Kris Ann Schultz as its inaugural chair. Children’s Minnesota has the largest pediatric cancer and blood disorders program in the Upper Midwest, caring for more than 58 percent of children diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders in Minnesota.
“This incredibly generous and forward-thinking support from Pine Tree allows us to continue our research to advance outcomes for kids and adults with DICER1-related cancers worldwide and also supports ongoing supportive care research here at Children's Minnesota," Dr. Schultz said. "This benefits kids from across the Midwest and around the world. Pine Tree truly has local impact and worldwide reach. We are so grateful to each Pine Tree tennis player, donor and volunteer. This research would not be where it is today without you. For how far we have come and for all the work that you continue to make possible, thank you!"
"We are in awe of what Pine Tree accomplishes every year," Soderholm said. "You inspire us, even on those hard days, by knowing that you are making this research and partnership possible and for all that we will accomplish in the years to come. We are truly grateful."
Since 1986, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic has raised over $7.5 million for childhood cancer research efforts at Children’s Minnesota and around the world. The 39th annual tournament is scheduled for August 1-4, 2024, at Life Time in White Bear, Minn. Details about the tournament, and how to get involved in this amazing event, are available at www.ptacf.org.
Funds were raised as part of the 2023 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, which took place August 3-6, 2023, at Life Time in White Bear Lake, Minn. Celebrating its 38th anniversary this year, the event raised over $460,000.
“We are so excited to present one of the biggest checks during the 38-year history of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic event to Children's Minnesota,” Werwie said. “We are just so proud to be associated with this great work and can’t thank our players, sponsors, donors and volunteers enough for their generosity and steadfast support. The work that Children's Minnesota continues to do inspires us to keep doing this event. We know our work is not done as we hope to one day find a cure.”
The allocation of the $340,000 will be divided equally ($163,000 each) between the Pine Tree Endowment Fund and the Children’s Minnesota Annual Research Program Operating Fund supporting targeted research needs of DICER1 related tumors and coping with the long-term effects of cancer treatment. In addition, another $14,000 was earmarked towards the purchase of motion sensor technology selected by Lynn Tanner and Dr. Laura Gilchrist that is critical for the rehabilitation efforts of cancer patients at Children’s Minnesota.
In 2020, Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund announced the establishment of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research and the appointment of Dr. Kris Ann Schultz as its inaugural chair. Children’s Minnesota has the largest pediatric cancer and blood disorders program in the Upper Midwest, caring for more than 58 percent of children diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders in Minnesota.
“This incredibly generous and forward-thinking support from Pine Tree allows us to continue our research to advance outcomes for kids and adults with DICER1-related cancers worldwide and also supports ongoing supportive care research here at Children's Minnesota," Dr. Schultz said. "This benefits kids from across the Midwest and around the world. Pine Tree truly has local impact and worldwide reach. We are so grateful to each Pine Tree tennis player, donor and volunteer. This research would not be where it is today without you. For how far we have come and for all the work that you continue to make possible, thank you!"
"We are in awe of what Pine Tree accomplishes every year," Soderholm said. "You inspire us, even on those hard days, by knowing that you are making this research and partnership possible and for all that we will accomplish in the years to come. We are truly grateful."
Since 1986, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic has raised over $7.5 million for childhood cancer research efforts at Children’s Minnesota and around the world. The 39th annual tournament is scheduled for August 1-4, 2024, at Life Time in White Bear, Minn. Details about the tournament, and how to get involved in this amazing event, are available at www.ptacf.org.
January 21, 2024
CHECK OUT THE PINE TREE APPLE TENNIS CLASSIC ON THE KINDNESS CHRONICLES PODCAST
Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Event Coordinator Lisa Mushett joined The Kindness Chronicles Podcast to talk all things Pine Tree! A special thank you to John Schwietz, Kevin Gorg, Steve Baker and past Pine Tree player Josh Anderson for giving us this great opportunity to share our story!