August 10, 2021
Bruce Gullikson Wins 2021 Sportsmanship Award
Congratulations to Bruce Gullikson, who received the 2021 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Sportsmanship Award. Playing in his 31st Pine Tree tournament in 2021, Gullikson has been a long-time tournament promoter in helping find players and encouraging his clients at Life Time Bloomington South to donate and attend the tournament. Gullikson has raised almost $7,500 so far in 2021.
This has been a big year for Gullikson as he recently became a USPTA Master Profession, and he will be inducted in the USTA Northern Hall of Fame in October.
This has been a big year for Gullikson as he recently became a USPTA Master Profession, and he will be inducted in the USTA Northern Hall of Fame in October.
August 9, 2021
Jason Albrecht Inducted into Pine Tree hall of Fame
It was with mixed emotions that we celebrated Jason Albrecht as the 2021 inductee into the Pine Tree Hall of Fame. Sadly, Jason passed away on November 2, 2020, after a long battle with cancer. The award was accepted by his wife, Carla, and his children Erika, Nicklas and Anneka at the 2021 Appreciation Party on August 6.
Jason’s story is an amazing one and he has a unique connection to Pine Tree. As a 7-year old, Jason was the first person known to be diagnosed with the rare and aggressive children’s cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB). He endured years of major surgeries, chemo, and radiation at Children’s Minnesota – all the while reaching out to other children and families struggling with difficult diagnoses and treatments and bonding with his caregivers. Those years shaped him indelibly to bring compassion, imagination, and innovation to patients, families, and medical professionals alike in his chosen career in the world of pediatric hospital healthcare. Sadly, enduring many lifesaving measures years ago also took a toll on his body that could ultimately not be surmounted.
With his close connection to the PPB registry and passion for making a difference, Jason was a long time volunteer for the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, taking on a variety of roles over the years. He and his wife Carla worked the food tent, led the Volunteer Committee, and organized crafts and games for patient families over the tournament weekend. Jason was also a major contributor to the formation of the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund, the 501(c)(3) that now runs the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic each year. Jason was Secretary on the Board up until his passing. He was passionate about our research efforts specific to PPB and DICER1 and spoke many times at the Player/Sponsor Appreciation Party about his personal experience and importance of this research.
We thank Jason’s family for their years of service to Pine Tree and unwavering support of Jason’s involvement. His legacy will forever be associated with this great event and research and I know he is smiling down on us as we continue our fight. Jason will be dearly missed by our entire Pine Tree family.
Jason’s story is an amazing one and he has a unique connection to Pine Tree. As a 7-year old, Jason was the first person known to be diagnosed with the rare and aggressive children’s cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB). He endured years of major surgeries, chemo, and radiation at Children’s Minnesota – all the while reaching out to other children and families struggling with difficult diagnoses and treatments and bonding with his caregivers. Those years shaped him indelibly to bring compassion, imagination, and innovation to patients, families, and medical professionals alike in his chosen career in the world of pediatric hospital healthcare. Sadly, enduring many lifesaving measures years ago also took a toll on his body that could ultimately not be surmounted.
With his close connection to the PPB registry and passion for making a difference, Jason was a long time volunteer for the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, taking on a variety of roles over the years. He and his wife Carla worked the food tent, led the Volunteer Committee, and organized crafts and games for patient families over the tournament weekend. Jason was also a major contributor to the formation of the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund, the 501(c)(3) that now runs the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic each year. Jason was Secretary on the Board up until his passing. He was passionate about our research efforts specific to PPB and DICER1 and spoke many times at the Player/Sponsor Appreciation Party about his personal experience and importance of this research.
We thank Jason’s family for their years of service to Pine Tree and unwavering support of Jason’s involvement. His legacy will forever be associated with this great event and research and I know he is smiling down on us as we continue our fight. Jason will be dearly missed by our entire Pine Tree family.
Hayley Haakenstad/Nick Beaty
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Brett Morse-Karzen/Marla Zitelman
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Bryan Biever/Leslie Gale
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August 8 2021
Hayley Haakenstad/Nick Beaty Win 2021 Open Title
Hayley Haakenstad and Nick Beaty claimed their first-ever Open Division titles at the 2021 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic with a 7-6(3), 6-2 win over 2019 champions Tooli Wilkins and Julian Dehn.
Marla Zitelman/Brett Morse-Karzen also won their first-ever Pine Tree championship in the Masters Division with a thrilling 4-6, 6-4, 11-9 victory over the brother/sister duo of Nicki Livingston and Tom Derouin.
In the Grand Masters event, the team of Leslie Gale and Bryan Biever won their second consecutive title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Danielle Niska and Chris Combs.
Over 100 players participated in the 36th Annual event which has raised over $300,000 thus far for targeted cancer research efforts at Children's Minnesota and around the world. The Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic and the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund have raised over $6 million for children's cancer research efforts!
There are still many ways to support this incredible event including:
For more information on how to give, please click here or contact us at ptatc@ptacf.org.
Marla Zitelman/Brett Morse-Karzen also won their first-ever Pine Tree championship in the Masters Division with a thrilling 4-6, 6-4, 11-9 victory over the brother/sister duo of Nicki Livingston and Tom Derouin.
In the Grand Masters event, the team of Leslie Gale and Bryan Biever won their second consecutive title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Danielle Niska and Chris Combs.
Over 100 players participated in the 36th Annual event which has raised over $300,000 thus far for targeted cancer research efforts at Children's Minnesota and around the world. The Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic and the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund have raised over $6 million for children's cancer research efforts!
There are still many ways to support this incredible event including:
- Donating online or offline
- Recurring gifts
- Appreciated stocks and securities
- Grants through donor advised funds
- Corporate matching
- IRA required distributions
- In-kind or professional services
- Volunteering and more
For more information on how to give, please click here or contact us at ptatc@ptacf.org.
August 4, 2021
A Message From Our FoundING Family
Dear Friends of Pine Tree,
Since our founding of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic in 1986, I feel incredibly grateful and proud of the ongoing support provided by the tournament in bringing the latest advancements in research and treatment options to children afflicted with cancer.
A parent should never have to worry about the lack of treatment options available to their child. When our daughter, Juliann, was diagnosed with leukemia at a very young age, there were many unknowns and it was apparent that more was needed to answer the questions we had concerning pediatric cancer. We were so grateful for all the doctors, nurses and other care providers at Children’s Minnesota that we wanted to give back in a meaningful way.
Thanks to the Jacobson Family for believing in our fight to end pediatric cancer by contributing the seed money to start the event - which raised $15,000 in 1986 - and has since raised over $6 million in supporting two main initiatives to improve outcomes for children with cancer - rare tumor research and activities to keep kids active and healthy during and after treatment.
The inception of the International PPB Registry in 1987 was a direct result of our vision and funding. The establishment of this global research program based here in Minnesota and now used in over 40 countries, directly resulted in the discovery of variants in the DICER1 gene as a cause of PPB - the most common lung cancer of children. Since this pivotal discovery in 2009, the mission and vision of Registry research has expanded and now includes study of ovarian, kidney, thyroid and brain tumors and has become a model for other registries to help identify best treatment outcomes. The spectrum of tumors under study has expanded even further within the past 2 years to include three other previously unrecognized tumors now known to be associated with DICER1.
These new discoveries have led to an expansion of the Registry name - now known as the International PPB/DICER1 Registry - and the founding of a parallel sister registry called the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor Registry. The greater understanding of this spectrum of tumors has led to the creation and refinement of surveillance guidelines facilitating detection of these tumors in their earliest form. The lives of children and adults here in Minnesota and around the world have been saved by early detection made possible by these pivotal discoveries!
Unfortunately, not all tumors can be found early, so Children’s Minnesota is studying new methods of tumor monitoring and novel therapies. They have learned they can detect circulating DICER1 tumor DNA in the blood from children with tumors and are now working to understand how accurate such a test would be in guiding therapy for children with PPB. For novel therapies, they have identified multiple potential targets expressed on DICER1 cancer cells that are not expressed in normal tissues. New findings in 2021 include information on the role of p53 (the Guardian of the Genome) in DICER1 cancers and an assessment of markers for immunotherapy response in PPB tumors.
Children’s Minnesota is also developing an international prospective clinical trial to translate findings from the lab into clinical care. The goal is to translate new discoveries into less toxic and more effective therapies for childhood and adult cancers. Researchers at Children’s are honored to work directly with families and physicians around the world, ensuring the latest research results are placed directly into the hands of those who need it most.
More recently, new therapies for children who have been compromised by cancer treatments have brought greater opportunities for improved physical outcomes and have been duplicated in many other children’s hospitals. Children’s Minnesota has developed a nationally-recognized model of rehabilitation for childhood cancer patients. This evidence-based model is being taught to cancer centers both nationally and internationally by recognized experts Lynn Tanner PT and Laura Gilchrist PT, PhD - both based in Minnesota.
Our support has also developed a measure of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy used in clinical trials both nationally and internationally to reduce the long-term consequences of cancer treatment.
But perhaps our greatest accomplishment occurred last year when we established the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research at Children’s Minnesota and the appointment of Dr. Kris Ann Schultz as the inaugural holder of the position, marking only the third endowed chair position established in history at Children’s Minnesota. Truly remarkable!
I want to thank all of the players and the tennis community for sharing our dream through your enthusiasm surrounding the event and your donations to care for our children. It's not necessarily how much you raise in dollars, but how you spend those dollars. All of you have contributed to something very special and our family is proud to continue our support of this event and be a part of this truly unique and worthwhile mission. Without all of you, we wouldn't have much.
Sincerely yours,
Ron Peterson
Since our founding of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic in 1986, I feel incredibly grateful and proud of the ongoing support provided by the tournament in bringing the latest advancements in research and treatment options to children afflicted with cancer.
A parent should never have to worry about the lack of treatment options available to their child. When our daughter, Juliann, was diagnosed with leukemia at a very young age, there were many unknowns and it was apparent that more was needed to answer the questions we had concerning pediatric cancer. We were so grateful for all the doctors, nurses and other care providers at Children’s Minnesota that we wanted to give back in a meaningful way.
Thanks to the Jacobson Family for believing in our fight to end pediatric cancer by contributing the seed money to start the event - which raised $15,000 in 1986 - and has since raised over $6 million in supporting two main initiatives to improve outcomes for children with cancer - rare tumor research and activities to keep kids active and healthy during and after treatment.
The inception of the International PPB Registry in 1987 was a direct result of our vision and funding. The establishment of this global research program based here in Minnesota and now used in over 40 countries, directly resulted in the discovery of variants in the DICER1 gene as a cause of PPB - the most common lung cancer of children. Since this pivotal discovery in 2009, the mission and vision of Registry research has expanded and now includes study of ovarian, kidney, thyroid and brain tumors and has become a model for other registries to help identify best treatment outcomes. The spectrum of tumors under study has expanded even further within the past 2 years to include three other previously unrecognized tumors now known to be associated with DICER1.
These new discoveries have led to an expansion of the Registry name - now known as the International PPB/DICER1 Registry - and the founding of a parallel sister registry called the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor Registry. The greater understanding of this spectrum of tumors has led to the creation and refinement of surveillance guidelines facilitating detection of these tumors in their earliest form. The lives of children and adults here in Minnesota and around the world have been saved by early detection made possible by these pivotal discoveries!
Unfortunately, not all tumors can be found early, so Children’s Minnesota is studying new methods of tumor monitoring and novel therapies. They have learned they can detect circulating DICER1 tumor DNA in the blood from children with tumors and are now working to understand how accurate such a test would be in guiding therapy for children with PPB. For novel therapies, they have identified multiple potential targets expressed on DICER1 cancer cells that are not expressed in normal tissues. New findings in 2021 include information on the role of p53 (the Guardian of the Genome) in DICER1 cancers and an assessment of markers for immunotherapy response in PPB tumors.
Children’s Minnesota is also developing an international prospective clinical trial to translate findings from the lab into clinical care. The goal is to translate new discoveries into less toxic and more effective therapies for childhood and adult cancers. Researchers at Children’s are honored to work directly with families and physicians around the world, ensuring the latest research results are placed directly into the hands of those who need it most.
More recently, new therapies for children who have been compromised by cancer treatments have brought greater opportunities for improved physical outcomes and have been duplicated in many other children’s hospitals. Children’s Minnesota has developed a nationally-recognized model of rehabilitation for childhood cancer patients. This evidence-based model is being taught to cancer centers both nationally and internationally by recognized experts Lynn Tanner PT and Laura Gilchrist PT, PhD - both based in Minnesota.
Our support has also developed a measure of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy used in clinical trials both nationally and internationally to reduce the long-term consequences of cancer treatment.
But perhaps our greatest accomplishment occurred last year when we established the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research at Children’s Minnesota and the appointment of Dr. Kris Ann Schultz as the inaugural holder of the position, marking only the third endowed chair position established in history at Children’s Minnesota. Truly remarkable!
I want to thank all of the players and the tennis community for sharing our dream through your enthusiasm surrounding the event and your donations to care for our children. It's not necessarily how much you raise in dollars, but how you spend those dollars. All of you have contributed to something very special and our family is proud to continue our support of this event and be a part of this truly unique and worthwhile mission. Without all of you, we wouldn't have much.
Sincerely yours,
Ron Peterson
January 22, 2021
See YouR PINE TREE DONATIONS SupPORTING RESEARCH AT Work
Read about the latest research advances made possible by your generous contributions to the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic in this research article about patient-reported outcome measure for CIPN recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing. This paper was a collaborative project between the University of Michigan, Indiana University and Children's Minnesota and was supported by Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund.
December 3, 2020
PTACF Presents $208,000 Gift To Children's Minnesota Supporting Targeted Cancer Research
Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund (PTACF) Treasurer Nancy Jacobson today presented doctors and staff at Children’s Minnesota with a check in the amount of $208,000 supporting targeted children’s cancer research efforts at the hospital. Dr. Kris Ann Schultz and Sara Fabian, Annual Giving Officer, accepted the gift on behalf of Children’s Minnesota.
Funds were raised as part of the 2020 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, which took place July 17-August 9, 2020, at a variety of local outdoor tennis facilities in the Twin Cities area. The event, which was celebrating its 35th Anniversary in 2020, had a different look and feel than in traditional years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but still raised almost $270,000 for the cause.
“Despite the challenges and restrictions associated with the global pandemic, our tennis players, sponsors, donors and volunteers showed incredible resolve in coming together for this year’s Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic,” Kevin Werwie, Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund President said. “Incredibly, we exceeded our fundraising target, which enables us to continue supporting targeted research programs at Children’s Minnesota at the needed level. We are so grateful for everyone’s commitment to this important cause and to the research team at Children’s Minnesota who continue making tremendous strides in improving outcomes and quality of life for children and families impacted by cancer.”
As part of the 2020 tournament, Children’s Minnesota and PTACF announced the establishment of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research and the appointment of Dr. 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.
“Childhood cancer doesn't stop, even during a pandemic, but thankfully, neither does Pine Tree,” Dr. Schultz said. “Thanks to Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund and the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, as well as the generosity and hard work of the donors, tennis players and volunteers, we have been able to continue critical childhood cancer research right here at Children's Minnesota in collaboration with physicians, kids and families all over the world. We are continuing to learn more about DICER1 related cancers including lung, thyroid, kidney, brain and ovarian cancers, and how to keep kids strong and healthy during and after cancer treatment. These advancements are made possible by PTACF and the worldwide impact of this remarkable group.
Dr. Schultz continued, “I also would be remiss if I did not take a moment to personally honor and thank the late Jason Albrecht, who we lost in November. Jason was the first person known to be diagnosed with Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB), and the first survivor of this aggressive cancer. He endured years of surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation at Children’s Minnesota – all the while reaching out to other children and families struggling with similar diagnoses. Jason’s contributions to this work, and his remarkable legacy, continues to inspire our efforts to find more effective and less toxic therapies.”
Since 1986, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic has raised almost $6 million for childhood cancer research at Children’s Minnesota. The 36th Annual tournament is scheduled for August 5-8, 2021, at Life Time Athletic White Bear. 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 2020 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, which took place July 17-August 9, 2020, at a variety of local outdoor tennis facilities in the Twin Cities area. The event, which was celebrating its 35th Anniversary in 2020, had a different look and feel than in traditional years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but still raised almost $270,000 for the cause.
“Despite the challenges and restrictions associated with the global pandemic, our tennis players, sponsors, donors and volunteers showed incredible resolve in coming together for this year’s Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic,” Kevin Werwie, Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund President said. “Incredibly, we exceeded our fundraising target, which enables us to continue supporting targeted research programs at Children’s Minnesota at the needed level. We are so grateful for everyone’s commitment to this important cause and to the research team at Children’s Minnesota who continue making tremendous strides in improving outcomes and quality of life for children and families impacted by cancer.”
As part of the 2020 tournament, Children’s Minnesota and PTACF announced the establishment of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research and the appointment of Dr. 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.
“Childhood cancer doesn't stop, even during a pandemic, but thankfully, neither does Pine Tree,” Dr. Schultz said. “Thanks to Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund and the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, as well as the generosity and hard work of the donors, tennis players and volunteers, we have been able to continue critical childhood cancer research right here at Children's Minnesota in collaboration with physicians, kids and families all over the world. We are continuing to learn more about DICER1 related cancers including lung, thyroid, kidney, brain and ovarian cancers, and how to keep kids strong and healthy during and after cancer treatment. These advancements are made possible by PTACF and the worldwide impact of this remarkable group.
Dr. Schultz continued, “I also would be remiss if I did not take a moment to personally honor and thank the late Jason Albrecht, who we lost in November. Jason was the first person known to be diagnosed with Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB), and the first survivor of this aggressive cancer. He endured years of surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation at Children’s Minnesota – all the while reaching out to other children and families struggling with similar diagnoses. Jason’s contributions to this work, and his remarkable legacy, continues to inspire our efforts to find more effective and less toxic therapies.”
Since 1986, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic has raised almost $6 million for childhood cancer research at Children’s Minnesota. The 36th Annual tournament is scheduled for August 5-8, 2021, at Life Time Athletic White Bear. Details about the tournament, and how to get involved in this amazing event, are available at www.ptacf.org.
November 6, 2020
PTACF Mourns Passing Of Board Member Jason Albrecht
From a young age, Jason Albrecht engaged whole-heartedly across the spectrum of challenges and delights that life set before him.
As a 7-year old, Jason was the first person known to be diagnosed with a rare and aggressive children’s cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB). He endured years of major surgeries, chemo, and radiation at Children’s Minnesota – all the while reaching out to other children and families struggling with difficult diagnoses and treatments and bonding with his caregivers. His experience of those years shaped him indelibly to bring compassion, imagination, and innovation to patients, families, and medical professionals alike in his chosen career in the world of pediatric hospital healthcare.
Building on his experience as a Child Life Family specialist, he embraced the opportunity to be part of building a new, state of the art children’s hospital with fervor and dedication and is now acknowledged by hospital leaders as being the core of the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital’s “DNA.” He developed, taught, and implemented principles for putting the patient and family at the very center of the care team, for treating the whole person rather than a mere disease. Whether focused on palliative care, end of life comfort measures for patients and families, bereavement, patient room design, technologies to support patient/family connections to home and the broader community, or building a distinct culture of patient-centered philanthropy, no barrier was a match for his passion to improve systems, processes, and resources to improve patient care and experience.
Jason was a quiet, introspective, humble presence among his colleagues, but his insights and ideas had an oversized impact. Child Family Life colleagues, nurses, physicians, chaplains, and many others benefitted from the mentoring that arose from the principles about holistic patient-centered care and human-centered design that he held so dear. It is no wonder that his voice and vision were welcomed at a broad range of national conferences, addressing everything from hospice and palliative care to hospital design to the imaginative employment of technologies – all to help adults provide effective and soothing care for hospitalized children. Even in the depths of his illness these last few months, his passion could not be stilled: when he was unable to speak, he shared notes about his own observations and experiences with the firm intention of continuing to contribute to the arc of process improvement in the hospital.
Jason’s commitment to and success in the hospital world was solid – but that didn’t overshadow the other parts of his life. His first degree was from the University of Minnesota's College of Natural Resources, a B.S. in Recreational Resource Management, a field of education that mirrored his extraordinary and enduring passion for anything outdoors. A man of all seasons, he loved hunting, fishing, skiing, and camping. Jason’s father, “Popps,” witnessed the glory of Jason’s childhood recovery and determination when he took him skiing in Utah. Despite 1.2 lungs and the thin mountain air, Jason conquered every slope in front of him and progressed to blast through the snow with abandon. His wilderness excursions were all-or-nothing life experiences – especially when he could get off the trail in the Boundary Waters, such as for the ice fishing that required a backcountry ski traverse of 8 hours.
No matter how tired he might be from work, hunting and fishing could always spike his energy and imagination – much less provide feasts to gather family and friends to share the tales of adventures and misadventures alike. His love of wilderness was perhaps never so well engaged and expressed as it was when it also became the setting for his love of scouting, his passion for teaching the next generation survival skills and joyful respect for beautiful wild spaces.
Along the way, Jason also built beautiful furniture and remarkable scale models of World War II fighter planes. He brought an old 1.5 horsepower outboard motor from his maternal grandfather back to life. He built and flew electric radio-controlled aircraft and was a great fan of autobiographical accounts by WWII pilots and biographies of wilderness explorers.
Jason’s kind, steady, inviting demeanor -- as well as his keen intelligence and irrepressible sense of humor -- drew many into the circle of friendship. Colleagues, neighbors, and acquaintances made in every sphere of his life became part of the great cast of characters he befriended and loved.
But at the center of all Jason’s professional, wilderness, historical and other interests was the family he loved above all else. People in all the other circles in his life would see him light up again and again as he spoke spiritedly and often of his wife, Carla, and their three children Erika, Anneka, and Nicklas. Family camping excursions – whether at a nearby destination or in far-flung state parks – brought him untold delight. Participating in scouting events and supporting the school musicals Carla, Erika, Anneka, and Nicklas all took part in amused, energized, and satisfied him deeply. Tales about experiences with his children were laced with pride at their initiative, courage, insight, and tenacity. He so enjoyed those occasions when Carla and the children were generous volunteer “actors” for various brochures or videos he produced for the hospital, relishing each time one of those hospital projects came across his field of attention at work as a precious moment to realize how much they were the stars in the story of his life.
Jason was the first known survivor of PPB. Thanks to the drastic therapeutic interventions that saved his life at a time when all the other children in his illness cohort died, Jason enjoyed 43 more years of life, including 28 years of marriage to Carla and 25 years of challenging, rewarding work as an employee of Fairview Health Services. But those lifesaving measures so many years ago also took a toll on his body that could ultimately not be surmounted, even with the months of great effort and skill expended on his behalf at the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center and St. Joseph’s long-term acute care hospital.
Jason’s heroic efforts over the last months to regain the health necessary for him to return to the life he cherished and longed for with his family came to an end the evening of November 2 with them at his side. He lived and died in the assurance of God’s eternal love.
Jason is survived by his wife, Carla; his children, Erika, Nicklas, and Anneka; his mother Sue (Dan) Horsley; his father Bob (Marge) Brown; his sister Kim (Charlie) Handren; his niece Rachel Handren; his cousin Bobby Brown.
In lieu of flowers, these suggestions for memorials for Jason highlight 1) the ravaging Pleuropulmonary Blastoma he survived, 2) the passion he brought to his innovative and impactful hospital work, and 3) the welfare of his family.
As a 7-year old, Jason was the first person known to be diagnosed with a rare and aggressive children’s cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB). He endured years of major surgeries, chemo, and radiation at Children’s Minnesota – all the while reaching out to other children and families struggling with difficult diagnoses and treatments and bonding with his caregivers. His experience of those years shaped him indelibly to bring compassion, imagination, and innovation to patients, families, and medical professionals alike in his chosen career in the world of pediatric hospital healthcare.
Building on his experience as a Child Life Family specialist, he embraced the opportunity to be part of building a new, state of the art children’s hospital with fervor and dedication and is now acknowledged by hospital leaders as being the core of the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital’s “DNA.” He developed, taught, and implemented principles for putting the patient and family at the very center of the care team, for treating the whole person rather than a mere disease. Whether focused on palliative care, end of life comfort measures for patients and families, bereavement, patient room design, technologies to support patient/family connections to home and the broader community, or building a distinct culture of patient-centered philanthropy, no barrier was a match for his passion to improve systems, processes, and resources to improve patient care and experience.
Jason was a quiet, introspective, humble presence among his colleagues, but his insights and ideas had an oversized impact. Child Family Life colleagues, nurses, physicians, chaplains, and many others benefitted from the mentoring that arose from the principles about holistic patient-centered care and human-centered design that he held so dear. It is no wonder that his voice and vision were welcomed at a broad range of national conferences, addressing everything from hospice and palliative care to hospital design to the imaginative employment of technologies – all to help adults provide effective and soothing care for hospitalized children. Even in the depths of his illness these last few months, his passion could not be stilled: when he was unable to speak, he shared notes about his own observations and experiences with the firm intention of continuing to contribute to the arc of process improvement in the hospital.
Jason’s commitment to and success in the hospital world was solid – but that didn’t overshadow the other parts of his life. His first degree was from the University of Minnesota's College of Natural Resources, a B.S. in Recreational Resource Management, a field of education that mirrored his extraordinary and enduring passion for anything outdoors. A man of all seasons, he loved hunting, fishing, skiing, and camping. Jason’s father, “Popps,” witnessed the glory of Jason’s childhood recovery and determination when he took him skiing in Utah. Despite 1.2 lungs and the thin mountain air, Jason conquered every slope in front of him and progressed to blast through the snow with abandon. His wilderness excursions were all-or-nothing life experiences – especially when he could get off the trail in the Boundary Waters, such as for the ice fishing that required a backcountry ski traverse of 8 hours.
No matter how tired he might be from work, hunting and fishing could always spike his energy and imagination – much less provide feasts to gather family and friends to share the tales of adventures and misadventures alike. His love of wilderness was perhaps never so well engaged and expressed as it was when it also became the setting for his love of scouting, his passion for teaching the next generation survival skills and joyful respect for beautiful wild spaces.
Along the way, Jason also built beautiful furniture and remarkable scale models of World War II fighter planes. He brought an old 1.5 horsepower outboard motor from his maternal grandfather back to life. He built and flew electric radio-controlled aircraft and was a great fan of autobiographical accounts by WWII pilots and biographies of wilderness explorers.
Jason’s kind, steady, inviting demeanor -- as well as his keen intelligence and irrepressible sense of humor -- drew many into the circle of friendship. Colleagues, neighbors, and acquaintances made in every sphere of his life became part of the great cast of characters he befriended and loved.
But at the center of all Jason’s professional, wilderness, historical and other interests was the family he loved above all else. People in all the other circles in his life would see him light up again and again as he spoke spiritedly and often of his wife, Carla, and their three children Erika, Anneka, and Nicklas. Family camping excursions – whether at a nearby destination or in far-flung state parks – brought him untold delight. Participating in scouting events and supporting the school musicals Carla, Erika, Anneka, and Nicklas all took part in amused, energized, and satisfied him deeply. Tales about experiences with his children were laced with pride at their initiative, courage, insight, and tenacity. He so enjoyed those occasions when Carla and the children were generous volunteer “actors” for various brochures or videos he produced for the hospital, relishing each time one of those hospital projects came across his field of attention at work as a precious moment to realize how much they were the stars in the story of his life.
Jason was the first known survivor of PPB. Thanks to the drastic therapeutic interventions that saved his life at a time when all the other children in his illness cohort died, Jason enjoyed 43 more years of life, including 28 years of marriage to Carla and 25 years of challenging, rewarding work as an employee of Fairview Health Services. But those lifesaving measures so many years ago also took a toll on his body that could ultimately not be surmounted, even with the months of great effort and skill expended on his behalf at the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center and St. Joseph’s long-term acute care hospital.
Jason’s heroic efforts over the last months to regain the health necessary for him to return to the life he cherished and longed for with his family came to an end the evening of November 2 with them at his side. He lived and died in the assurance of God’s eternal love.
Jason is survived by his wife, Carla; his children, Erika, Nicklas, and Anneka; his mother Sue (Dan) Horsley; his father Bob (Marge) Brown; his sister Kim (Charlie) Handren; his niece Rachel Handren; his cousin Bobby Brown.
In lieu of flowers, these suggestions for memorials for Jason highlight 1) the ravaging Pleuropulmonary Blastoma he survived, 2) the passion he brought to his innovative and impactful hospital work, and 3) the welfare of his family.
- The Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund provides vital information to cancer specialists around the world and supports the healing of the patient’s whole body when receiving treatment at Children’s Minnesota. Jason was an eager supporter of their efforts. To donate online with a credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express): ptacf.org. Checks may be sent to Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund, Attention: Nancy Jacobson, 450 Apple Orchard Road, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
- The M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital fund supports much of what Jason was passionately involved with: patient and family programming and services at University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, including child-family life services, integrative health programs, patient/family events, and more: https://makingagift.umn.edu/give/fund.html?id=11442#0. Or go to https://www.mhealth.org/childrens/giving-and-volunteering-pediatric for other fund options.
- The Jason Albrecht Fund at GoFundMe was one that Jason was particularly cheered by, given looming family expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jason-albrecht-fund.
August 11, 2020
Children’s Minnesota Physician Dr. Kris Ann Schultz Appointed Inaugural Holder of Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research
Children’s Minnesota and Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund (PTACF) have announced the appointment of Dr. Kris Ann Schultz as the inaugural holder of the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research. 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.
Since 1986, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic has raised almost $6 million for childhood cancer research at Children’s Minnesota. Through these efforts, Children’s Minnesota has become internationally recognized for collaborative rare tumor and supportive care research which has increased survival rates and improved quality of life for children with cancer in Minnesota and around the world.
“Congratulations to Dr. Schultz on this distinguished honor which will provide consistent financial support for her research and transform the lives of our patients and patients around the world,” said Dr. Marc Gorelick, president and CEO of Children’s Minnesota. “We are grateful to Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund for their long-standing support. Their generosity helps accelerate Dr. Schultz’ research to pursue breakthrough treatments and care for patients.”
“This work has been a remarkable partnership between very inspiring kids with childhood cancer, their families who have so generously shared their journey and this amazing group of dedicated volunteers and donors,” said Dr. Schultz. “This partnership is the key to Pine Tree’s mission—to lessen the suffering caused by childhood cancer. I feel so honored and grateful to be a part of the amazing stories of these children and this remarkable organization.”
Dr. Schultz is the first Endowed Chair holder in the Cancer and Blood Disorders program of Children’s Minnesota. She is the Principal Investigator for the International Pleuropulmonary BlastomaDICER1 Registry and the Principal Investigator and founder of the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor Registry. Both Registries are based at Children’s Minnesota. Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare lung cancer that occurs in young children. Research from Children’s Minnesota and other collaborating institutions has shown that PPB is linked to changes in a gene called DICER1, which serves as a dimmer switch for cell proliferation. Dr. Schultz leads a global team to discover how to best treat the three main types of PPB and other DICER1-related cancers in children and adults with the goal of developing treatment plans tailored to the individual needs of patients. This work has also led to the development of surveillance guidelines with the ultimate goal of detecting DICER1-related cancers in their earliest and most curable form. Dr. Schultz is the principal investigator of an R01 grant funded by the National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health focused on the role of circulating tumor DNA in management of PPB.
“Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund is proud to fund an Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research at Children's Minnesota and could not be more excited by the appointment of Dr. Schultz for the Chair position,” said Kevin Werwie, President of Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund. “Dr. Schultz is a talented clinician, researcher, collaborator and leader and so deserving of this honor. This Endowed Chair ensures the targeted research we have supported through our Pine Tree donor community over the past 35 years continues for many years to come."
The Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic was created in 1986 by Ron and Mary Ann Peterson when their 12-year-old daughter Julieann was diagnosed with leukemia. Julieann was treated at Children’s Minnesota and survived. Grateful for the care their daughter received at Children’s Minnesota, the Petersons established the mixed doubles tennis tournament with a mission to raise funds and support research to lessen the suffering caused by pediatric cancer. The Jacobson family of the Pine Tree Apple Orchard stepped in to provide the funds to establish the event.
“I remain so inspired by this dedicated group of volunteers, tennis players and donors whose generosity and hard work has led to groundbreaking discoveries for children and adults with cancer including DICER1 related cancers. It’s exciting to think of the amazing advancements yet to come, thanks to this incredible partnership,” said Dr. Schultz.
Since 1986, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic has raised almost $6 million for childhood cancer research at Children’s Minnesota. Through these efforts, Children’s Minnesota has become internationally recognized for collaborative rare tumor and supportive care research which has increased survival rates and improved quality of life for children with cancer in Minnesota and around the world.
“Congratulations to Dr. Schultz on this distinguished honor which will provide consistent financial support for her research and transform the lives of our patients and patients around the world,” said Dr. Marc Gorelick, president and CEO of Children’s Minnesota. “We are grateful to Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund for their long-standing support. Their generosity helps accelerate Dr. Schultz’ research to pursue breakthrough treatments and care for patients.”
“This work has been a remarkable partnership between very inspiring kids with childhood cancer, their families who have so generously shared their journey and this amazing group of dedicated volunteers and donors,” said Dr. Schultz. “This partnership is the key to Pine Tree’s mission—to lessen the suffering caused by childhood cancer. I feel so honored and grateful to be a part of the amazing stories of these children and this remarkable organization.”
Dr. Schultz is the first Endowed Chair holder in the Cancer and Blood Disorders program of Children’s Minnesota. She is the Principal Investigator for the International Pleuropulmonary BlastomaDICER1 Registry and the Principal Investigator and founder of the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor Registry. Both Registries are based at Children’s Minnesota. Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare lung cancer that occurs in young children. Research from Children’s Minnesota and other collaborating institutions has shown that PPB is linked to changes in a gene called DICER1, which serves as a dimmer switch for cell proliferation. Dr. Schultz leads a global team to discover how to best treat the three main types of PPB and other DICER1-related cancers in children and adults with the goal of developing treatment plans tailored to the individual needs of patients. This work has also led to the development of surveillance guidelines with the ultimate goal of detecting DICER1-related cancers in their earliest and most curable form. Dr. Schultz is the principal investigator of an R01 grant funded by the National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health focused on the role of circulating tumor DNA in management of PPB.
“Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund is proud to fund an Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research at Children's Minnesota and could not be more excited by the appointment of Dr. Schultz for the Chair position,” said Kevin Werwie, President of Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund. “Dr. Schultz is a talented clinician, researcher, collaborator and leader and so deserving of this honor. This Endowed Chair ensures the targeted research we have supported through our Pine Tree donor community over the past 35 years continues for many years to come."
The Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic was created in 1986 by Ron and Mary Ann Peterson when their 12-year-old daughter Julieann was diagnosed with leukemia. Julieann was treated at Children’s Minnesota and survived. Grateful for the care their daughter received at Children’s Minnesota, the Petersons established the mixed doubles tennis tournament with a mission to raise funds and support research to lessen the suffering caused by pediatric cancer. The Jacobson family of the Pine Tree Apple Orchard stepped in to provide the funds to establish the event.
“I remain so inspired by this dedicated group of volunteers, tennis players and donors whose generosity and hard work has led to groundbreaking discoveries for children and adults with cancer including DICER1 related cancers. It’s exciting to think of the amazing advancements yet to come, thanks to this incredible partnership,” said Dr. Schultz.
August 9, 2020
2020 Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Results: Nelson/Wernet Win First Open Title
Congratulations to third-seeded Tobias Wernet and Lexi Nelson, who took home their first Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Open Division title with a stunning 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-5 comeback victory over top seeds and defending champions Tooli Wilkins and Julian Dehn at Life Time White Bear. Wernet/Nelson were down 5-2 in the third set, before stringing together five straight games and winning the championship.
In the Masters Division, Meghan Kimber and Kevin Werwie won their third straight title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over #3 seed Amy Dale and Justen Seim. After winning the first set and up 2-1 in the second set, the skies opened up causing the matches to be moved from Bethel University to Life Time White Bear. Once arriving at Life Time WBL, Kimber/Werwie won four of the next five games in claiming the championship.
In the Grand Masters, Leslie Gale and Bryan Biever won their first-ever Pine Tree championship with a 6-1, 6-2 win over defending champions Kathy Bjornson and Bob Marolt.
This year's event, which adopted a new format following guidance from federal and state health agencies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was held over a three-week period with first and second round matches played at a local park or club of the players’ choosing before playing the semifinals and finals at Bethel University on August 8-9.
Although it was a different format, the tournament still benefited a great cause - pediatric oncology research at Children's Minnesota! So far in 2020, the tournament has raised over $270,000. There is still time to donate by visiting www.ptacf.org.
To see all of the incredible photos from the event, please visit our Facebook or Instagram pages (Keyword: PTACForg).
In the Masters Division, Meghan Kimber and Kevin Werwie won their third straight title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over #3 seed Amy Dale and Justen Seim. After winning the first set and up 2-1 in the second set, the skies opened up causing the matches to be moved from Bethel University to Life Time White Bear. Once arriving at Life Time WBL, Kimber/Werwie won four of the next five games in claiming the championship.
In the Grand Masters, Leslie Gale and Bryan Biever won their first-ever Pine Tree championship with a 6-1, 6-2 win over defending champions Kathy Bjornson and Bob Marolt.
This year's event, which adopted a new format following guidance from federal and state health agencies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was held over a three-week period with first and second round matches played at a local park or club of the players’ choosing before playing the semifinals and finals at Bethel University on August 8-9.
Although it was a different format, the tournament still benefited a great cause - pediatric oncology research at Children's Minnesota! So far in 2020, the tournament has raised over $270,000. There is still time to donate by visiting www.ptacf.org.
To see all of the incredible photos from the event, please visit our Facebook or Instagram pages (Keyword: PTACForg).
January 7, 2020
Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund Supports Children’s Cancer Research With $220,000 Gift To Children’s Minnesota
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, the Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund (PTACF) Board presented Children’s Minnesota staff with a check for $220,000 from funds raised at the 2019 PTATC tournament.
We’re grateful to the players, sponsors, donors and volunteers that make the PTATC so successful. Because of them, we are able to support targeted research programs at Children’s Minnesota that are benefiting children here in Minnesota and around the world,” said Kevin Werwie, Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund president.
Dr. Kris Ann Schultz, Medical Research Representative at Children’s Minnesota said, “Children who undergo treatment for cancer deserve to not only survive their disease, but also to thrive both during and after treatment. Pine Tree funded research supports both of these critical goals. We are so grateful.”
We’re grateful to the players, sponsors, donors and volunteers that make the PTATC so successful. Because of them, we are able to support targeted research programs at Children’s Minnesota that are benefiting children here in Minnesota and around the world,” said Kevin Werwie, Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund president.
Dr. Kris Ann Schultz, Medical Research Representative at Children’s Minnesota said, “Children who undergo treatment for cancer deserve to not only survive their disease, but also to thrive both during and after treatment. Pine Tree funded research supports both of these critical goals. We are so grateful.”