Syal Foundation Extends Partnership With Multi-Year Deal

Children’s Minnesota is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Kris Ann Schultz Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair of Blood and Cancer Disorders Research as its new chief research officer at Children’s Minnesota. “I’m grateful to have Dr. Schultz step into this important role. Her leadership will help us advance our mission of developing a premier pediatric research institute and improving access to cutting edge research for our patients and families,” said Dr. Anupam Kharbanda, vice president and chief of clinical innovation. “Dr. Schultz has been a driving force in pediatric research both internationally and in our community, and I’m excited to see how she’ll build on our legacy and lead our team”. Dr. Schultz has been a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Minnesota since 2008. Prior to taking on the role of chief research officer, she served as scientific director of the Cancer and Blood Disorders program. In her 17 years of service at Children’s Minnesota, Dr. Schultz has made significant contributions to pediatric oncology care and research, serving as principal investigator for the International Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB)/DICER1 Registry which includes participants from more than 600 institutions in 60 countries worldwide. In 2020, Dr. Schultz was named the inaugural Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders research. Dr. Schultz is considered one of the foremost experts on DICER1 research and has published more than 100 peer reviewed articles including first author publications in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Clinical Cancer Research. Her research focuses on the early detection and the development of novel and precision therapies for DICER1-related cancers. In 2017, Dr. Schultz and the Registry team published the first-ever set of surveillance guidelines for individuals at risk for DICER1-related tumors. In 2025, Dr. Schultz and the Registry team published updated guidelines based on ongoing data collection and assembly of the world’s largest cohort of individuals with DICER1 variation. She serves as Study Chair for Children’s Oncology Group protocol ARAR2331, the first ever prospective clinical trial for pleuropulmonary blastoma, the most common form of lung cancer in infants and young children. She also serves as Vice Chair for rare tumors for Children’s Oncology Group, an international cooperative group focused on pediatric cancer which includes more than 220 institutions worldwide. Dr. Schultz is also the founder and serves as the principal investigator of the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor (OTST) Registry. As a result of Dr. Schultz’s contributions, Children’s Minnesota has achieved international recognition for its collaborative research on rare tumors and early detection. This work has contributed to higher survival rates and improved quality of life for children with cancer around the world. Importantly, these research developments are shared not only with clinicians and researchers, but also directly with patients, families and research participants through family education documents, newsletters, and an annual scientific symposium and family meeting attended by participants from across the world. “This work is inspired by the kids and families we serve. Our research strength comes from the generous contributions of our many research participants and the multidisciplinary teams of kid experts working side‑by‑side, focusing on the health needs of kids and families,” said Dr. Schultz. “I am honored to work with these amazing individuals and look forward to connecting ideas, removing barriers, and accelerating studies so the benefits of our research reach more kids and families in Minnesota and worldwide.” In her role as chief research officer, she will provide guidance and support to the Children’s Minnesota Research Institute , which is dedicated to advancing research and innovation that directly impacts patient care. She will oversee multidisciplinary teams’ leading efforts in cancer and blood disorder research, cardiovascular research, diabetes and endocrine research. With a focus on improving the daily lives of children and teens, Dr. Schultz and her team will continue to champion initiatives ranging from innovative pain management strategies to the adoption of cutting-edge technologies—ensuring that all research remains centered on the needs of kids and families. About Children’s Minnesota Children’s Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States and the only one in Minnesota devoted exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system for more than 100 years, Children’s Minnesota offers more than 60 pediatric specialties through its two hospitals, multiple specialty centers and clinics throughout the metro area. The Kid Experts® at Children’s Minnesota are chosen by more families than any other pediatric health system in the region. Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org.

The Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund is proud to announce our 2026 Board of Directors - a dedicated group of leaders who will guide Pine Tree into its next chapter of impact, innovation, and community support. 2026 Board of Directors President: Matt Narr Secretary: Cheryl Yasis Treasurers: Michael Yates & Lori Yates Directors: Barry Dobson, Rachel LaTour, Norm Longsdorf & Tobias Wernet Leadership Transitions and Appointments Matt Narr has been elected President after serving as Secretary the past 3 years. A tournament player and fundraiser since 2008, Narr has also contributed as Event Co-Chair and Tournament Director responsibilities. With nearly two decades of experience as a teaching professional, he currently serves as Racquet Sports Director at Life Time White Bear Lake - home of the annual Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic. Cheryl Yasis moves into the Secretary role following 5 years of service as a Director. A Mahtomedi resident and retired global marketing leader, Yasis brings over 30 years of experience across healthcare, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. Her career includes leadership positions at Fortune 100 companies and MedTech startups, where she drove strategic, data-informed commercialization initiatives. She is also the mother of a pediatric cancer survivor and an avid tennis player. Long-time volunteers Michael and Lori Yates of New Brighton, Minn., will transition into the co-treasurer capacity after serving as Directors. Mike is a retired CPA and MBA who spent over 30 years in the financial industry, while Lori began her career as a CPA at a national public accounting firm before transitioning to the insurance/financial services industry as a financial and regulatory reporting specialist for over 30 years. The Yates' have supported Pine Tree in numerous capacities the past 20 years including donor, player sponsor, photographer/videographer, volunteer coordinator, trophy designer and anything else asked of them. Their daughter, Mel, was also multiple time Pine Tree player earning finalist honors. Barry Dobson , a retired business leader from Vadnais Heights, Minn., returns as a Director. A long-time supporter of Pine Tree, Dobson is the architect behind the organization's Volunteer Give Back program, which engages local high schools and college programs in service, as well as the Game, Set, Cure Luncheon. When not on the tennis court, he enjoys traveling and cooking and spending time with his family and five wonderful grandchildren. Barry looks forward to contributing his experience and energy to the board. Rachel LaTour of Edina, Minn., brings more than 25 years of non-profit board and committee experience. Pine Tree allows her to combine her passion for tennis and community service with her professional background in Human Resources. For the past 3 years, she has successfully led the Pine Tree Junior Tournament, raising more than $100,000 for the cause. Norm Longsdorf of Osceola, Wis., a retired financial leader and avid tennis supporter in the community, enters his second term as a Board Director. Tobias Wernet of Edina, Minn., serves as Customer Success Leader, Cloud + AI at Microsoft, driving strategic initiatives across a $4B+ enterprise customer business with a focus on performance frameworks and business transformation. A long-time supporter of Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund, Wernet has contributed as a player, player liaison, and advocate for expanding donor engagement for many years. He played college tennis at the University of Minnesota. Thank you to each of these incredible individuals for lending their time, talent, and passion to our mission. Game, Set, CURE!