Cattlemen’s Ball awards $1.3 million to UNMC Eppley Cancer Center

Remaining $150,000 divided among 36 health and wellness organizations in West Point area

West Point, NE – The 2011 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Ball, which raised a record total of nearly $1.5 million, has announced its distribution of the funds.

The Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center will receive 90 percent of the funds or more than $1.3 million. The remaining nearly $150,000 was distributed to 36 organizations in the West Point area at an awards ceremony on Oct. 10.

With a net of $1.49 million, the event, which was hosted by Harry and Doris Knobbe of West Point, shattered the event’s previous record for most money raised by $487,000. The previous high was set last year with more than $1 million raised in Kearney. Co-chairs for this year’s ball in West Point were Gary and Connie Kaup and Allen and Cheryl Meister.

Since its inception in 1998, the Cattlemen’s Ball has raised more than $6.29 million. Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, attended the awards ceremony in West Point and offered high praise for the efforts of all involved.

“West Point is certainly not the largest community in Nebraska, but this community and all of Cuming County, have certainly raised the bar for the Cattlemen’s Ball. Your generosity is outstanding,” he said. “Thanks to the Cattlemen’s Ball, we have been able to attract 100 new cancer researchers and clinicians to the Eppley Cancer Center over the last decade. The money from the Cattlemen’s Ball helps the researchers to get their projects started, which then helps them in their pursuit of additional federal grants.”

“None of this would have been possible without the incredible generosity of our surrounding communities,” Gary Kaup said. “We had the help of more than 650 volunteers, 42 committees and 4,440 attendees at the ball. These are the folks who really made this year’s record setting event happen. It’s especially rewarding that the funds raised support both our local communities as well as the outstanding cancer research being done at the Eppley Cancer Center.”

Kaup proudly said, “We were able to provide money to every local organization that requested it.”

Here’s a breakdown of the distribution of funds to local organizations:

Bancroft Fire and Rescue $2,500
Light Bar and 3 New Radios

Bancroft Schools $2,200
First Aid Equipment

Beemer Fire Department $3,200
Safety Gear and Training Materials

Beemer Rescue Department $3,000
Stair Chair, Training and Re-certification

Colonial Haven Nursing Home $3000
Electronic Medical Record System

Cuming County Diabetes Education Team $3,000
Diabetes Education

Dodge County Fire and Rescue Department $4,300
A Portion of the Cost to Replace Jaws of Life

Dodge Schools $500
CPR Mannequins

Scribner Good Samaritan Center $2,000
Portion of the Purchase Price for a New Van

Guardian Angels Central Catholic School $7,000
2 AEDS and a CPR Mannequin

Howells Community Catholic School $1,000
Anti Tobacco and other Healthy Living Information

Howells Fire Department $1,000
Rope Rescue Equipment

Howells Public Schools $2,000
Defibrillator Purchase

Howells Rescue Department $2,500
Stryker Chair and X-Ray Translucent Boards

Oakland Fire and Rescue Department $3,000
Hydraulic Cot

Oakland Mercy Hospital $3,500
Awning to Cover Walkway from CT to Building and Wireless System to Offer Internet to Patients

Oakland-Craig Schools $1,000
Initiation Fee for 90 Employees for a Wellness Program

Parkview Nursing Home $3,000
EZ Stand

Pender Clinic $3,500
Update to Digital X-Ray

Pender Community Hospital $3,500
Video Gastroscope

Pender Fire and Rescue Department $1,500
2 Way Radios

Scribner Fire and Rescue Departments $5,500
Truck Radios, Update Repeater and 24 First Responder Equipment Bags

Scribner/Snyder Schools $500
Concussion Awareness Information

Snyder Fire and Rescue Department $5,000
Air Pack and Bunker Equipment

St. Francis Memorial Hospital and Dinklage Clinic $29,000
4 Adult & 4 Infant CPR Mannequins – Free PSA Blood Tests – Text Books for Neonatal Resuscitation Program- Diabetes educational materials and Glucose Monitors- Specialized Fracture Table and Equipment-Instrumentation Sets-Infection Prevention Kiosks- ImPACT Concussion Testing, Training & Education-Funds to Provide 20% off First-time Mammogram for 1st 100 Patients & 20% off PSA testing for 1st 100 Men – Money to Mail Letters for Colonoscopies and Follow Up on Polyps- Car seats for Car Seat Checks & New Parents

St. Joseph Retirement Center $6,000
Upgrade Showers and Seating in Memory Care

St. Paul’s Lutheran School $3,000
CPR Training and Health Curriculum

St. Wenceslaus School $1,600
First Aid and Curriculum Materials

West Point-Beemer Schools $7,000
2 AEDs and 2 CPR Mannequins

West Point Fire Department $7,000
Bunker Gear and Air Pack

West Point Living Center $2,500
Update Resident Bathhouse

West Point Rescue Department $15,000
Auto Pulse

Wisner Care Center $4,000
Funds to Build a Hospice Comfort and Prayer Room

Wisner Fire and Rescue Department $4,600
LifePak Monophasic AED

Wisner-Pilger School $1,700
AED Maintenance and Epi-Pen Supply

Eppley Cancer Research $1,317,325.21
Cancer Research in Nebraska

The Cattlemen’s Ball is hosted by a different Nebraska ranch or feedlot every year. The overall mission of the Cattlemen’s Ball is to raise money for cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, while showcasing rural Nebraska and promoting beef as part of a healthy diet.

The 2012Cattlemen’s Ball will be held June 1 and 2 at the Allen and Shelly Clark property near McCool Junction, Neb., which is located about 10 miles south of York, Neb. Event details and tickets will soon be available online at www.cattlemensball.com.

Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.