Raveis Real Estate Raises Funds
In 1997, Carolyn Deal, president and chief operating officer of William Raveis Real Estate & Home Services, was stunned to learn that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. As she shared her experience with others, she was amazed to discover just how many people she knew had somehow been impacted by the disease.
Today, Deal celebrates life as a breast cancer survivor and, mustering the same determination with which she tackles the demands of her daily business life, she has rallied the entire company to take part in the fight against the disease by generously devoting time and energy to raising much-needed funds for breast cancer research.
Deal and other representatives from the company recently delivered a $45,000 check to support research initiatives at The Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, marking the third straight year that UConn has been a recipient of Raveis’ fundraising efforts. $10,000 from this year’s gift is being allocated to the Navigator Care Program.
“We earmarked extra funds this year for the Navigator program, which pairs newly diagnosed patients with trained volunteers who assist them through the treatment process, because we recognize how difficult an ordeal it can be,” notes Deal. “The remainder of our donation will support the critical preventative research programs that the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center is undertaking.”
In what has become an annual drive, Raveis employees this year sold raffle tickets within their organization, as well as to customers and associates, for chances to win such high-end prizes as jewelry, roundtrip airfare and accommodations in London and Paris, and a plasma TV. They also published and sold a cookbook and made their own contributions through payroll deduction.
“William Raveis Real Estate & Home Services is dedicated to supporting the search for a cure for breast cancer,” explains William Raveis, chairman and CEO. “As more and more people in our lives are touched by this devastating disease, it becomes increasingly important to continue our fundraising efforts.”
In 2004, the company formed the William Raveis Charitable Fund to benefit breast cancer research. That year, wine tasting receptions at five locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts raised $200,000, of which $25,000 was donated to support the Neag Cancer Center in January 2005. Those funds were vital to the creation of a tumor repository to advance the research of Health Center breast cancer investigators. Last year’s gift to benefit the Neag Cancer Center grew to $35,000.
“This generous ongoing support from Raveis makes possible the expansion of our already successful patient navigator program that helps newly diagnosed women with breast cancer navigate clinical care,” says Dr. Carolyn Runowicz, director of The Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. “It also supports our tumor bank, which is used by our basic scientists and clinical researchers to help us understand and, ultimately, find a cure for breast cancer. This sort of private support is crucial to our work.”
To support the UConn Health Center, please contact the development office at 860.679.1122.
