It is with sincere gratitude and appreciation, Cops Against Cancer (CAC), Ankeny accepts a $6,000.00 donation from Casey's General Stores, Inc., Ankeny as part of the CAC Mobile Fundraiser Campaign.
Cops Against Cancer is a faith-based organization that focuses on the acute financial, educational, and emotional needs of cancer patients and their families. Shirley and Craig Phinney founded the 501c3 nonprofit organization in 2010 after Craig's diagnosis with stage 2 colon cancer in 2009. Craig is a retired Police Officer with over 35 years of service to the State of Iowa and retired in 2013 from the Ankeny Police Department with 24 years.
During his recovery, Shirley and Craig saw the struggles and overwhelming changes cancer families endured. Cops Against Cancer was founded with a mission that reflects their 35 years in law enforcement – to "protect and serve" cancer patients and their families.
Since 2012, Cops Against Cancer has assisted more than 975 cancer families in 78 of Iowa's 99 counties. Every year, our organization strives to raise more to accommodate the increasing needs of our clients. The Phinneys and their organization have received recognition by the American Red Cross Heroes of the Heartland and during a presentation before the United States House of Representative for the positive impact, they have made on Iowans battling cancer.
Cops Against Cancer receive funding through grants, and donations from individuals and businesses. Cops Against Cancer is proud of the fact that for the past three years, 85 cents of every dollar raised goes to their client assistance programs.
Casey's General Stores is a Fortune-500 company operating 2,000 convenience stores in 15 states throughout the Midwest. Casey's strives to consistently deliver quality gasoline, freshly-prepared foods, clean environments and friendly service at every retail location. Casey's is currently the fourth largest convenience store chain and the fifth largest pizza chain in the United States. Casey's has made it their commitment to making a difference in the communities they operate. Presenting their donation was Bill Walljasper, Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer and Mike Richardson, Vice President of Marketing.
To continue assisting families and seeing an additional need for our clients, CAC has launched a Mobile Fundraising campaign, earlier in 2017. The Mobile Fundraising project is a separate campaign specifically to raise dollars to assist cancer patients, and their families to cover the higher dollar costs of treatment, care, and other needs associated during their cancer journey.
"Our goal is in the next few weeks to purchase the 30 foot commercial BBQ concessions trailer, commercial food smoker, and mandated commercial food prep equipment, designed exclusively to fundraise and a critical resource for our clients. This trailer will be part of a community fundraising event for a cancer family requesting our assistance of $1,500.00 or more, and proceeds from the fundraiser go directly to that cancer family," Phinney says.
The organization will assist with promoting, advertising the fundraiser and will then open the doors to the event hosting a full BBQ meal, auction, and raffle.
Phinney shared, "based on our estimates; we can help four additional families a month or additional $15,000 in funding, or in a bigger picture, we can generate an estimated $135,000 to $150,000 in additional client funding each year". Phinney continues, "The past three years, our organization has suspended client funding due to depleted funds. The demand for assistance was more than the availability of funds. With the mobile trailer, we will be able to continue building our client assistance fund by hosting pop-up fundraisers throughout the year when our funding for our clients becomes low."
Since the campaign launch early 2017, Cops Against Cancer has raised over $32,000 towards the trailer purchase. Our largest donations to date have come from the Des Moines Police Protection and Burial Association for $7,500.00, Polk County Sheriff's Office Explorer Post for $6,650, Casey General Stores for $6,000, and Polk County Government Grant for $5,000 and the Iowa State Police Officer's Council for $5,000.
Craig A. Phinney, Executive DirectorCops Against Cancer(515) 783-9833
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