Chicago White Sox Charities announces $3.5 million in grants supporting pancreatic cancer patients, research and treatment on behalf of late supporter Nina Nicolai

CHICAGO – Chicago White Sox Charities (CWSC) announced $3.5 million in grants supporting five national and local programs that address pancreatic cancer patients, research and treatment: Dream Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago Medicine. The donations were made possible through the generous bequest of Nina Nicolai, who in her passing left a lasting legacy of support for CWSC and compassion for other individuals battling late-stage cancer diagnoses.

Extending Nicolai’s profound impact in perpetuity, CWSC has provided a $1 million endowed donation to Dream Foundation, which grants Dreams to adults faced with a medically verified terminal diagnosis. Through the endowment, a new “Nina Nicolai Dream Fund” program will focus on providing much-needed respite and lasting memories to individuals and families specifically faced with terminal pancreatic cancer diagnoses and those requesting travel Dreams.

CWSC also has presented SU2C with a $1 million gift to fund the “Nina Nicolai Pancreatic Cancer Innovation in Collaboration Award.” The newly created award supports innovative, collaborative pancreatic cancer research projects with a focus on high-risk, high-reward ideas that have the potential to transform the detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer. This award will be presented annually for the next four years in the range of $200,000 to $300,000.

“We are incredibly excited about the transformative impact these recent donations will have, not only benefiting individuals across the country battling these diagnoses, but also empowering three local Chicagoland healthcare organizations at the forefront of this crucial fight,” explains Christine O’Reilly, CWSC executive director. “We know Nina is smiling down with great pride that her legacy and love for White Sox Charities’ mission continues bringing hope to so many and giving back to those most in need.”

Local contributions to Chicagoland healthcare organizations Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center and UChicago Medicine seek to comprehensively address all crucial aspects of combating pancreatic cancer. These $500,000, one-time grants encompass main areas of medical practice, including research, ongoing clinical trials, and in-patient care and treatment.

Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern Medicine

CWSC has made a $500,000 contribution to Northwestern Medicine, supporting two ongoing clinical trials at Lurie Cancer Center focused specifically on pancreatic cancer treatment. The funding further supports a Phase I Clinical Trial led by Mary F. Mulcahy, MD, which centers around treatment side effects and doses of combination drug therapies, as well as a Phase II Clinical Trial led by Devalingam Mahalingam, MD, PhD, on combination drug therapies impacting metastasized tumors. For more information, visit cancer.northwestern.edu.

Rush University Medical Center

Rush supportive oncology services also received a $500,000 donation, helping with the addition of specialized patient navigation services and clinical psychology for targeted pancreatic cancer care. The grant funding helps expand integrative medicine specialists, such as massage therapy, yoga and acupuncture, while providing financial support of patients’ basic needs throughout their care. For more information, visit rush.edu.

UChicago Medicine

UChicago Medicine’s $500,000 grant supports research of cellular therapies and protocol development to aid in early detection of pancreatic cancer. The UChicago Medicine team will use this additional funding to further investigate the use of cellular therapy as the basis for safer and more robust treatment. For more information, visit uchicagomedicine.org.

The White Sox are scheduled to recognize the five organization beneficiaries during a special pregame and check presentation ceremony ahead of the game on Saturday, June 8 vs. Boston at 3:10 p.m. A gathering of many of the country’s leading medical experts and pancreatic cancer thought leaders, each organization will be presented with a personalized commemorative baseball bat applauding their commitment to the cause.

As the White Sox 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, CWSC works tirelessly to lift up those most in need throughout the Chicagoland area. To date, CWSC has donated more than $47 million to non-profit organizations helping promote youth education and advancement, share the love of the game through youth baseball and softball initiatives, assist children and families in crisis, and champion those battling cancer.

For more information, visit whitesox.com/charities.