About Us

In 1973 George Edelman Jr. started the “$buck board$”. When that started, no one had any idea of the momentum this effort would take. Especially the support of the many people and businesses in the small town of Hilton that supported the cause.

After the death of a friend, Harry Gardner in 1977, and George’s wife Sally Edelman in 1982, George started a campaign to raise money that would go directly to research a cure for cancer. In 1984 the Sally Edelman and Harry Gardner Research Foundation was established.

Because the mission was all money raised would fund research projects, not administrative costs or brick and mortar, George partnered with the University of Rochester where all money raised would go directly to research without any administrative costs. The foundation would be positioned in a way to place the dollars raised during our campaigns directly into investments. The interest and dividends gained would fund research projects in the Rochester area through the Wilmot Cancer Institute.

There have been numerous articles written and published in medical journals citing the foundation as contributors of “Seed” grant monies to researchers. “Seed” grants are dollars the foundation gives to Research Scientists of the Wilmot Cancer Institute (WCI). They, in turn, select the primary research project to support. The hope is that the “seed” planted results in further monetary support by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Health in additional grants. This activity has been very successful in helping to secure additional grants for Wilmot researchers. To date the NCI has awarded additional funding of more than $8,000,000 to those projects that showed promising results.

The foundation has funded research projects that specialize in colon, ovarian, breast cancer, Brain, and Pancreatic Cancer.

In May of 2023, we completed our 4th $250,000 commitment. That will bring our 20-year total to $1,000,000. Prior to that we have purchased equipment, awarded fellowships and funded other research projects.

In summary, we have given over $1,400,000 for Cancer Research. Our success was achieved because of the support of many in the Town of Hilton and surrounding communities. This was accomplished through “Grass Roots” Fund Raising; bowling, euchre, golf tournaments, memorials, bottle and penny collections, walk-a-thons, Poker Runs, and many donations from our local businesses and other small businesses in the Rochester area.

It all Started with one person wanting to make a difference and has grown from one to the commitment of many. The foundation has seven members sitting on its Board of Directors. This foundation exists because of friends and supporters volunteering time, individually and collectively. Together, we have made a difference.