HDGC RESEARCH ENDOWMENT FUND

Background
The HDGC (Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer) Research Endowment Fund was established by Karen Chelcun Schreiber in August 2020 with a donation and a bequest in honor and memory of her parents, Fred and Elaine Chelcun, and her brother Greg Chelcun.  The purpose of fund is to support HDGC translational research at the Centre for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR) at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. The mission of the HDGC Research Endowment Fund is to accelerate CTCR’s most promising research with the potential to greatly improve the lives of HDGC families worldwide, providing support in perpetuity.

On behalf of all of all those impacted by HDGC throughout the world, thank you for supporting this important research.

Fund Description
The fund, which will be known as the HDGC Research Endowment Fund, has been established with the University of Otago Foundation Trust, to support research into Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) at the Centre for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR), University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) is defined as an inherited cancer syndrome that is dominated by a high incidence of stomach cancer, but can include other cancers such as lobular breast cancer.

Use of Funds
The goal is to build the fund so that it provides income that can be used to support research into Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer. However, funds will be distributed on an annual basis to support specific HDGC projects at the Center for Translational Cancer Research, which will lead to improvements in the health and well-being of families affected by HDGC.

Fund Management
Oversight of the Fund is provided by three entities with all groups working together to ensure the Fund is managed in strict accordance with the Fund policy and that all donations are appropriately directed and managed. The ultimate oversight being applied by the University of Otago, and the University of Otago Foundation Trust.

The fund will be managed by the University of Otago Foundation Trust Treasury Accountant in accordance with the Foundation’s policies and procedures. The Trust is responsible for investing the money from all funds to maximize returns while accounting fore each separate fund within the Foundation’s total investment portfolio.

The University of Otago, Department of Alumni Relations (DARO) will provide oversight for the management of the Fund from the perspective of ensuring the terms of the Fund are met and the money in the Fund is appropriately distributed to the Centre for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR).

Distributions will be made from the Fund in response to approved applications for funding of research projects on Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer in the Centre for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR)

Donations
US donors can make tax deductible donations through the AUOA which is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Donations can be made through the AUOA by credit card, debit card, or direct bank transfer through the AUOA website, or by check mailed to the registered office of the AUOA.

All donations will be acknowledged in writing with an official receipt for tax purposes.

Donors residing outside the US may also donate through the AUOA website, although donations from outside of the US are subject to the tax laws in the donor’s resident country.

Endowment
While the priority is to provide immediate funding for HDGC research the long term goal is that the Fund will become an ‘endowment’ when it reaches a certain threshold that allows the annual income to be distributed for HDGC research in addition to the current annual donations received and distributed for the same purpose. This, of course, will be contingent upon successful fundraising of both direct donations and funds generated through planned giving.

Questions about the Fund?
Contact Karen Chelcun Schreiber for more information.

RELEVANT LINKS

HDGC Research Fund Donations
Make a Donation

Alumni of University of Otago in America, Inc.
Neil Matheson, President
United States

The Alumni of University of Otago in America, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code, therefore all gifts made to the fund are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

University of Otago
Dunedin, New Zealand

Centre for Translational Cancer Research
Professor Parry Guilford, Director
University of Otago
Dunedin, New Zealand