Did you know that one of the top medical research institutions in the nation is here in Dallas? Did you know that four Nobel Prize winners have been faculty members there? Did you know that this institution produces more family practice doctors than any other medical institution in the state? Did you know that they are still expanding their facilities?
CREW members should be excited to learn that our contributions from the annual Classic (since 1998) have funded research for heart disease in women and an innovative gene therapy for ovarian cancer, totaling in excess of $167,500. Each year, the university selects several projects that fit within the scope of CREW's target beneficiaries. Last year, Dr. Carolyn Muller received a donation to fund a grant for her work on ovarian cancer from the 2000 Classic proceeds. Ovarian cancer has one of the highest fatality rates of all cancers, being known as the "disease that whispers." Dr. Muller's research, along with that of her colleague Dr. Robert Coleman, seeks to improve the treatment strategy for terminally ill patients with ovarian cancer.

Dr. Muller was again awarded funds from the Classic for research to identify molecular markers from liquid-based pap smears and cervical mucus to determine cervical cancer risk. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of over 90% of all cervical cancer. Millions of women in the United States will be infected with HPV but only a small percentage of these women will develop real precancerous lesions on the cervix (dysplasia) and fewer yet will ultimately develop cervical cancer. HPV infections will cause abnormal Pap smears in a majority of patients, but to date; the strategies to deal with abnormal Pap smears are stress provoking to patients and often lead to uncomfortable exams, painful biopsies and/or surgical procedures. Only a small percentage of these women will actually have lesions that are destined to progress to cancer, but to date, NO technology exists to determine this risk. Their goal is to evaluate new molecular technologies to help understand what other molecular events occur in the cervix during an HPV infection that promotes cancer development, and to ultimately apply this knowledge to the development of a molecular Pap smear.

The Dallas Women's Foundation was founded in 1985 to meet the growing needs of women and girls in Dallas County and to respond to the fact that less than 6% of foundation dollars nationally go to programs targeted specifically to women and girls. With a current endowment of $5 million, it is one of the oldest and largest of the 100 women's funds in the country.
The mission of the Dallas Women's Foundation is to raise money, responsibly fund community programs that help women and girls realize their full potential, and to advocate increased philanthropy by and for women and girls through various deserving charities in the Dallas area. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $3 million dollars to the community. It has awarded more than 350 grants that have benefited over 100,000 women and girls.

Over the past thirteen years, CREW has given to the Foundation $702,400, making CREW its number one donor. The grants the Dallas Women's Foundation has awarded goals such as completing daily homework. After this routine, Girls, Inc. offers more, such as the "LEAP" program, which allow the girls to have access to computers and keep an electronic journal where they can record specific life goals and plans, and monitor their progress in achieving them. Girls, Inc. participants can also assist in such programs as Head Start, where they can observe daily operations in this non-profit program and observe for themselves how they can make a difference in the community by helping others.

CREW Foundation experienced another very successful year of fund raising in 2007.  Because of your generous efforts, CREW Foundation is able to award a total of $100,000 in grants to three outstanding organizations serving the needs of women and girls nationwide.  Since its inception in 1998, the Foundation has awarded more than $712,500 in grants to organizations who used those dollars to leverage and fund national programs with these objectives.

Following is the work to improve the lives of women and girls that your donations will support in 2008:
Girls Inc. -- awarded $45,000 to bring trainers and leaders from 15-20 affiliates to their centralized training facility in Indianapolis in March 2008 for Train-the-Trainer session.  Participants will learn how to implement a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program under the Thinking SMART (Science Math and Relevant Technologies) program for their chapters.  The Thinking SMART program is an innovative science education project that builds girls’ knowledge and skills in historically non-traditional areas, such as math and science.

The Dress for Success Professional Women’s Group Summit --- $25,000 award to support the 4th annual Summit . Dress for Success is located in 83 communities in the , and .  Many of the D4S affiliates have developed a Professional Women’s Group which meets monthly and provides support and skill development to help women continue to succeed in the workplace.  Of the affiliates with Professional Women’s Groups, each can nominate one client to attend the Summit (along with one staff person from the affiliate.  Summit participants attend sessions to develop business and leadership skills along with a strong focus on entrepreneurship.

The Girls for a Change --- $30,000 award to provide continued support for their operations in Phoenix and Silicon Valley as well as their anticipated expansion into 2 markets in 2008.  Likely candidates for expansion include Philadelphia and Raleigh Durham.  Girls for A Change sponsors Girl Action Teams comprised of girls and adult mentors.  The mentors teach high school age girls skills related to identifying issues in their community and becoming change agents.

In addition, as a part of the 2007 CREW Careers™ program, each of the 25 participating chapters received a $1,000 CREW Foundation grant that was in turn given to partnering local girls’ group.