Benefis celebrates gifts to Sletten Cancer Institute

An effort this fall by individuals and groups across central Montana to support Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute programs was capped off recently by the presentation of a giant pink check for $54,806 from the Great Falls Tough Enough to Wear Pink Committee.

The proceeds will be directed to the Sletten Cancer Institute’s Circle of Hope Program, which provides wigs and head coverings, breast prosthetics, bras, fittings, cosmetology care, support groups, exercise classes and more at no cost to cancer patients from Great Falls and the region.

The check represented the total funds raised through three Tough Enough to Wear Pink events at this summer’s Montana State Fair — the Montana Most Wanted Bachelor Auction, Cowgirl University and Rodeo Uncorked — and a “50 Shades of Pink” purse raffle. The events were organized by a group of people from the Big Sky ProRodeo Roundup Committee, plus dozens of volunteers.

The donation from the Tough Enough to Wear Pink folks is one of several that the Benefis Foundation has received recently.

The fourth annual Buzz Your Fuzz event, held in early August at the Hollis Hi Ho Tavern, raised $25,276, with a little more than half going to support the Circle of Hope Program and the rest going to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. The money was raised through 21 adults and children asking for sponsorships to shave their heads and a silent auction.

NDM Productions, a new theatrical company started by Ali Jo Sheets and Zachary Sean Dennis, shared $4,700 from its first production, the “Wizard of Oz” in September, to help cancer patients through Circle of Hope.

Through the Drive 4 UR Community fundraiser at the Sletten Cancer Institute’s Men and Machines Car Show in September, Bison Ford and Ford Motor Company donated $20 each time someone test drove one of the new Fords at the car show. Drive 4 UR Community raised $2,440 for Circle of Hope.

Scheels Events Coordinator Tyler Hentzen recently delivered a check for $1,750 for Circle of Hope. The money was raised through the sporting goods store’s annual Halloween Scare 5K race held Oct. 25.

A local group called Think Pink for the Girls raised $1,000 for Circle of Hope through their third annual Think Pink Tea, held in October.

Tough Enough to Wear Pink recently gave $9,000 to SCI to help with hotel and travel expenses for patients who live in Central Montana. The Town Pump Charitable Foundation also recently gave a gift of $1,000 to SCI.

For the past three years, the Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies has donated proceeds from club members collecting canceled stamps and giving them to Hermina Kolski of Great Falls to sort and arrange for sale to stamp dealers. This year, the federation gave about $230 to the SCI in honor of Hermina and her efforts.

A few organizations held fundraisers for the Sletten Cancer Institute during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. The Ladies Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Royal A. Caufield Post #1087, gave a $1,000 donation to the SCI, and the Badger Booster Club in Cascade held a raffle and bake sale that raised $322. Mighty Mo Brewing Company hosted a “Raise a Pint” night for the SCI in October that brought in $121.

To support the Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute through Benefis Foundation, you may make a donation online at benefisfoundation.org or visit the Benefis Foundation office on the first floor of the South Tower at Benefis East Campus. For more information, please call 406-455-5840.