Eddie Sutton Foundation announces year-end beneficiaries for inaugural year
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | mack.burke_iv@okstate.edu
The Eddie Sutton Foundation announced Tuesday the first beneficiaries of its $50,000 end-of-year donations with a lead gift of $25,000 to CureSearch for Children's Cancer, a national organization dedicated to research to fight pediatric cancer.
Another $22,500 was donated to the Karmen Korner Grant Program through the Stillwater Medical Center Foundation to provide financial assistance to aid local cancer fighting families with a variety of expenses in the midst of a medical crisis. In addition, the foundation donated $2,500 to the children’s education fund named in honor of late Stillwater High School girl's basketball coach Kendra Kilpatrick.
"As our inaugural operational year of helping individuals and families battle the impacts of cancer, 2022 was a banner year for the Eddie Sutton Foundation. To be able to make sizable donations to very worthy organizations making positive strides in this battle is precisely aligned with our mission," said Dave Hunziker, voice of the Cowboys and Eddie Sutton Foundation co-president. "These year-end donations add to the regular activity the foundation pursues throughout the year, providing resources and opportunities to travel and attend Oklahoma State University athletic events and create unforgettable memories with the Cowboy family."
CureSearch for Children's Cancer is dedicated to ensuring that every child diagnosed with cancer has a safe and effective treatment option by focusing on pediatric cancers with insufficient or ineffective treatment options. Stillwater Cancer Center has a commitment to embracing its patients beyond their immediate medical needs with a lenient financial assistance program and a robust foundation to provide life-saving equipment, program and patient education.
Kilpatrick died in November after a two-year battle with stage 3 papillary breast cancer. In her final basketball coaching season, while undergoing chemotherapy, her Lady Pioneers made it to the Oklahoma Class 6A state tournament and Kilpatrick was named the Oklahoma Girls' Basketball Association Coach of the Year. The Riley and Kendall Kilpatrick Education Fund was created for Kilpatrick's children.
On March 12, 2022 — what would have been Coach Sutton's 86th birthday — the Eddie Sutton Foundation was announced. At that time, OSU's Coaches vs. Cancer transitioned to Cowboys vs. Cancer under the Eddie Sutton Foundation umbrella. The foundation’s mission is to positively impact the fight against cancer by raising funds, supporting families and providing meaningful OSU experiences for those affected by the disease.
The foundation honors the life and legacy of the former OSU men's basketball coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and remains steadfast to the core principles that made him a successful coach: defense, dedication and discipline. Foundation leadership believes research is the best defense against cancer, holds an unwavering dedication to the cause and to the families it serves and recognizes the need for the discipline to stay the course and implement a full court press that will lead to a cure.