WCA Grants & Awards

Woman’s Cancer Association Celebrates the Researchers and Award Grants for 2022-2023

What began as a small community effort seven decades ago has resulted in a new series of grants to accelerate innovative research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. The donations were made possible by The Woman’s Cancer Association (WCA) of the University of Miami, a volunteer organization that has been providing funds for cancer research, education, and patient welfare since 1959.

2023 Grant Winners

2023 Grant Winners

The 2022-2023 recipients and their work include:

Pediatric Grants

  • Dr. Julio Barredo – Leukemia $50,000.00
  • Dr. Aditi Dhir – Sarcomas $50,000.00

General Grants

  • Dr. Rehana Qureshi – Breast cancer  $50,000.00
  • Dr. Prasoon Mohan – Hepatocellular cancer (liver cancer) $50,000.00
  • Dr. Priyamvada Rai – Prostate cancer $50,000.00

Palliative Care Grant

  • Dr. Patrica Cantwell – Holtz Children’s Hospital $10,000.00

Powell Endowment Fund Grant

  • Dr. Carmen Calfa – Breast Cancer $31,318.00

Grant Total: $291,318.00

Adam Carlin, Bill Tenney, Lourdes Beltran, and Dr. Stephen Nimer.  In 2018, Sylvester Director Stephen Nimer, M.D., dedicated the Woman’s Cancer Association Lounge at The Lennar Foundation Medical Center in Coral Gables.

Adam Carlin, Bill Tenney, Lourdes Beltran, and Dr. Stephen Nimer. In 2018, Sylvester Director Stephen Nimer, M.D., dedicated the Woman’s Cancer Association Lounge at The Lennar Foundation Medical Center in Coral Gables.

The Woman’s Cancer Association started in the late 1950s when 28 Dade County women met to discuss ways to help fight the battle against cancer. By 1959, the group had adopted its organizational charter as the Woman’s Cancer Association of the University of Miami.

Currently, two chapters comprise the Woman’s Cancer Association – the Barton Ravlin Chapter and Heidi Hewes Chapter – which raise funds from individual and family grants, community partners, corporate sponsors, and fundraisers. The WCA also relies on proceeds from their resale thrift store, the Bargain Box, which is their biggest fundraiser.

In 2018, Sylvester Director Stephen Nimer, M.D., dedicated the Woman’s Cancer Association Lounge at The Lennar Foundation Medical Center in Coral Gables. The dedication was in recognition of the WCA’s incredible 4-year, $1 million donation to support the drive for NCI-designation at Sylvester and its long history of collaboration with the Cancer Center.

Since its inception, the group has raised $14.2 million to treat all types of cancer at Sylvester.

“The Woman’s Cancer Association’s support is vital in our work to save lives,” said Dr. Nimer, who is also the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, executive dean for research, professor of medicine, biochemistry, and molecular biology at the Miller School of Medicine, and professor of chemical, environmental, and materials engineering at the University of Miami. “The funds they raise help advance innovative research required to find cures and improve treatment options for patients. We could not be more appreciative of their philanthropy.”

In addition to research, the WCA’s funding initiatives also help other vital areas.

“It is equally important to support patients going through cancer treatment,” said Tenney, a WCA member since 1996. “Sylvester social workers reach out to the WCA for immediate financial help for patients when there are no other options. And during the Covid- 19 pandemic, we raised additional funds through online bingo games to help.”

The group has also established the bereavement room for families of pediatric cancer patients and supplied materials for the library at the Batchelor Children’s Research Institute.

The Bargain Box Thrift Store is located at 1350 West Flagler Street in Miami.

Individual and corporate members are welcome to join the WCA. For more information on the WCA, contact Nora Tenney at norabob.tenney@gmail.com.

Join the WCA

We have 2 different chapters in Miami-Dade county.

Donate to WCA

We need your support! Make a secure, tax-deductible donation to WCA of UM.

Bargain Box

Visit Bargain Box, the WCA high-end thrift store on Flagler Street. Re-purpose your quality items by donating them to the BB and be sure to shop while you’re there!

Bargain Box Thrift Store