Karmanos Partners Honor Kid Rock & Kid Rock Foundation

18th Annual Partners Golf Classic, Partner Night events

DETROIT, Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Karmanos Partners continued its philanthropic legacy for the 18th year in a row, raising nearly $700,000 through the Partners Golf Classic on August 29th and the Partners Night on September 17th to benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20071106/KARMANOSLOGO)

Karmanos Partners is a group of young, hands-on volunteers dedicated to supporting the mission of Karmanos Cancer Institute. Since the Partners inception 18 years ago, the group has raised nearly $13 million to support cancer research at Karmanos Cancer Institute.

In addition to raising money for the institute, this year the Partners honored local philanthropist and national rock icon Kid Rock and his foundation for the dedication and support he has shown to the community of Detroit.

In fact, Kid Rock's clothing line, Made In Detroit, is promoting sales of special T-shirts benefiting breast cancer research at Karmanos through the month of October. The pink T-shirts feature the iconic Rosie the Riveter sporting a pink ribbon tattoo, Made In Detroit pin, and speaking the highly-memorable phrase "We Can Do It!" At the bottom is the charge, "Let's go to work to find a cure."

"It's wonderful when a Michigan native like Kid Rock finds success, but also remembers his roots and shows a real commitment to improving his hometown," said Nick Karmanos, senior vice president, Institutional Relations, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

To purchase a T-shirt visit an authorized Made In Detroit retailer, or the Made In Detroit Web site and look under the "Rosie We Can Do It for Cancer" Tab.

http://www.madeindetroit.com/portal/store/store.asp?OpenA=6029&nProductTypeID=6029

The success of these two events would not be complete without the tireless efforts of Partners Executive Committee Co-chairs David Thewes and J.J. Modell; Partners Golf Classic Co-chairs Dan Cornwell and Scott Faulkner; and Partners Night Co-chairs Jennifer Lasco and Michelle Mio.

The Karmanos Cancer Institute and Partners would also like to thank our sponsors including Corporate Partner Compuware Corporation, Host Sponsor Ford Motor Company Fund and Entertainment Sponsor The Suburban Collection

Other key sponsors include: Cambridge Consulting Group; Lil and Alex Erdeljan; The Ferrantino Foundation; Marjorie S. Fisher; Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP; JMC Steel Group; Kenwal Steel Corp.; Eunice and Milt Ring; Quicken Loans and fathead®; Somerset Collection; Trott & Trott, Hour Magazine, Dbusiness Magazine and 101 WRIF.

"We' re grateful for the incredible support of our Partners members and supporters who provide critical funds to champion the innovative research at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute," said Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO, Karmanos Cancer Institute.

All together, 1,000 guests took part in this year's Partners events, including more than 200 participants at Partners Golf Classic at the Franklin Hills Country Club and another 800 attendees at Partners Night at Ford Field. While these two events are over, the Partners fundraising efforts continue. The Detroit Shoppe at the Somerset Collection is continuing their support through the month of September by donating a portion of their proceeds from merchandise sales to Karmanos Cancer Institute.

About the Partners
The Partners are a group of hardworking and "hands-on" volunteers, ages 25 – 50, who have pooled their ideas and resources and joined together for the sole purpose of raising funds for the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Many of these dedicated volunteers are motivated by their own personal struggles or those of loved ones battling this disease.  The Partners are dedicated to making sure that other families, who are facing this illness, always have a place to turn where they will receive the ultimate in patient care, education and treatment. For more information, go to http://www.karmanos.org/partners.    

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for nearly 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. Karmanos is southeastern Michigan's most preferred hospital for cancer care according to annual surveys conducted by the National Research Corporation. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.  

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute