A Message from Martha & Jim Kaley
Each of us has many reflections and milestones in our lives. We wanted to share some of the milestones of the organization, earlier.org.
MILESTONE ONE
32 years ago, Martha was diagnosed with breast cancer after a clean mammogram three months prior. Our chocolate lab, Sherlock, playfully scratched my chest one morning leaving a straight-line bruise which, upon rubbing my hand down the bruise, I discovered a mass. As my surgeon removed it and learned that it was benign, he “just decided” he should go back and look around and discovered the malignancy pressed against the chest wall. It was the same density as breast tissue so it would never have been seen and it was so deep it would not have been felt until very late. So, Sherlock, our detective dog led to the discovery of my breast cancer.
MILESTONE TWO
While being treated for the breast cancer, we started generating funds through a cookbook and selling tee shirts to bring attention to the need for a more complete, dependable, all-encompassing method to detect the presence of breast cancer far earlier than technology today can offer. The vision is a biological test.
MILESTONE THREE
In 1995, with the help of Bill Wilcox, we established the non-profit, Friends You Can Count On. We had our first Gathering of Friends events with Kay Yow speaking at lunch and Joe Bryan speaking at dinner, each generously sharing their experiences with breast cancer.
MILESTONE FOUR
The organization has changed its name from Friends You Can Count On, to Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test to now, earlier.org.
MILESTONE FIVE
We all endured Covid-19 yet still managed to continue to generate funds for this critical component for better technology through supporting research for this ONE focus.
MILESTONE SIX
AS OF MAY 2023, WE HAVE OFFICIALLY FUNDED OVER $5 MILLION IN RESEARCH GRANTS! THANK YOU!
We thank you for being a part of this effort! You can know and hold close to your heart that you are truly helping support researchers with innovative ideas to help us with this new work. Each of you, as we all come together in this effort, is a valuable team player.
MILESTONE SEVEN
This new technology will be a game changer and you are making it happen!
Thank you for being a part of the TEAM!
Martha and Jim
A Single Mission
Our mission is identifying a new and innovative biological test to detect breast cancer far earlier than is now possible. Since most breast cancer is in the body five to eight years before it can be detected through current methods, there is a window of opportunity for a test that would offer earlier detection, thereby changing the picture of breast cancer treatments and prognosis.
Research Grant Recipients
Since our inception in 1995, Earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test® has awarded $5,005,482 to fund seed grants to 131 projects in the specific area of identifying a biological test to detect breast cancer in its earliest stage.
2023 Total Grants $120,000
Duke University (Durham, NC)
$40,000
“Defining the genomic clonal relationship between atypical breast lesions and metachronous invasive breast cancer”
Dr. Jennifer Plichta
Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) $40,000
“Early detection of breast cancer through monitoring signature phosphoproteins from plasma derived extracellular vesicles”
Dr. W. Andy Tao
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) (Barcelona, Spain)
“Lateral Flow Biomarker Optimization for patient stratification and the early detection of metastasis from liquid biopsy”
$40,000
Dr. Roni Helene Grace Wright
ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament
earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test® has been the proud non-profit partner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Women’s Basketball Tournament since 2000. Over $286,000 has been generated over our 24-year partnership to support earlier.org and the critical breast cancer research that we fund.
In 2023, the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament generously donated $10,000 to earlier.org and overall, the Tournament generated nearly $16,700 for earlier.org.
ConnorHouse Bosom Buddies
Since 2001, earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test has been supported by the women of Connor House at Davidson College (Davidson, NC) as their philanthropy.
Their annual gala, Bosom Buddies, is the culmination of their year-long fundraising efforts which includes Drink Pink, a Think Pink 5K and a variety of local retail fundraisers.
The 2022 -23 Connor House Bosom Buddies generated over $83,000 for earlier.org! We are honored to have Connor House as a partner. Their commitment and the time that the women of Connor House give to raise funds for earlier.org is phenomenal and greatly appreciated.
Toast at the Coast
Four New York Times Best-Selling Authors joined us on August 1, 2023 in Atlantic Beach, NC for Toast at the Coast! We were honored to have Kristy Woodson Harvey, Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel and Patti Callahan-Henry to help us raise critical funds for breast cancer research. These four longtime friends with more than seventy published books to their credit shared fascinating insider talk about publishing and writing, and discussed their newest releases. Patti Callahan Henry and Kristin Harmel are both breast cancer survivors and shared their stories with the sold-out audience.
Toast at the Coast raised over $25,000 for earlier.org!
Thank you to all of our sponsors, especially our presenting sponsor, Piedmont Natural Gas, and our keynote speakers!
(And save the date because the Fab Four is joining us on September 27 in High Point).
Teeing Off for Ta-Tas
On September 18, 2023, the 14th Annual “Teeing Off for Ta-Tas” golf outing was held at Grandover Resort & Spa. This annual golf outing is held in honor of retired Greensboro Police Captain Jill Gladieux.
Columbia Forest Products has been the Title Sponsor of this event since 2019 and we are incredibly grateful for their steadfast support. This year, Teeing Off for Ta-Tas generated nearly $25,000 for earlier detection test research!
Doxie Derby & Family Festival
The third annual Doxie Derby was held October 1, 2023 at Southern C’s Farm in Summerfield, NC. Thanks to the vision of Stephanie Lomax (Lomax Home Team), the Doxie Derby continues to grow and attract larger crowds and racing Dachshunds each year. This event honors her mother, sister-inlaw, and many friends who are breast cancer survivors. It was a fun-filled day featuring Doxie Races, a Dachshund costume contest, and a family festival. The Doxie Derby & Family Festival raised $30,000 for earlier.org!
Pink Ribbon Rally
The 22nd Annual Pink Ribbon Rally at Stoney Creek was held Saturday, October 7th.
This year the Pink Ribbon Rally raised over $20,000! Over the lifetime of our involvement with the Stoney Creek Ladies Golf Association - and now Stoney Creek - $355,512 has been directed to critical breast cancer research through the Pink Ribbon Rally.
Special thanks to ThermoFisher Scientific, our Presenting Sponsor for this event for the fifth year in a row.
Gathering of Friends Luncheon
The 28th Annual Gathering of Friends Luncheon was held at the Sheraton Greensboro on October 11th. Our keynote speaker was Meredith Baxter. She has been an actress for 49 years; she’s also a writer, artist and mother of five, grandmother of 3. She starred in five television series, including the long-running Family Ties. Baxter has made multiple guest appearances on a variety of series, been nominated for four Emmys, and made about sixty movies for television, among them Betty Broderick: A Woman Scorned.
In 1998, she was diagnosed with stage 0 ductal carcinoma in situ – breast cancer. Thirteen years later, she was diagnosed with invasive DCIS stage 2.
The 2023 Gathering of Friends Luncheon & Dinner raised over $231,000 for earlier.org!
Thank you to our amazing sponsors and supporters!
Gathering of Friends Dinner
Our Gathering of Friends Dinner was held on October 12th at Grandover Resort.
DeAngelo Williams was our keynote speaker. Well-known for his great NFL career and warm, vivacious personality, he is the proud Founder of The DeAngelo Williams Foundation (TDWF), which he founded alongside his wife, Risalyn, to honor his late mother and four aunts, all of whom passed from Breast Cancer.
Blastin’ for Boobs
We had a BLAST (literally) at Blastin’ for Boobs on November 11th! This fun, pink clay target shoot is hosted by Trish & Shane Naylor at Shane’s Sporting Clays in memory of Trish’s Aunt Patsy Ridenhour.
We are extremely grateful to Shane’s Sporting Clays and our Presenting Sponsor, Butler CPA, P.A.
Over $15,000 was raised for breast cancer earlier detection test research at Blastin’ for Boobs!
Fishin’ for a Cure
Fishin’ for a Cure is a non-profit organization which aims to make a difference for women battling cancer through fishing, fun and fellowship. Each year Fishin’ for a Cure gathers at Emerald Isle, NC for fishing, golf and many other events to raise funds. Since their inception in 2013, Fishin’ for a Cure has raised over $1 million!!! earlier.org is extremely grateful to be one of their chosen charities.
Greensboro Driving Hope
For almost 10 years, Driving Hope has been cruising around Greensboro. Today, through the tremendous generosity of Hudson Automotive Group and Greensboro Nissan + Greensboro Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, on any given day you will find a Nissan Rogue or Pink JEEP making appearances at festivals, events, corporate engagements and generally all around town! $1 and 1 signature at a time.
You never know where our “Driving Hope Queen” Angela might pop up! Keep an eye out for Driving Hope at your favorite stores and shops, raising critical funding for breast cancer research!
Bisbee Driving Hope
In 2023, Bisbee Honda of Danville introduced our Bisbee Driving Hope Honda! We are extremely grateful for the tremendous support from our longtime supporter, Scott Bisbee, owner of Bisbee Honda of Danville! Look for Driving Hope in Southside Virginia!
$1 and 1 signature at a time.
Take It On the Rise for Ta-Tas!
Tennis enthusiasts joined us at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex on August 22nd for Take It On the Rise for Ta-Tas. They participated in an on-court clinic with local teaching pros and were treated to lunch courtesy of Panera Bread/ Covelli Enterprises. Since 2017, Take It On the Rise for Ta-Tas has raised over $30,000 for earlier.org!
Stew for Boobs
For 14 years, Julie and Andy Newcomb have invited friends, family and neighbors to their home for Stew for Boobs. Their guests are treated to delicious stew made by Andy. All they ask is a donation to earlier.org. They do this in memory of Julie’s mom, Anna Lea Johnson, who lost her battle with breast cancer. Julie and Andy have raised over $50,000 for critical breast cancer research!
HOT Regatta
The HOT Regatta was held October 28, 2023 at Lake Townsend. Particpants spent the day sailng to raise money for breast cancer research. Since 2012 the Halloween on the Townsend Regatta has raised over $45,000 for earlier.orgFriends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®.
Named Grants
The naming of a grant from earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test® is an honor designated just 16 times over its twenty-seven-year history. This honor is the most prestigious recognition that earlier.org can award. In 2023, we honored six organizations/individuals with a Named Grant.
Nancy Collins, Uwe Heine, Trish McDermott
Jennifer Conrad, Natasha Branch, Sal Balsamo, Summer Hogan, Keairra McGuire
Doxie Derby & Family Festival Stephanie Lomax/Lomax Home Team Blastin’ for Boobs Trish, Shane & Grant Naylor/Shane’s Sporting Clays Round Robin for Research Richard & Robin Parker Stew for Boobs Julie, Andy & Olivia Newcomb HOT Regatta Barrister’s Title ServicesPlatinum Sponsors
($25,000+)
Dr. James & Martha Kaley
Gold Sponsors
($10,000 - $24,999)
Joseph M. Bryan, Jr.
The Anne L. & George H. Clapp Charitable & Educational Trust
Marc & Kristen Magod Family
Ann Pullium
Silver Sponsors
($5,000 - $9,999)
Patrick & Terry McDaid
Sally Simons
Smith Bain Manuel LLP/Elisabeth ManuelBronze Sponsors
($2,500 - $4,999)
Michel Family Foundation
Sue Donathan White
Philip N. Daly and Frances K. Daly Charitable Lead Unitrust Barrister’s Title Services of the Carolinas, LLC$2,000 - $2,499
Mike & Delaina Ellington
Murphy’s Upholstery
Marty & Chris Melenick
Karen Stanley
$1,500 - $1,999
Dr. Homer C. Bell III
Butler CPA P.A.
Coral Bay Club
Derek Coulter - Kontoor
George & Mary Ellen Eldridge
Pamela & Dale Finn
Kappa Kappa Gamma, UNC-Chapel Hill
Drs. Charles Langdon & Sandra Fuller
Sandra Roth & Charles Wolfe
Ron & Tanya Self
Tap Hopper
Well•Spring
$1,000 - $1,499
Avery Dennison
Bill & Laura Barrier
Robert & Suzette Bernatchez
Derry & Harden Blackwell
Kent & Ann Braud
Marc & Janis Bush
Carruthers & Roth, P.A.
Dr. Larry & Lynne Causey
Jacqueline Colby
Julie Cox
Kristy Cox
Cecelia Diamico
Pam Dittmer
C.P. Eakes Company
Valerie Edson
Flow Honda of Burlington
Grace Gardner
Greensboro Sports Council
Kathy Haines
Kelley Haines
Lane Hartley
The Hershey Group
Steve & Natasha Hilburn
Carla Jorgensen
Rhonda Joyce - American National Bank
Dr. Mark & Lorin Kaley
Dr. Kenneth & Ginger Karb
Sandy Knight/Touchstone Crystals
Laura Lomax & Phil Barbee
David Maner
Carole Mauro
Betty & Dean Musser
Paragon Homes, Inc.
Pace
Piedmont Endodontics
Pilot Financial Brokerage, Inc.
Pittsburgh Foundation
Claudia Reich
Samet Corporation
Bassam & Kim Smir
Leslye & Marshall Tuck
Martha Wood
Wyndham Championship
Blake & Katie Zalcberg
$500 - $999
Lawrence D. Keiner
Robert & Leslie Ketner
Lee & Patty Aiken - Home Instead
All Pets Considered
William Anderson
Association Management Group
Julie & Randy Bassett
Nicole Bateman
Lacy & Lena Baynes
Dr. Margaret Bertrand
Anna Best
Julie Black
Mark & Lori Blackburn
Matthew Brennan
Debbie Britt & Janice Rogers
Deborah Carr
Emily Carter
John & Martha Chandler
Coastal Radiology
David Combs
Jim & Becky Compton
The Robert C. and Sally B. Cone Fund
Kara Cox Interiors
Sue Davis
Amber Elliott
LIsa Fields
George Gabel
Anne Gardner
Tommy & Betty Glascock
Christopher Goode
Bridget Harrell
Martha Ann Harrell
Tiffany Harris
Dr. Ashley Hawkins
Kathyrn Hill
Leslie Holland
Becky Holt
William & Karen Hopper
Gregory Hulka
Rodney & Mary Ingram
Joan Johnson
Chris Kellett
Amy Kreimer
Carolyn Maddux
Dr. Gus & Mary Magrinat
Laura Martin
Katie Medlin
Diana Melenick
Mother Murphy’s
Pastabilities - Cindy Essa
Pest Management Systems, Inc.
Whitney & Anne Pritchett
Angela Sherrill
Mary Simms
Peter & Mary Smith
St. Frances Au Fait Walkers
John & Louise Stanley
Stearns Family Charitable Fund
Stegall & Clifford
John & Nora Swofford
Murphy & Camille Townsend
Harrison & Martha Turner
Edith Upchurch
Vulcan Materials
Amy Weatherly
Donna Welker
Laura Weygandt
$250 - $499
Beatrice Boutros
Amy Buckthal
Allison Burns
Brandon Button
Chick-fil-a at Friendly FSU
Doug & Anna Clark
Peter Dunn
Tamara Fowler
John Glebus
Stacey Gonyer
Julia Haffke
Will Hamlett
Hardin LLC
Kent Hursey
Debra Jesionowski
Carroll Johnson
James Heffernan
Jaime Hendricks
Jan & Susan Kaley
Chuck Keeley
Kendra Scott
Nancy Kenerly
Molly & Patience Kosowski
Lillian Lawrence
Michelle Linale
Lowes Foods
Shameka Massey
Gibson McCall
Matt McCormack
Trish McDermott
Anita McMahan
Christopher Meadows
Alexander & Nancy Moore
Alice Moore
Joyce Newman
Marilyn Oakes
Juliana Olin
Ralph Parker
Richard & Robin Parker
Glenn & Laura-Hill Patton
Maliyah Paynter
Gail Peterson
Becky Phipps
Diane Pina
Kathy Pressley
Pam Reynolds
Woody & Mary Sandlin
Bobby & Jeanie Sasser
Frederick & Margo Schmidt, Sr.
Mary Smith
Justin & Shari Spradley
Sandra Steele
Sarah Sweeting
Liv Thompson
Matthew Thompson
Ann Vaughn
Vintages by the Dan
Lee Way
Robert & Phyllis Wilkie
Mary Clark Williams
Glenn & Katy Williamson
Stephen Willingham
Charlie Wilson
Linda Wilson
$100 - $249
4 Dawson’s LLC
A Cleaner World
Elizabeth Adler
Zoe Almquist
Shannon Alphin
Helen Aman
Phillip Andrews
Diane Anselmi
Lindsey Babcock
Alice Barber
Sharon Barfield
Lisa Bastick
Sarah Bastick
Sheila Beal
Beth Bell
Mario Belloni
Rosemary Berquist
Liz Blackwell
Pamela Blair
Helen Blasch
Erik Boe
Diane Boger
Kristin Bogner
Mary Boliek
Robert Bouknight
Jacqueline Bracken
Carolyn Brady
Brittian Chiropractic
Margaret Brock
Tom & Elizabeth Brondolo
Kristen Brown
Tom Brown
Donna Bryant
Tina Buck
Mary Anne Bullard
Ann Bures
Natalie Burris
Grayson Byrd
Amy Carroll
Pamela Cash
Mary Caswell
Missy Chance
Xiaohong Chen
Carole Clapp
Denise Clark
Phyllis Clark
Melissa Cohan
Nancy Collins
Linda Comerford
Jacqueline Connors
Pamela Cooke
Thomas Cornett
AnnMarie Covington
Mimi Crews
Tracy Crisp
Christopher Cronan
Valerie Cronan
Robin Crosier
Mary Jane Crum
Ever Cruz
Nikki D’Ambrose
Dawn Davis
Randall Davis
Lynn Davis
Barbara Dery
Elizabeth Deterding
Matthew Didier
Kate Doughty
John Driver
Nancy Duffy
Amy Dulin
Scott Earp
Diane Eggemeyer
Candida Ellis
Laura Evans
Stephanie Farabow
Melissa Flora
Andrew Forman
Mary Fowler
P.D. & Bonnie Francis
Kara French
Christine Gallagher
Whitney Gansman
Ryan Garcia
Lynn Garrett
Kimberly Gay
Givinga Foundation
Krista Goldenberg
Robert & Susan Good
Robert & Gillian Goodman
Sara Gravitt
Daniel Green
Erica Hain
Lori Harkey
Beth Harris
Susan Harvey
Sarah Hassinger
Foreman & Kay Heard
Kim Helmer
Linda Helms
Leslie Hennigan
Susanna Hickman
Daniel Hicks
Annie Hirshman
Stephanie Holbert
Victoria Holdsworth
Tess Jeckering
Megan Jenkins
Debra Jesionowski
Delores Jones
Laura Jones
Laura Judy
Katharine Kendall
Chesley Kennedy & John Overman
Matt Ketterman
John F. & Candace L. Kime
Kate King
Alice Klug
Tom Kollock
Meghan Lawrence
Kelli Liles/Bourbon & Grits
Ashley Linder
John Linn
Mary Livingston
Leilani Long
James Longworth
Linda Lotz
Brenda Macfadden
Cameron Marini
Cheryl Masterman
Susan Maxwell
Scott & Kara McBurney
Susan McBurney
Wil & Alyssa McBurney
Richard & Lynn McCloskey
Margaret McGowan
Barbara McKenzie
Elizabeth McManus
Hadley McManus
Marissa Meyer
Kristin Michel
Alexandra Miller
Mark Miller
Sandra Mitchell
Alexander & Nancy Moore
Carolyn Morris
Ashley Motsay
Russell Mueller
Diane Munns
Kimberly Murray
Elizabeth Musser
Erika Nagahashi
Xuan Nguyen
Campbell Nicholson
Chad Onken
Jane Owens
Ralph Parker
Mila Parrish
Deana Patteson
W. Gaston Penry
Patha Daughtridge
Jane Davenport
Trisha Kirby
Christine Kleinhenz
Cynthia Kleppinger
Mark & Sharon Perini
Janet Perry
Rachel Peters
Jane H. Peterson
Amy Petty
Steve & Michelle Phillips
Elizabeth Phipps
Judy Piper
Kim Pope
Kathy Pressley
Mary Propes
Heather Pugliese
Lisa Rahilly
Laurie Regal
Jason Reiner
Catherine Rhodes
Linda Rhyne
Dorothy Richmond
Melissa Robertson
Nancy Robinson
Shannon Roley
Sheri Romaine
Dawn Roscoe
Jane Rouse
John & Joanna Sample
Michele Santiago
Malinda Schantz
Scott Schiffel
Joan Sherman
Michele Shigo
Samantha Smith
Jeanie Smith
Pamela Smith
Kirstin Snead
Southern Ace Hat Co.
Starmount Country Club
Teresa Stone
Stout Family Foundation
Robert & Julia Sypher
Elizabeth Talotta
Lisa Talton
Emily Thompson
Zanetta Thompson
Chandra Tippett
Evan Trudeau
Ashley Vartanian
Ann Vaughn
Vintages by the Dan
Patricia Vreeland
Nicki Wagoner
Matt & Rhonda Wakefield
Lisa Waldmann
Brooke Waldron
Kelen Walker
Laurie Walker
Mary Wallace
Ronald Washburn
Weaver Investment
Bena Weires
Carolyn Wetzel
Nancy Whitt
Joan Wieberg
Cindy Wilborn
Robert & Phyllis Wilkie
Marla Williams
Mary Clark Williams
Sherry Williams
Angela Willis
Charlie Wilson
Jennifer Wiseman
Karen Womack
Woman’s Club of Southwest Guilford
James M. Young State Farm
Peppermint Zealy
2023 Board of Directors
Executive Officers
David Mize | President Community Volunteer
Julie Buie | Past-President Community Volunteer
Angela Wall | Secretary Community Volunteer
Frederick M. Schmidt, Sr. | Treasurer Community Volunteer
James D. Kaley, DDS Co-Founder, Earlier.org Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®
Martha H. Kaley Co-Founder, Earlier.org Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®
Board of Directors
Sheryl Austin Beacon Pointe Advisors
Lindsey Babcock
Wake Forest University Intercollegiate Athletics
Robert Chou
Robert Chou Photography
Amber Elliott Community Volunteer
Sean Gladieux Community Volunteer
Mark Kaley, DDS Kaley Orthodontics
Ken Karb, MD Medical Advisory Chairman, Emeritus
Laura Lomax, MD
Greensboro Dermatology
Kristen Magod Community Volunteer
Donna Murray Community Volunteer
John C. Overfield Coltrane & Overfield, PLLC
Zanetta Thompson
NC A&T State University Intercollegiate Athletics
Cathy Valent Springs Creative
Matthew Wakefield, MD Chairman of Medical Adisory Board Central Carolina Surgery
Donna D. Welker Honda Dealers of the Carolinas
Victoria Welker Community Volunteer
William Wilcox IV Nexen Pruet, PLLC
Co-founders and Staff
Co-founders
Martha H. Kaley
James D. Kaley, DDS Staff
Kara L. McBurney Director of Programs & Events kmcburney@earlier.org
Leslie D. Conway Director of Development lconway@earlier.org
Carolyn B. Walters Business Operations
Angela K. Wall Event Assistant & Driving Hope Coordinator
Kathy N. Secrist Volunteer Coordinator
earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®
P O Box 10363 Greensboro, NC 27404-0363
If using a courier service:
earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test® 2407 Dent Street Greensboro, NC 27408
Telephone: 336.286.6620
E-mail: office@earlier.org
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