Thank you to all of our longstanding friends and our new friends who support this specific area of identifying a better method for detecting breast cancer earlier than has previously been available. With the careful guidance of our Medical Advisory Board and the Board of Directors, the amazing work of our staff and the generosity of each of you who are participating, we have been able to assist science to move ever closer to finishing the goal of identifying the presence or even the pending presence of breast cancer. It is important to “dream a dream” because this “dream” will serve all of us now and our children to come. It is a dream that is happening and we must see it through!
Because of the focused mission of earlier.org, we are on the cutting edge of significant breakthroughs in breast cancer research and it is realistic to expect that we will see this goal achieved in our lifetime. We at earlier.org thank everyone for joining our vision and moving us towards our collective success.
Thank you!
Martha
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 $5,115,482 to fund seed grants to 134 projects in the specific area of identifying a biological test to detect breast cancer in its earliest stage.
2024 Total Grants
Duke University (Durham, NC)
“Improving Our Understanding of Genetic Information Sharing among Patients with Pathogenic Mutations Related to Breast Cancer”
Dr. Jennifer Plichta
Centre for Cancer Biology/University of South Australia (Adelaide, Australia)
“Intra-Tumoral CRELD2 is a Novel Predicting Factor for Early Invasive Breast Cancer”
Drs. Marina Kochetkova & Melissa Bochner
Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
$110,000
$30,000
$40,000
$40,000
“A FRET-based heterogeneous phase immunoassay for early detection of soluble MICA (sMICA) in plasma or sera of breast cancer patients as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.”
Dr. Noberto Walter Zwirner
Keynote Speakers
Darryl Strawberry
Former Major League All-Star &
3-Time World Series Champion
Annabelle gurwitch
Critically Acclaimed Actress & New York Times
Bestselling Author
The Gathering of Friends is our Signature Event. This year’s Luncheon & Dinner raised over $186,000 for earlier.org!
Thank you to our amazing sponsors and supporters!
2024 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament
Fishin’ for a Cure
We are honored and deeply grateful to have the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, Connor House Bosom Buddies, and Fishin’ for a Cure as partners in our mission to identify an earlier biological detection test for breast cancer.
The ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament has shown remarkable generosity by partnering with earlier.org since 2000. The 2024 Tournament contributed a generous $10,000 to earlier.org and overall $13,500 was raised!
Connor House Bosom Buddies raised nearly $65,000.
The dedication displayed by the women of Connor House at Davidson College to supporting earlier.org is both phenomenal and deeply appreciated.
Fishin’ for a Cure brings together fishing enthusiasts and compassionate individuals with a common goal: to support cancer research and awareness. As one of the chosen charities of Fishin’ for a Cure, earlier.org received an incredible $50,000 in 2024.
Connor House Bosom Buddies
Take It On The Rise for Ta-Tas brought together seasoned tennis players as well as beginners for an on-court clinic with local USTA North Carolina teaching pros at Wake Forest Tennis Complex. Adding to the excitement, professional tennis player, Jamie Murray, shared insights from his professional career. Attendess were also treated to a delicious lunch courtesy of Covelli Enterprises ~ Panera Bread.
The Fab Four from Friends & Fiction joined us this year in High Point for Toast to the Ta-Tas. Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Kristin Harmel, and Patti Callahan Henry are all New York Times Bestselling authors. Kristin Harmel and Patti Callahan Henry shared their personal experiences as breast cancer survivors.
Toast to the Ta-Tas raised over $17,000 for earlier.org!
Thank you to our Toast to the Ta-Tas Presenting Sponsors:
Take It On The Rise for Ta-Tas
Toast to the Ta-Tas
Teeing Off for Ta-Tas
We hit the links this year with Teeing Off for Ta-Tas and the Pink Ribbon Rally.
The 15th Annual Teeing Off for Ta-Tas was held at Starmount Forest Country Club. This annual golf outing is held in honor of retired Greensboro Police Captain, Jill Gladieux. Nearly $33,000 was raised this year!
We are so grateful to our Title Sponsor:
The 23rd Annual Pink Ribbon Rally was held at Stoney Creek raising over $23,000 for earlier.org!
Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor: along with:
Pink Ribbon Rally
Teeing Off for Ta-Tas
The fourth annual Doxie Derby & Family Festival was held at a new venue this year... First National Bank Field (the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers).
This year we had almost 100 dachshunds racing and over 600 attendees. We are so grateful to Stephanie Lomax ~ Lomax Home Team for her vision of having this amazing and FUN event.
The Doxie Derby & Family Festival raised $27,000 this year!!!
Blastin’ for Boobs was an absolute BLAST. This fun pink clay target shoot is hosted by Shane and Trish Naylor at Shane’s Sporting Clays. The event is held in memory of Trish’s aunt, Patsy Ridenhour.
This year over $11,000 was raised for earlier.org.
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor:
Doxie Derby & Family Festival
Blastin’ for Boobs
HOPE FLOWs
courtesy of Flow Honda Winston Salem
We are thrilled to announce our exciting new partnership with Flow Honda Winston Salem. With just a $1 donation, individuals have the opportunity to sign HOPE FLOWs (every dollar counts in funding critical breast cancer research). You can find HOPE FLOWs at our events, where you can add your signature and become part of this inspiring movement. Additionally, keep an eye out around the Triad, as you never know when Angela might appear with our fabulous pink Honda Accord, courtesy of:
Covelli Enterprises | Panera Bread is an invaluable partner to earlier.org with monetary donations as well as donations of bag lunches and bread to many of our events throughout the year. This year earlier.org received over $7,000 from their donation boxes at Covelli’s Panera Bread locations in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Covelli Enterprises - Panera Bread
Fall is stew season and two of our long-time supporters hosted stews to raise funds for earlier.org.
This year marked the 15th year for Stew for Boobs hosted by Andy, Julie, and Olivia Newcomb. They invite friends, family and neighbors to their home and they 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. Stew for Boobs raised over $5,600 this year.
The Inaugural Lomax Stew for the Girls was hosted by earlier.org board member, Dr. Laura Lomax and her husband, Phil Barbee. The entire Lomax family pitched in to make this a memorable event. Family and friends were invited to the Lomax farm and with their generous donations, the Lomax Stew for the Girls raised $5,400 in its first year.
Stew for Boobs
Lomax Stew for the Girls
Pink Ribbon Pop-Up
Kendra Scott - Kendra Gives Back
Everyone loves a fabulous Sip & Shop event that combines fashion and fun especially when it’s for a great cause.
The Pink Ribbon Pop Up, hosted by Marty Overman Melenick and her amazing team: Brittany Carroll, Nicole East, and Katie Crow, was an incredible event with designer clothing, shoes and accessories generously donated by the most fabulous ladies and boutiques in the Triad. Marty and her friends created an unforgettable experience and raised over $11,000 for earlier.org!
Our friend, Kelli Liles, owner of Bourbon and Grits, hosted a Trunk Show benefiting earlier.org. Bourbon and Grits is an online boutique offering a collection of hand-selected styles. Shoppers left with not only fashionable finds but also the satisfaction of knowing they were supporting earlier.org.
Kendra Scott, a renowned name in the world of jewelry, has integrated philanthropy into its business model. We are very grateful to be included in the Kendra Gives Back events.
Bourbon & Grits Trunk Show
Greensboro Power Strength and Greensboro Power Yoga held donation classes to raise funds for earlier.org. They also held events at each studio for awareness with our founder, Martha Kaley, as their guest. Special thanks to Kara Cox Interiors for sponsoring a Survivors’ Class at Greensboro Power Strength.
We are incredibly grateful for the youth in our community who raised funds for earlier.org.
The graduating 8th Grade Class at Canterbury School donated $1,000 to earlier.org in honor of one of their beloved teachers.
The Volleyball Team at Caldwell Academy held their Pink Out Game where they honored breast cancer survivors. They surprised Bob Black with a donation of $500 to earlier.org in his honor.
The Annual Pink Out Golf Tournament held by the NC Triad Golfers at Gillespie Golf Course drives awareness and funds dollars for critical breast cancer research.
We were honored to be invited to the Junior League of Greensboro’s Sustainer Luncheon. Dr. Matthew Wakefield, chair of the earlier.org Medical Advisory Board, and founder, Martha Kaley, were the keynote speakers.
Euliss Propane participated in the Junior League of Greensboro’s Touch a Truck. We had a vendor booth with Euliss and were able to share information and awareness. Thank you to the Stanleys and Euliss Propane!
Junior League of Greensboro Touch a Truck
PInk Out Golf Tournament
Caldwell Academy Volleyball
Canterbury School 8th Grade Class (2024)
Greensboro Power Strength & Power Yoga
Junior League of Greensboro
The naming of a grant from earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test® is an honor designated just 25 times over its twenty-nine-year history. This honor is the most prestigious recognition that earlier.org can award. At this year’s Gathering of Friends Dinner, it was our distinct privilege to honor the Anne L. & George H. Clapp Charitable and Educational Trust (facilitated locally by Hub & Daune Galbraith).
Gathering of Friends Video
Our 2024 Gathering of Friends video featured Kara Cox of Kara Cox Interiors. Kara would describe herself as ‘a people person by nature and an interior designer by trade.’ She is passionate about connecting with others and learning about her client’s desires and lifestyles. For Kara, all of this was put on pause last year when she felt a lump that she knew didn’t seem quite right. To view her story, please scan this QR code...
Dr. Stacy Wentworth
Dr. Stacy Wentworth is a radiation oncologist with Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health and a member of earlier.org’s Medical Advisory Board. She is a cancer survivorship expert who has spent the last decade listening to and treating patients. Dr. Wentworth’s podcast, Less Radical, launched this year. It is the story of Dr. Bernie Fisher, the surgeon-scientist who not only revolutionized breast cancer treatment, but also fundamentally changed the way we understand all cancers.
earlier.org’s founder, Martha Kaley, is interviewed in the bonus episode, “What Could Be Better Than a Mammogram?” cancerculture.substack.com
($25,000+)
Dr. James & Martha Kaley
Marcia Dillard | The Estate of Susan Jones
Ann Pullium
($10,000 - $24,999)
Joseph M. Bryan, Jr.
The Anne L. & George H. Clapp Charitable & Educational Trust
Marc & Kristen Magod Family
($5,000 - $9,999)
Patrick & Terry McDaid
($2,500 - $4,999)
John F. Loverro Memorial Fund
Michel Family Foundation
$2,000 - $2,499
Kara Cox Interiors
Mike & Delaina Ellington
Richard & Stephanie Lomax
Robert & Martha Peddrick
Ron & Tanya Self
Karen Stanley
$1,500 - $1,999
Derek Coulter
Valerie Edson
Scott Goldenberg
Greensboro Nissan/Greensboro CDJR
Drs. Charles Langdon & Sandra Fuller
Mercer Marketing Group LLC
David & Claudia Reich
Tap Hopper LLC
$1,000 - $1,499
Avery Dennison
Bill & Laura Barrier
Dr. Homer C. Bell III
Kimberly Bell
Robert & Suzette Bernatchez
Derry & Harden Blackwell
Kent & Ann Braud
Marc & Janis Bush
Canterbury School 8th Grade
Carruthers & Roth, P.A.
Dr. Larry & Lynne Causey
CMG Home Loans - The Nishan Collier Team
Jacqueline Colby
Carolyn Cotton
Philip N. Daly & Frances K. Daly Charitable Lead Trust
Pam Sohn Dittmer
James W. Duncan Jr. & Associates LLC
Patrick & Kristen Eakes
First Horizon Coliseum
Flow Honda Burlington
Grace Gardner
Gregg & Freddy Goldenberg
The Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce
Greensboro Sports Council
Lane Hartley
Paige Henderson
The Hershey Group
Steve & Natasha Hilburn
Tara Howard
Summer Jones
Carla Jorgenson
Rhonda & Rick Joyce
Dr. Mark & Lorin Kaley
Dr. Kenneth & Ginger Karb
Miriam Kashani
Lawrence Keiner
Tim Lawrence
John Lomax
Dr. Laura Lomax & Phil Barbee
David Maner
Paula Mitchell
Cale Murray
Dean & Betty Musser
Piedmont Endodontics
Penelope Ponder
Catherine Schlosser
Dr. Bassam & Kim Smir
Deborah Taylor
Billy & Laura Tesh
Wyndham Championship
$500 - $999
4th Quarter
All Pets Considered
Maria Alsup
Association Management Group
Lisa Bastick
Lacy & Lena Baynes
Dr. Margaret Bertrand
Mark & Lori Blackburn
Matthew Brennan
Caldwell Academy Volleyball
John & Martha Chandler
Amanda Coble
Laura Collins
James & Becky Compton
The Robert C. and Sally B. Cone Fund
Helen Congdon
The Country Bookshop
Esther Daugs
Sejal Doshi
John Glebus
Reena Greer
Guys n Dolls Hair Salon
Hoby Hanna
Holdsworth Family DAF
Susan Hulka
Rodney & Mary Ingram
Jan & Susan Kaley
Robert & Leslie Ketner
Amelia Koff
Michelle Linale-Lopez
Kevin Mack
Carolyn Maddox
Dr. Gus & Mary Magrinat
David & Jen Mize
Mother Murphy’s
Shaughn Neal
Pest Management Systems, Inc.
Pink Out Golf Tournament|NC Triad Golfers
Whitney & Anne Pritchett
Catherine Rhodes
Frederick & Margo Schmidt, Sr.
Smith Leonard PLLC
Peter & Mary Smith
John & Nora Swofford
Dr. Harrison & Martha Turner
Vulcan Materials
Well Spring
Laura Weygandt
Jean Wilson
$250 - $499
A Cleaner World
Mary K. Adcock
Corey Bernhard
Robert Black
Bethany Brehm/All American Pet Resorts
Debra Britt & Janice Rogers
Kate Bryant
John Burrows
Doug & Anna Clark
Brian Coughlin
Alton Doody
Joy Doyle
Marita Fairbanks
Freedman Associates
Brian Gale
Marsha Garwood
Patricia Gelina
Pamela Grubb
Will Hamlett
William F. & Karen S. Hopper
Nancy Howard
Carroll Johnson
Beth Jones
Kappa Kappa Gamma - UNC Chapel Hill
Molly Kosowski
Fritz & Amy Kreimer
Kelli Liles/Bourbon & Grits
Courtney Mangum
Alan Martin
Dr. Gibson McCall/McCall Orthodontics
Jeanne McCormack
Kelly McLoughlin
Christopher Meadows
Martha Overman Melenick
Alice Moore
Ralph Parker
Richard & Robin Parker
Mark & Sherry Perini
John & Joanna Sample
Mary Elizabeth Sandlin
Bobby & Jeanie Sasser
Velvet Singer
Mary Smith
Arthur & Barbara Sohn
Susan Suimon
Tracy Ucuzoglu
William & Stevie Wilcox
Brian Yandle
$100 - $249
Mandy Adamczak
Tracy Adams
Elizabeth Adler
Rachel Ahmed
Holly Albright
Diane Anselmi
Lindsey Babcock
Virginia Baker
Alison Barakat
Heather Barber
Sarah Bastick
Andy Beal
Beth Bell
Paula Bennett
Leigh Ann Benoit
Richard Berquist
Vicky Bethel
Lee Biberdorf
Bisbee Honda of Danville
Kristin Bogner
Barbara Braswell
Paul Brazeau
Dawn Brisotti
Anne Brown
Hattie Browning
Tina Buck/Scentsy
Buff City Soap
Tammy Burton
Camp Bow Wow
Al Capps
Helen Casey
Annie Hanna Cestra
Missy Chance
Linda Chapman
Chick-fil-a at Friendly FSU
Betsy Clark
Annette Cobb
Melissa Cohan/NC Mutts
Frances Collier
Linda Comerford
Dr. Mary Ann Contogiannis
Angelia Cook
Jeffrey Cooper
Nisha Cordero
Mimi Crews
Bre Crisp/B Crisp Creations
Emma Cronan
Robin Crosier
Lauten Crow
Mary Jane Crum
Amy Cummings
Jane Davenport
The Danville Girls - 1982
Dawn Davis
Paul Davis
Barbara Dery
Elizabeth Deterding
Pamela Donohue
Duke Doshi
Sean Doyle
Amy Dulin
John Dunn
Sophie Eldridge
Amber Elliott
Robert & Elizabeth Elmore
Lauren Evans/Bear Dogs Bakery
Sharon Fadelici
Jacqueline Farmer
Donna Ferguson
Sandra Florell
Shawn Fortune
Mary Fowler
Don Freedman/Triad Bridal Association
Kim Freedman
Jeffrey Fryer
Kimberly Gay
Deborah Gessner
Rhonda Glenn
Susan Good
Janet Gorham
Jim Graves
Greensboro Dogs LLC
Cookie Guarini
Katherine Haffke
Bram & Elizabeth Hall
Hanes LIneberry
Tracy Harlan
Betsy Harned
Beth Harrington
Angela Harris
Beth Harris
Ellen Harris
Marcie Hayek
Margaret & Marcus Hayes, Sr.
Foreman & Kay Heard
Linda Helms
Sue Hendrick
Christopher Hewitt
Paige Hoffman
Christopher Howard
Angela Hunter
Kathy Hutchinson
Margaret Ingle
Julee Johnson
Karen Johnston
Gwynne Kallam
Goli Kashani
Kendra Scott
Nancy Kenerly
Matthew Ketterman
Gina Kinard
Robin Klein
Sue Koehler
Richard & Phyllis Lancaster
Shanna Lasley
Eileen Laudadio
Jennifer Laudadio
William Lauten
Meghan Lawrence
Dr. Michael Leone
Rowena Lewis
Ashley Linder
Mary Livingston
Laura London
Tara Mansfield
Nicole Marro
Margaret Marshall
Jo Marsom
Cheryl Masterman
Kara & Scott McBurney
Misty McCall
Janice & Mike McCartney
Bobbi McEntee
Bernadette McGlade
Kate McNulty
Rachel Meta
Helen & Mark Miller
Scott Miller
Sandra Mitchell
Alexander & Nancy Moore
Donald Moore, Sr.
Olivia Moore/Let’s Talk Towels
Barbara Moran
Donna Murray
Erika Nagahashi
The Natural Dog
NC Furniture Advisor LLC
Joyce & Dick Newman
Campbell Nicholson
Amy Nissen
Mary Anne Nixon
Terry Nottage
Juliana Olin
Rick Olson
ONEHOPE Foundation
John Overfield & Chesley Kennedy
Victoria Parker
Sallye Parker
Deana Patteson
Marcia Pearce/Quilts Sew Quick
W. Gaston Penry
Steve & Michelle Phillips
Becky Phipps/Sunrise Cleaning Services
Judy Piper
Clare Plaxton
Stephen Powell
PRY Home Sales, Inc
Pups & Peeps Bakery
Lisa Rahilly
Julie Rascoe
Rita Raz
Jeneverette & Veldon Reeves
Revent Consulting
GraceAnn Rhoads
Luke & Reeves Rhoten
Shelby Rhyne
Tim & Carolynn Rice
Dorothy Richmond
Nancy Robinson
Naomi Rodrigues
Shannon Roley
Sheri Romaine
Jackie Sabbag
Vickie Samuels
Amy & Dan Santandrea
Scott Schiffel/Doxie Guy BBQ
Jean Schmid
Robert Schumacher
Sharon Scott
M. Catherine Scott Little
Kalpana Shah
Huifang Shao
Donna Shapiro
Robert & Martha Sharpe
Joan Sherman
Yvonne Singh
Alyssa Smith/Sit Means Sit
Pam Smith
Elizabeth & Ethan Spencer
Justin Spradley
Katye Kane Stanzak
Michele Stark
Brian Staton
Sandra Steele
Still You Inc.
Mary Stokley
Teresa Stone
Claudia Sur
Frank Sutherland
Gail Sutton
Elizabeth Talotta
Tom Taylor
Tenders Cornelius LLC
Gail Terrell
Emily Thompson
Scott Tippett
Jarneen Townes
Camille & Murphy Townsend
Cathy & Tom Valent
Tee VanLandingham
Ann Vaughn
Robin Wade/Happily Ever Crafting
Laura Wallace
Justin Washington
Elizabeth Wells
Kathleen Wells
Laura Whitfield
Melody Whitson
Kathleen Whitworth
Robert & Phyllis Wilkie
Evelyn Williams
Katy & Glenn Williamson
Dori Wilson
Lori Wilson
Joy Woeber
Pam Wolfenden
The Women of St. Clare
Katie Woodard
James M. Young State Farm
Preston & Robert Young
Every effort was made to compile a comprehensive list of all donors who contributed $100 or more during the 2024 calendar year. Please forgive any unintended omission from this list.
Our most sincere gratitude to the numerous individuals and organizations who purchased tickets, made contributions, or in-kind gifts to earlier.org - Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®.
Board of directors
Executive Officers
Martha H. Kaley
Founder & Executive Director of earlier.org Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®
David Mize | President DMJPS
Julie Buie | Past-President Community Volunteer
Angela Wall | Secretary Community Volunteer
Frederick M. Schmidt, Sr. | Treasurer Community Volunteer
Board of Directors
Sheryl Austin Beacon Pointe Advisors
Lindsey Babcock Wake Forest University Intercollegiate Athletics
Robert Chou Robert Chou Photography
Sean Gladieux Community Volunteer
Mark Kaley, DDS Kaley Orthodontics
Ken Karb, MD Medical Advisory Chairman, Emeritus
Laura Lomax, MD Community Volunteer
Kristen Magod Community Volunteer
John C. Overfield Coltrane & Overfield, PLLC
Zanetta Thompson NC A&T State University
Cathy Valent Springs Creative
Matthew Wakefield, MD Chairman of Medical Advisory Board Duke Health/Central Carolina Surgery
Donna D. Welker Honda Dealers of the Carolinas
William Wilcox IV Nexen Pruet, PLLC
Medical Advisory Board
Matthew Wakefield, MD, FACS
Chairman
General Surgeon
Duke Health/Central Carolina Surgery
Medical Director of the Cone Health Breast Cancer Program Greensboro, North Carolina
Cletus A. Arciero, MD
Associate Director for Surgery
Winship Cancer Institute
Emory University Atlanta, Georgia
Margaret Bertrand, MD Radiologist
Solis Mammography Greensboro, North Carolina
Elizabeth Brown, MD Radiologist
The Breast Center of Greensboro Imaging Diagnostic Radiology & Imaging Greensboro, North Carolina
