Dempster Family Foundation » Press Room

February is American Heart Association’s Heart Month!

dfeazell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:07:17 +0000

February is the American Heart Association’s Heart Month!

A symptom that can be commonly found in some 22q patients is cardiovascular issues. Support the Foundation, the American Heart Association and Riley and all of her 22q friends by wearing RED during the month of February! Together we can make a difference!

Learn more about the American Heart Association’s American Heart Month

Calling all Ladies! Looking for something to buy your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day?

dfeazell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:55:31 +0000

We’ve got the perfect pair – Candyality Chocolates and Casino Night Package! Take your sweetie to the Third Annual Dempster Foundation Casino Night where you and your sweetie can party with Chicago Cubs Pitcher Ryan Dempster, his Cubs teammates and other friends on Wednesday, May 9th at the Palmer House Hilton!

We have a “sweet” deal for you … a special Candyality Chocolates and Casino Night package, including two (2) general admission tickets to the event on May 9th, and a box of specialty assorted chocolates from Candyality for Valentine’s Day for only $300 – a $525 Value! Proceeds benefit community organizations in Chicagoland and support families of children with 22q.

Order Your Sweetheart Deal by Feb. 14, 2012 at any of the Chicago Candyality locations below!

3425 N. Southport Avenue
773-472-7800
520 N. Michigan Avenue
312-527-1010
835 N. Michigan Avenue
312-867-5500

Click Here to place your order online
Please place order online by Feb. 9, 2012 for Valentine’s Day delivery.

Join the Dempster Foundation Race Team in the 2012 Chicago Marathon

dfeazell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:34:12 +0000

Sign up to join the Dempster Foundation Race Team in the Bank of American Chicago Marathon between February 1 and March 1, 2012. The Dempster Foundation needs your support! This will be a great way to help us raise funds to “Strike Out 22q” and give back to a worthy cause. The race will be in Chicago on October 7, 2012 and we have tons of great incentives to kick your fundraising efforts into high gear.

Click here for more information on how to sign up!

Save the Date for Casino Night 2012!

Staff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:08:42 +0000

Dempster Foundation’s Casino Night

May 9, 2012 at the Legendary Palmer House

2011 Sponsors | Photos | Media Coverage | Tickets

The Third Annual Dempster Foundation Casino Night is set for May 9, 2012 –at the Palmer House in Chicago. As last year, the night will include a VIP party from 6-7 PM and the main event in the ballroom starting at 7 PM! Guests will step back in time for a night on the town in “Old Chicago”—the theme for this year’s event –mingling with Ryan, Jenny, the Chicago Cubs and other celebrity friends from the sports and entertainment industries, enjoying a full spread of delectable dishes and open bar, along with a unique live and silent auction, fun casino games, and entertainment to help raise funds to help “Strike Out 22Q” and support other children’s charities in Chicago.

Early Bird ticket special now available for a limited time… only $300 for two general admission tickets (a savings of $200—regularly $500!)

$175 – General Admission Admit One ($250 Value)
$300 – General Admission Admit Two ($500 Value)
$1000 – VIP for Two (Limited Edition Diamond Package)

This limited EARLY BIRD offer ends April 1, 2012.

Click here to purchase the Early Bird Ticket Special.
For sponsorship information contact the Dempster Foundation at 312-415-9846.

To learn more about this annual event, check out photos and coverage from the 2011 festivities at the Legendary Palmer House!

Collaborative Group Marches on Washington, DC to Promote Newborn Screening for 22q!

dfeazell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:43:05 +0000

In an historic moment on January 26, 2012, groups from throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK had the opportunity to present before the US Secretary of Health’s Committee on Heritable Disorders and Newborn Screening to rally support for newborn screening for 22q11.2. Representatives from the Ryan and Jenny Dempster Family Foundation joined representatives from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Toronto, The International 22q Foundation, Max Appeal, and the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. In an interesting turn of events, the Committee had already predetermined that the application to add 22q11.2 screening to the current federally mandated list of newborn screening studies be denied, prior to any public comments or proponent group presentation, based on a lack of pilot study evidence to support the proposal. However, following an extremely convincing and eye opening presentation by the Newborn Screening Proponents, the Committee agreed to re-hear the proposal once such pilot data is submitted into evidence. To this end, the collaborating parent organizations (The International 22q Foundation, Max Appeal, and the Dempster Family Foundation – with hopes that other such organizations will join in the very near future) have agreed to begin a rapid and restricted fund raising campaign to allocate the necessary funds for such an endeavor.

Meet The “Toughest” Dempster

Staff — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:00:16 +0000

Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster talks with Kevin Millar about his daughter’s health struggles and how it has impacted the family.

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Click here to learn how you can join the list to help add 22q to the Newborn Screening Panel

Jenny Dempster honored by Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago

Staff — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:57:39 +0000

Jenny Dempster was honored with the “Mary Frances Veeck Woman of the Year” Award by the Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago at Sunday night’s Pitch & Hit Club Awards Dinner at the Carlisle Banquet Hall in Lombard, Ill.

Jenny’s husband, Chicago Cubs Pitcher Ryan Dempster and close friends were on hand Sunday night to support Jenny as she received the award. A portion of the proceeds from the dinner with benefit The Ryan and Jenny Dempster Family Foundation.

Andre Dawson was the Guest of Honor and Dave Dombrowski was honored with the Lou Boudreau Hall of Fame Award at Sunday night’s Awards Dinner.

Other Award winners included:

Guest of Honor – Hall-of-Famer Andre Dawson
Lou Boudreau Hall of Fame Inductee -David Dombrowski, President and General Manager, Detroit Tigers
Chicago Area Major League Player of the Year – Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees
Jerome Holtzman Award presented by The Chicago Baseball Museum – Minnie Minoso, Chicago White Sox
Dizzy Trout Baseball Ambassador Award – Roland Hemond, Arizona Diamondbacks
Mary Frances Veeck Woman of the Year – Mrs. Jenny Dempster, Chicago Cubs and Dempster Family Foundation
Harry Caray Sportscaster of the Year – Dan Roan, WGN Television
Nick Kamzic Scout of the Year – Kris Gross, St. Louis Cardinals
Bill Gleason Sportswriter of the Year – Scott Merkin, MLB.com
Major League Executive of the Year – Doug Melvin, Milwaukee Brewers
Minor League Executive of the Year – Bill Waliewski, Joliet Slammers
Chicago Area Minor League Player of the Year – Casey Crosby, Detroit Tigers
Chicago Area College Player of the Year – Jeff Holm, Michigan State University
Chicago Area Amateur Coach of the Year – Justin Fleener, Teutopolis Wooden Shoes
Bo Jackson Courage Award – Jack Deheer, Roy Hobbs Baseball
Len DiForte Amateur Baseball Service Award – Al Budding
Charlie Hum Club Service Award – Jim Hall
Pitch & Hit Club President’s Award – Old Timers Baseball Association of Joliet

In its 66th year, the Pitch and Hit banquet is the longest running and only industry-wide winter baseball banquet in the Chicago area. Proceeds from the dinner benefit other worthy baseball-related organizations, including Cubs Care, White Sox Charities and the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation.

Dempster makes appearance at the Foundation Booth during Cubs Convention!

Staff — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:58:02 +0000

Ryan Dempster made a special appearance at the Dempster Family booth on Saturday, January 14th during the 27th annual Cubs Convention in Chicago. Fans visiting the Dempster Foundation booth during the weekend were treated to an autograph session with Ryan on Saturday and Cubs propsect Wellington Castillo and former Cub and broadcaster Todd Hollandsworth on Friday. Dempster Foundation hats and the Cubs Cookbook were also on sale at the booth. Foundation representatives passed out reminder bands as well as information on the Foundation and upcoming events. This year’s convention was held Jan. 13-15, 2012 at the Hilton Chicago. Cubs new President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein, attended the convention along with current and former Cubs players and coaches, including Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins. The convention had a new exhibit area which included an interactive baseball area hosted by the Illinois Baseball Academy, an electronic gaming zone and the Legoland Discovery Zone.

CSN Chicago: Dempster on his foundation and ‘The Cubs Way’

Staff — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:37:43 +0000

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story originally appeared on CSNChicago.com. Click here for complete content.

Ryan Dempster joined David Kaplan in the Comcast SportsNet studio Thursday for a one-on-one interview during Chicago Tribune Live.

Dempster talks about his “Family Night of Fun” event to raise money for his charity.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Dempster on the Media Tour

Staff — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:47:39 +0000

Ryan Dempster talks about 22q and some of the upcoming events for the Dempster Family Foundation as he goes on a media tour this week in Chicago.

ESPN – Talkin Baseball (Radio)
Upcoming Events and Things to Do – Yahoo
Zvents
Carrie Muskat Blog (Cubs.com)
Chicago Tribune
Fox40
Everything Cubs Blogspot
Chicago Tribune
Local Wireless
Wood Jock Blogspot
Dempster on WGN