2020 Annual Report
A Message from our Founder
Dear Side-Out Supporters,
2020 has been one heck of a challenging year. The pandemic was the greatest test Side-Out has had to date but fortunately, we were able to stay calm and resilient and we kept our research moving forward. We were so sad to hear that many of our legacy supporters were not able to host events but despite limited participation, over 200 schools got on board to help us. We also had a strong group of ambassadors show up and participate in getting the word out about metastatic disease and Side-Out’s research.
Even more exciting is that we were able to accrue patients for a pilot program that will take our science and get it in the hands of the people who need it. 50 patients received a comprehensive analysis that will help them make informed decisions about their treatment journey.
2020 was also a time of deep reflection for us. We looked inward and asked hard questions about our mission, about inclusivity and diversity in our work, and about our core values. We strongly believe that we are a better organization now than we were in 2019 and I think you will see it in our words and actions.
So there was some good and some not so good this past year, but we are really excited about what 2021 will bring us.
Thank you for sticking with us through a tumultuous 2020.
Sincerely,
Rick Dunetz
Executive Director & Founder
Our Impact
Side-Out Phase 3 Closeout
We have concluded the enrollment of the latest Side-Out sponsored trial, a nationwide effort to help doctors understand and predict response to treatment in newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer patients. As scientists and physicians, we like to describe this trial as “an effort to advance precision medicine by identifying predictive biomarkers of response to first-line targeted treatment for metastatic breast cancer patients”.
New Side-Out Research Program Pilot
Over the past 10 years Side-Out has proven without a shadow of a doubt that precision medicine can extend the lives of those living with metastatic breast cancer. In 2020, we launched a 50 patient pilot of a new research program that takes our revolutionary science and puts it into the hands of the patient so they can make informed decisions about their cancer journey. It also
Side-Out Gives Two Large Grants
The Side-Out Foundation is thrilled to announce that the foundation has granted a total of $40,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to two special organizations, Starlings Volleyball, USA and Cancer Support Community. Both organizations closely align with Side-Out’s mission and beliefs in their own ways, making them great candidates to receive these funds, which will help to deliver true impact during this time of need.
2020 Grants
Our Programs
Our 12th season of Dig Pink had it’s challenges but even in the middle of a pandemic we had over 100 participants make their mark in supporting metastatic breast cancer.
2020 Dig Pink Rally
School and Rally Events
$202,395
Multi-Team Events
$25,076
Club Events
$23,824
2019 Dig Pink Rally
School and Rally Events
$1,070,428
Multi-Team Events
$162,467
Club Events
$11,201
Variance
School and Rally Events
-$868,133
Multi-Team Events
-$137,391
Club Events
+$12,623
2020 saw nearly 200 programs and events hosting Dig Pink campaigns which raised over $250,000 for Side-Out’s metastatic breast cancer research. Of those events, 12 events raised over $5,000 while uniting the sport behind Side-Out’s mission. Here are the teams that raised $5000 or more:
Olathe North High School (KS)
Windham Middle School (NH)
Harford County League (MD)
The John Cooper School (TX)
Yoe High School (TX)
SOS Sands Beach Volleyball (CA)
New Canaan High School (CT)
Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart (FL)
MOJO Volleyball (MD)
Needham High School (MA)
Virginia Elite Volleyball Club (VA)
St. Edmund Preparatory High School (NY)
The 10 year mark is a huge accomplishment for our biggest supporters but it is even more meaningful that they were able to continue their traditions during an extremely challenging season. Below is a list of teams that have hit the 10 year mark in 2020:
Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart (FL)
The John Cooper School (TX)
Kenmare High School (ND)
Fremont High School (NE)
Ponte Vedra High School (FL)
Forest Lake Area High School (MN)
Butler County Community College (PA)
Tallassee High School (AL)
Caddo Mills High School (TX)
Not every Dig Pink supporter is a high school, middles school, club, or college volleyball team. We have tremendous support from many individuals and businesses who love what our teams are doing to raise funds for metastatic breast cancer and want to joing the movement:
5-12 Desserts Boutique & Lounge (DC)
All Volleyball, Inc. (MO)
Dogfish Head Alehouse (VA)
425 Fitness / Jon Kok (WA)
Lauren Amundson (WA)
Yashaswi Rai (CO)
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
Our Ambassador Program presents opportunities for students to make a difference by leading a Side-Out Campaign in their community, raising funds for Side-Out’s metastatic breast cancer research, and learning more about breast cancer.
In 2020, we opened this program up to any students who are looking to make an impact on metastatic breast cancer and in their community. To be a Side-Out Ambassador, students must have completed a Side-Out fundraising campaign in their community, completed breast cancer education hours and an event plan, and wrote a 500-750 word essay about the experience, and have a sponsor write a letter of recommendation.
This year, we had 9 Ambassador Program applications from students around the country. Of the 9 Ambassadors, 3 were awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,500.
Awards
Sports Imports Winners
The 2020 Dig Pink® season featured over 200 campaigns and raised over $250,000. To celebrate the top fundraising teams, Side-Out recognized the top five teams as Sports Imports Winners. Each team will receive a Dig Pink net tape for their accomplishment.
- Yoe High School (TX)
- SOS Sands Beach Volleyball Tournament (CA)
- New Canaan High School (CT)
- Carrollton School for the Sacred Heart (FL)
- Olathe Schools (KS)
2020 WALL OF HEROES
Every year, Side-Out likes to recognize schools, clubs, and events that raised over $1,500 in their Dig Pink efforts on the “Wall of Heroes”. Several schools/clubs/events raised over $10,000. Each of these organizations will receive a banner to proudly display in their offices or gyms.
Academy of Richmond County, GA
Alburnett High School, IA
Alexandria Monroe High School, IN
All Volleyball, Inc., MO
Archbishop Ryan, PA
Arizona College Prep, AZ
Bacon Academy, CT
Ballard High School, KY
Bedford High School, MI
Beresford High School, SD
Bethpage High School, NY
Bishop O’Dowd High School, CA
Boles High School, TX
Bowdoin College, ME
Butler County Community College, PA
Caddo Mills High School, TX
Caledonia High School, MS
Calvary Baptist School, WI
Canal Winchester High School, OH
Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, FL
Castleton University, VT
Cedarville High School, OH
Chaminade College Preparatory, CA
Cincinnatus Central School, NY
Clear Lake High School, TX
Club One Volleyball, AZ
College Station High School, TX
Colorado Northwestern Community College, CO
Columbia Preparatory School, NY
Columbus Academy, OH
Commack High School, NY
Conestoga Senior High School, PA
Cowanesque Valley High School, PA
Culver Community Middle/High School, IN
Dallas High School, PA
Dearborn High School, MI
Deerfield High School, IL
Delphi Community High School, IN
Diman Regional Vocational High School, MA
Dogfish Head Alehouse, VA
Drexel High School, MO
Duchesne Academy of The Sacred Heart, TX
East Meadow High School, NY
Eaton High School, TX
Edgemont High School, SD
Estrella Foothills High School, AZ
Eugene High School, MO
Fairhaven High School, MA
Fayetteville High School, TN
Forest Lake Area High School, MN
Franklin High School, OR
Fremont High School, NE
Frisco Memorial High School, TX
Georgetown High School, TX
Gilmer High School, TX
Grace School, TX
Greenfield-Central High School, IN
Guilford High School, CT
Hartington Cedar Catholic High School, NE
Herreid/Selby High School, SD
Hershey High School, NE
Hesston High School, KS
Highland High School, AZ
Highland School, VA
Hingham High School, MA
Homedale High School, Idaho
Hondo High School, TX
Hopkins County Central High School, KY
Hopkinton High School, MA
Immaculata-La Salle High School, FL
Indiana Tech, IN
Ironwood High School, AZ
John F. Kennedy Middle School, CT
Johnston High School, IA
Kenmare High School, ND
Kent City High School, MI
Klein High School, TX
Lawrenceburg High School, IN
Liberty Christian Academy, NC
Liberty High School, MO
Lightridge High School, VA
Lincoln North Star High School, NE
Lubbock High School, TX
Luck High School, WI
Lynnfield High School, MA
Madisonville North Hopkins High School, KY
Massapequa High School, NY
McLean High School, VA
Medway High School, MA
Metropolitan Learning Center, CT
Michigan Lutheran High School, MI
Millard North High School, NE
Mountain Pointe High School, AZ
Mountain Ridge High School, AZ
Nathan Hale-Ray High School, CT
Needham High School, MA
New Canaan High School, CT
New Hope High School, MS
Nona Volleyball Academy, FL
North Augusta High School, SC
North Bay Haven Charter Academy, FL
North Central Thunder, SD
North Salem High School, NY
Northland Preparatory Academy, AZ
Olathe North High School, KS
Omaha Skutt Catholic High School, NE
Onalaska Jr/Sr High School, TX
Oneonta High School, NY
Orestimba/Yolo School, CA
Parshall High School, ND
Pascack Hills High School, NJ
Paul VI Catholic High School, VA
Penn State University, PA
Ponte Vedra High School, FL
Portsmouth Christian Academy, NH
Queensbury Union High School, NY
Ransom-Everglades High School, FL
Regis High School, WI
RHAM High School, CT
Ridgefield High School, CT
Rocky Hill High School, CT
Roosevelt University, IL
Rudder High School, TX
San Pedro High School, CA
Sealy High School, TX
Severna Park High School, MD
Sheboygan Falls High School, WI
Shelter Island School, NY
Shelton High School, NE
Smith Valley High School, NV
Smiths Station High School, AL
Smithson Valley High School, TX
SOS Sands Beach Volleyball, CA
South Windsor High School, CT
Southern Illinois University, IL
Southern Lehigh High School, PA
Southern Nazarene University, OK
Southington High School, CT
Southwest Jr/Sr High School, NE
Southwestern High School, IN
Springdale High School, AR
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, TX
St. Cloud State University, MN
St. Edmund Preparatory High School, NY
St. Joachim Catholic School, MO
St. Joseph’s College, NY
St. Paul’s Episcopal School, AL
Staley High School, MO
Stonehill College, MA
Suffolk County Community College, NY
Sun Valley High School, NC
SUNY Maritime College, NY
Sylvania Northview High School, OH
T.R. Miller High School, AL
Tallassee High School, AL
Texas A&M University, TX
The Calhoun School, NY
The John Cooper School, TX
The Oakridge School, TX
Trinity Christian School, VA
University of Chicago Lab High School, IL
University of Rhode Island, RI
University of San Diego, CA
University of St. Katherine, CA
Villa Walsh Academy, NJ
West Allegheny High School, PA
West Chester University, PA
West Springfield High School, VA
West York Area High School, PA
Westborough High School, MA
William Henry Harrison High School (OH), OH
Windham Middle School, NH
Woodridge High School, OH
Yoe High School, TX
Thank You!
Thank you to all the students, athletes, coaches, and parents who stood by us in 2020. Your commitment to connecting to us this past year fueled our passion and kept our eyes clearly focused on the price…better and longer lives for those living with metastatic breast cancer.
We have some awesome things to share with you and the cancer world in 2021. We can’t wait.
Thank you for your support and see you in 2021!
