On Wednesday May 1, 2002, friends of the M. Patricia Cronin Foundation to Fight Ovarian Cancer, Inc. gathered at the Hampshire House in Boston to celebrate the Foundation’s first anniversary. WBZ-TV’s Kasey Kaufman served as master of ceremonies, hosting a speaking program that included presentation of awards and the Foundation’s first three grants.

The 2002 Prevention Award was presented to Massachusetts Speaker of the House Thomas M. Finneran for his outstanding support and encouragement of the Foundation and its work during its founding year.

Peter Meade of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts was presented with the Pat’s Friend Award for his leadership role in the fight against ovarian cancer. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts funded drive time public service announcements on WBZ radio alerting women and their spouses to the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Iris Awards were presented to individuals who devote time and effort to the fight against ovarian cancer. Barbara O’Brien, president of the Massachusetts Division of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, was given an award for her tireless efforts to increase awareness of ovarian cancer and provide women with support when fighting the illness. Bill Shea, who lost his wife to ovarian cancer and works every day to ensure that other partners will not suffer the same loss, was also presented with an Iris Award. And Martha Byington, an ovarian cancer survivor who shares her stories in the hopes that they will provide women fighting the disease with the hope and support they need to fight their battle with grace and determination, was the third recipient of an Iris Award.

The Foundation presented its first three grants to some very deserving programs and causes. Dr. Stephen Cannistra was presented with a grant in the amount of $19,800 for laboratory costs and analysis for a strategy to discover novel genes and/or patterns of genes that are associated with chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer.

The Cancer Connection, a nonprofit organization that offers support services and a diverse array of programs free of charge to people living with a diagnosis of cancer, along with their families and friends, was awarded $2,000 to fund a special series of daytime programs for a wellness sampler.

The Ovarian Cancer Network, part of the Women of Color Breast Health Initiative, was awarded $2,000 to help fund a three-day conference to take place this August. The Founder and Director of the Women of Color Breast Health Initiative and Ovarian Cancer Network is the Reverend Doctor Gwendolyn Collins, a survivor of cervical, ovarian, and breast cancers.