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On Wednesday evening, elected officials and community supporters of The Hormel Institute braved the winter season’s first snowfall to attend an onsite event, Inspiring Innovation at the Institute, to celebrate the scientific innovation and community outreach that has taken place at the facility, particularly over the last fiscal year.

“Really, this is about community. The Institute is about community. So is cancer,” said Executive Director Robert Clarke, PhD to attendees. “So are the things that affect those of us who live in this community—and we are here to do our best, to eliminate that disease, and we are going to do that with you as our friends and comrades in that fight. Everyone here is a friend. Everyone here is an advocate. Everyone here is trying to push in the same direction to eliminate these diseases.”

The program highlighted many of The Hormel Institute’s recent milestones, including:

• 10 new faculty hires over the last two years from some of the world’s leading research institutions

• Not just generating knowledge but sharing it—via symposiums, conferences, and the like, as well as through educational programming

• More than 18,000 individuals reached through Community Outreach and Education initiatives

• The Hormel Institute received over $3 million in community funding to support research

Several honorees were also recognized at Wednesday night’s event for their dedicated support of The Hormel Institute:

• Cheri Krejci, who has spent the last 22 years leading the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group’s fundraising efforts for The Hormel Institute and Eagles Cancer Telethon.

• Tom and Doreen Gillard and the entire Bowling for the Battle team for their efforts to raise over $500,000 to date for prostate cancer research.

“We all have a reason it’s [cancer fundraising] near and dear to our hearts,” said Krejci on behalf of the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group. “…We feel like we’ve gotten to be pretty good friends with folks at The Hormel Institute. They do great work. We just gotta keep working at it. Next month, I’m going to be 15 years cancer free. … It’s because of the research you all do that I’m still here.”

Clarke emphasized that local fundraising initiatives such as these are crucial in helping researchers gather initial data for innovative research ideas, which make them more likely to receive additional funding from federal and other sources later on.

“We can’t do it without the support that we get from you. …This is what makes it work, he said. “This is what gets you to first base. … The generosity that you show to us is not unnoticed. We will say thank you to all of you as often as we possibly can, because that’s what makes it work.”