About Us

It all started with one person wanting to make a difference in a small but mighty community that has since been coined “The little town with a big heart.” Funding research for Cancer was the mission; the goal was to RAISE $1,000,000

In 1973, George Edelman Jr. initiated the “$buck board” in Hilton, a small town that rallied around his cause. Following the deaths of his friend Harry Gardner in 1977 and his wife Sally Edelman in 1982, George launched a campaign to fund cancer research, leading to the establishment of the Sally Edelman and Harry Gardner Research Foundation in 1984.
The foundation’s mission was to allocate all funds raised directly to research projects, avoiding administrative costs. Partnering with the University of Rochester ensured donations directly supported the Wilmot Cancer Institute. The foundation has contributed “seed” grants to Wilmot researchers, encouraging further funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). This strategy has secured over $8 million in grants for promising projects.

The original goal was to raise a million. In 2001, we achieved that goal! We have awarded Wilmot Cancer Institute over $1,450,000 for research on colon, ovarian, breast, brain, and pancreatic cancers. In May 2023, we completed our fourth $250,000 commitment, bringing the 20-year total to $1 million.

Our success is due to the generous support of the many amazing people in Hilton and surrounding communities. We achieved this through grassroots fundraising efforts: bowling, golf tournaments, Music Festivals, Poker runs, penny collections, bottle drives, and donations/support from local businesses. What began with one individual has morphed into a community of many supported by a board of nine dedicated members and countless volunteers making a meaningful impact together.