Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center

Jim Valvano Kids Klassic

July 9-10, 2009
Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

JVKK Celebrates 25 years!

2010 marks the Silver Anniversary of the Jim Valvano Kids Klassic…25 years of making a difference in the lives of children with life-threatening diseases.

Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center is widely known as a place for providing the expertise required to successfully diagnose and treat children afflicted with cancer and for performing the research that one day may help prevent and eradicate these devastating diseases.

Our pediatric programs depend on the generosity of our many friends and partners to remain at the top of the field. And with the rapid changes in today’s health care industry and mounting pressures to find a cure, the need for funding from events like the Jim Valvano Kids Klassic is more urgent than ever.

We ask that you translate your compassion into action by giving today. We deeply appreciate corporate or individual gifts of any size.

As Coach Valvano said, “Never, never give up.” At Duke Children’s, we’re not giving up until the battle against pediatric cancer is won.

The Jim Valvano Kids Klassic (JVKK) is an entertaining weekend to benefit pediatric cancer research, patient support and education at Duke Children's. The JVKK has raised nearly $3 million in its history.

This two-day event includes:

Friday evening casual dinner, silent auction and live music.
Saturday round of golf at Duke University Golf Club and luncheon for the golfers' spouses and guests.
Saturday awards dinner, live auction and comedic entertainment.

Click here for sponsorship information or call 919-667-2564 or 919-667-2562 or e-mail dukekids@notes.duke.edu.

The 2009 Jim Valvano Kids Klassic was presented by:

~ Presenting Sponsors ~

Kraft Foods
Food Lion

~ Corporate Sponsors ~
A.E. Finley Foundation
American Airlines
Angus Barn
Aramark
Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
Britthaven, Inc.
Buck Consultants, LLC
Capital Bank
Crothall Services Group
Durham Coca-Cola
Francis A. Hendricks & Edith T. Hendricks Foundation
Fidelity Investments
Giorgio's Hospitality Group
Joe Hoffman and Friends
Long Beverage, Inc.
The Morganti Group, Inc.
PBS&J Engineering
Verizon
Yonkers Industries, Inc.

~ Special Friends ~
Bojangles
Mars Snackfood US
Ninth Street Flowers
Outback Steakhouse
Special Events Rentals
Tarheel Trophy & Plaque Co., Inc.
US FoodService
Wasthington Duke Inn & Golf Club

"Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot take away my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. All those three things are going to carry on forever...don’t ever, ever give up." Coach Jim Valvano

Those are the words of N.C. State University legend and former basketball coach, Jim Valvano, who never gave up hope that one day children would live in a world free of cancer.

"Sometimes you get discouraged when people, both children and adults, continue to be diagnosed with this dreaded disease," says Pam Valvano Strasser. "I keep hearing Jim's words being whispered in my ear 'you can't give up.' We must keep going and hoping someday we'll find a cure."

In 1996, the Kids Klassic teamed up with the V-Foundation with the goal of raising $1 million to build the Jim Valvano Day Hospital at Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center. In April of 2000, the Day Hospital became reality. Today young children and adolescents sit side by side with family and friends as they are treated with the most advanced health care available.

Our tireless efforts are in honor of the beloved Jim Valvano. A championship coach at N.C. State, Valvano became a national celebrity with an ESPN broadcasting position, a cable talk/variety show, and even his own Italian cookbook.

But we remember 'Jimmy V' most as a friend and true advocate for children. That's why each year the Kids Klassic strives to keep Jim's spirit alive.

Today we join together again to show our support and play a round of golf for all the right reasons. We are hoping for a cure so that all mankind, and especially children, can be free from cancer.

We have come together for the golf, for the camaraderie...but most of all for the children.