A labor of love to honor a much loved man provides funds for type 1 diabetes research at Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI). The annual David J. Fanning Memorial Golf Tournament has raised nearly $200,000 since its inception in 2011. The event honors the memory of David Fanning, who was a Seattle biotechnology company executive and entrepreneur. He served as chief executive officer of Theraclone Sciences before he passed away in 2010.

“Dave was a great executive who truly cared about making a difference,” says Steven Gillis, PhD, a manager of the tournament, managing director at ARCH Venture Partners and BRI board member. “He was a fun-loving, wonderful person who dedicated himself to his family, his work and the people around him. His playful attitude carried over to many enjoyable experiences on the golf course.” Jim DeNike of OncoGeneX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Russ Hawkinson of Theraclone Sciences also manage the tournament.

Katie Fanning, David’s wife, and the tournament organizers decided that a local research-based organization should be the beneficiary of excess funds raised by the tournament. “With David’s interest in finding a cure for diabetes, there is no place better than BRI to put these funds to work,” says Dr. Gillis.

The tournament includes a silent auction and is supported by Seattle biotech and professional communities. Katie Fanning and a dedicated group of volunteers, mostly from the Accelerator Corporation, a Seattle biotechnology incubator, where Theraclone was born, organize the event. “We are all thrilled to provide a source of funds for another great Seattle institution — BRI,” says Dr. Gillis. “We think highly of Dr. Jerry Nepom, BRI's former director and researcher, and his team and all they have discovered in the area of diabetes and autoimmune diseases.”

End-Of-Year Giving

Contributing to BRI provides the Institute with vital funds to continue innovative research, invest in new ideas, support new investigators and buy critical equipment. Thank you for your generosity. Every gift large or small makes a difference.