Category Archives: Foundation News

Symposium showcases exciting research

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The Greg Marzolf Jr. Symposium on Oct. 4, 2012 commemorated ten years of support and progress in the partnership between the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation and the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center at the University of Minnesota.

Photo“The Marzolf family has gone above and beyond the call of duty by raising private funds to support the activities of the MD Center,” said Dr. Daniel Garry, Interim Director of the MD Center, during his opening remarks.

The annual event is an opportunity to showcase the exciting neuromuscular research currently being conducted by students at the University of Minnesota and hear from a guest speaker about cutting-edge advances in MD therapies and research nationally.

This year’s guest speaker was Jerry Mendell, MD, director of the Center for Gene Therapy and Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  Continue reading →

United Way

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Many Minneapolis and St. Paul area companies are in the midst of annual corporate United Way campaigns. Did you know that you may be able to participate in your company’s United Way campaign while designating a portion of your gift to The Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation? Contact us at gmjrfoundation@gmail.com with any questions on how to navigate the process.

Rock the Green Party is a huge success

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Thank you very much to all our supporters for making the Rock the Green party such an incredible success! We managed to raise over $20,000 to support local muscular dystrophy research!

Here are some pictures from the party, enjoy.

The University of Minnesota a “powerhouse” in MD research

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Congratulations to the Paul and Sheila Wellstone MD Center at the University of Minnesota for receiving three national grants from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)!

Learn more about the grants and the exciting research happening at the MD Center on the University’s HealthTalk blog. These new grants combine with three additional recent grants from the MDA for a total of over $2 million in current research support.

Nationally, the University of Minnesota ranks second of 222 institutions in the number of active research grants from the MDA.

All proceeds raised by the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation support local research for a cure at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone MD Center.

Rock the Green

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On August 18th the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary by hosting the first ever “Rock the Green” party at Shamrock’s Irish Nook in Saint Paul.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, Casper and Runyon’s Shamrock’s Irish Nook, Mauer Chev, R.F. Moeller Jeweler and ESPN1500, the event is sure to be a party you won’t want to miss! With live music all day long featuring four different musical guests, carnival games for all ages, a putt putt contest, raffles and more, make sure to mark your calendars now for “Rock the Green”!

Admission is $25, which includes a “Rock the Green” pint glass that provides beer or soda for the day as well as admission to all four musical acts from 2pm to close. Children under the age of 12 are free and eat free from 2pm-5pm. Register and pay online today.

Join us on August 18th to continue the fight against MD. Show your support by wearing green and white, enjoying carnival games for all ages, and dancing to great music! If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring the event, please contact Jenny Marzolf at marzolfj@gmail.com.

Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation Raises $66,500 for Local Muscular Dystrophy Research

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The Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation raised more than $66,500 to support local muscular dystrophy research at An Evening in Monte Carlo – its annual Cause to Cook for a Cure fundraising gala at the Town & Country Club in St. Paul.

This year’s event, with a record-breaking attendance of nearly 300, was also the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation’s tenth anniversary celebration.  Continue reading →

RSVP for Evening in Monte Carlo by Jan. 17

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There’s still time to RSVP for an Evening in Monte Carlo, our annual fundraising gala at the Town and Country Club on Sat., Jan. 21. Please RSVP and buy your tickets at www.gregmarzolfjr.org by Jan. 17 to reserve your spot. Tickets are $35 and include dinner and apps, a hosted glass of champagne and live entertainment from the band Uniform Free Day. Other activities include casino games, a fund-a-need auction, cake walk, prize boards, wine and cheese tastings and more – all to raise money for MD research. After Jan. 17, contact us at gmjrfoundation@gmail.com to check availability.

Evening in Monte Carlo: Saturday, January 21

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We’re excited to celebrate the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation’s 10th anniversary with our supporters on Saturday, Jan. 21 with the Evening in Monte Carlo fundraising gala at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul. The gala includes French Mediterranean cuisine, wine and cheese tastings, casino games, a cake walk, silent auctions, a fund-a-need auction, a free welcome glass of champagne, and music from a live band named Uniform Free Day. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $35 and include dinner and appetizers. Please visit the Cause to Cook page on our site to RSVP and purchase tickets: www.gregmarzolfjr.org. We hope to see you there!

Save January 21, 2012 for an Evening in Monte Carlo!

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Please save the date for the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation’s annual Cause to Cook for a Cure fundraising gala. On Saturday, January 21, 2012, we will be hosting an Evening in Monte Carlo at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul. All of the money raised at the event will support the Greg Marzolf Jr. Trainee program at the University of MN’s MD Center. More information about the evening will be shared soon – check back regularly for updates! If you are interested in supporting the event through sponsorship or donation, please contact us at gmjrfoundation@gmail.com.

Foundation Raises $30,000 for Local Muscular Dystrophy Research

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PhotoSt. Paul, Minn. (February 14, 2011) —The Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation raised more than $30,000 to support local muscular dystrophy research at its recent You Betcha! — A Cause to Cook for a Cure fundraising gala at the Town & Country Club in St. Paul.

“The overwhelming success of this event, even in today’s challenging economic times, speaks to the incredible generosity of this community, our sponsors and our tireless volunteers,” said Patricia Marzolf, president of the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation. “The event’s success also speaks to the contagious spirit of our mission to fight muscular dystrophy through research, education, advocacy, and service. Together, we share a belief for a tomorrow free of muscular dystrophy.”  Continue reading →

Marzolf Symposium celebrates advances in research

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Graduate and post-doctoral students from the Paul and Sheila Wellstone MD Center presented promising research

The excitement was palpable at the fourth annual Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation Symposium as graduate and post-doctoral students presented promising findings from their research at the University of Minnesota’s Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center. The event, held Oct. 29 at Nils Hasselmo Hall on the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus, provided students with an opportunity to share and explain the updates and advancements they’ve discovered in their muscle research.  Continue reading →

‘Oui’ made a difference at Salut!!!

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Thank you, Salut! party goers!

Standing under a sparkling Eiffel Tower at the Town and Country Club in Saint Paul, 250 people of all ages gathered on Saturday, Jan. 23, to raise money at the second annual gala to benefit the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation. It was a great evening, with much laughter and energy shared by the guests! Just look at these pictures!

French food and wine, a ‘Parisian” artist painting scenic landscapes, wine tasting, cake walk, prize boards: all raising money to help children and adults in the Twin Cities who struggle with the effects of muscular dystrophy.  Continue reading →

Promising Results Shared at Marzolf Symposium at U of M

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Presenters are joined by Dr. John Day, Dr. Joe Metzger, Pat Marzolf and Greg Marzolf, Sr.

It was standing room only at the Second Annual Marzolf Graduate Student Symposium. Held at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone MD Center on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 at the Nils Hasselmo Hall on the University of Minnesota Campus. This half-day program gave approximately 100 medical graduate and post-doctoral students the opportunity to share their research findings and updates of diagnostic testing done in lab settings by experts in the fields of neuro-muscular and cardiac medicine.

Dr. John Day, Director of the Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center and Professor of Neurology, welcomed the attendees enthusiastically, saying “All of these studies are inter-related and build on one another. These graduate level students are focused on muscular studies that will lead to treatment regimens that will result in improved length and quality of life for MD patients.”  Continue reading →

Grant Recipient Profile: Lisa Anne Borgia

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Lisa Anne Borgia is a recipient of the Greg Marzolf Jr. Trainee award and is currently conducting muscle research on horses, which may provide beneficial
clinic information to scientists studying muscular dystrophy. She has her master’s degree in Avian Ecology from Florida International University, and a bachelor’s of science degree in Biology and a bachelor’s of science degree in Communication from Penn State. Lisa is in her last year of the PhD program in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. She lives in Minnetrista, Minn., is married and has a 24-year-old son who is currently in law school. We asked Lisa the following questions about her research:

Q: Can you summarize your research project?

A: My research looks at the effects of dietetics (specifically oil supplementation and carbohydrate content) on horses with a neuromuscular disease called Polysaccharide Storage myopathy, as well as muscle energetics in normal horses and the effect of training on normal muscle tissue.  Continue reading →

Ciao! Translates into Success for Foundation

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On Saturday, January 24, 2009 the Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation hosted the first annual “A Cause to Cook for a Cure: Ciao!” at Town and Country Club in St. Paul, Minn. Although it was a cold winter night in Minnesota, the air was full of energy and excitement fueled by great food, laughter, games, and fun.

Prizes were won and fun was had at all of the “stations,” including wine tasting, cake walk, mystery bags, prize packages donated by Green Mill Restaurants, Wine Merchants, R.F. Moeller Jeweler,  Hobbit Travel, the Twins and the Wild. Attendees occasionally took time out from their game playing and mingling to enjoy the veritable smorgasbord of Italian food including pasta, garlic bread and, of course, gnocchi.

Due to the success of the “Ciao!”, the foundation was able to raise $30,000 for muscular dystrophy research at the University of Minnesota and the Marzolf Trainee Program. It’s important to note that events like Ciao! are a large undertaking and the foundation would like to thank the planning committee for their hard work and sponsors for their financial and in-kind support particularly Bremer Bank, Decko Products and Fishbowl Solutions.