Side-Out Foundation

The Side-Out Foundation, located in Fairfax, VA, is an American non-profit breast cancer charity that raises awareness and funds for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Side-Out fundraises mainly through volleyball-related events. Their mission, as it is stated on their website is, "to unite volleyball players and coaches and to have them work toward the common goal of furthering breast cancer awareness, education, and patient services."[1] Side-Out has a board of directors and team of scientific advisers.[2]

The Side-Out Foundation

The Side-Out Foundation's Logo
Founded 2004
Type Nonprofit Organization
Headquarters 3935 University Dr. Fairfax, VA 22030
Website side-out.org

History

The Side-Out Foundation was established in 2004 by West Springfield High School girls volleyball coach Rick Dunetz, after his mother, Gloria Dunetz, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.[3] Dunetz's players came together in support of his mother which led to the creation of The Side-Out foundation to utilize the volleyball community to support cancer patients the way the his team supported his mother. In volleyball, "side-out" means regaining control of the ball. Similarly, Side-Out helps people with breast cancer regain control of their lives.

The Dig Pink® movement was started by The-Side Out Foundation. Today, money raised through Dig Pink® supports Side-Out's game-changing cancer research and programs to develop the whole player. Since its inception, Side-Out and its activities have spread to middle school, high school, college, and club volleyball teams all around the country. On August 13, 2014 The Side-Out Story, a documentary about the Side-Out Foundation was published to Rick Dunetz's YouTube channel.[4] The film also was shown at the All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival where it received an Audience Choice Award.[5]

Activities

Side-Out's activities raise about $1.5 million for the organization each year.[3] Since their roots are in the sport of volleyball their events and activities revolve around the sport.

a crowd of people in pink cheer furing a Dig Pink® Rally.
A Dig Pink® Rally at Blue Valley West High School in 2014.

Dig Pink® Rally

The Dig Pink® Rally is the Side-Out Foundation's fall event that brings together volleyball players across the nation to raise funds for breast cancer research, demonstrate the power of teamwork and show support for people with the disease.[6] Each year hundreds of Middle School, High School, and College volleyball teams host Dig Pink® events as part of the rally to raise both funds and awareness for metastatic breast cancer.[3] The 2013 Dig Pink Rally raised $1.3 million from 925 teams across the country.[7]

Dig Pink® Tour

The Dig Pink® Tour is the Side-Out initiative for club volleyball season.[6] To support the foundation, teams that participate generally wear pink on the second day of tournaments. The title of "Tour" refers to the Side-Out team traveling across the nation to tell people about the foundation, show support for the volleyball community, and in recent year, conduct the Assist Project. The Assist Project allows team to bond while creating cards and raising fund to support the Side-Out mission. These cards are then donated to hospitals local to the teams who created the cards and are designed with raising the spirits of people affected by cancer in mind.[8]

Rock the Pink™

Rock the Pink™ is a grass volleyball tournament hosted by the Side-Out Foundation. It is also the Side-Out Foundation's first initiative having taken place every year since Side-Out's inception in 2004.[9] Rock the Pink™ is held each year in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area [6] at Occoquan Regional Park and the donations from registered teams go towards the Side-Out Protocol. In 2013, a second Rock the Pink™ event took place in Omaha, Nebraska in addition to the main one in Northern Virginia.[7]

Beneficiaries

Unlike most organizations, money donated to Side-Out goes directly to its own innovative research that is slowing the progression of stage 4 breast cancer, and improving the way all cancers are treated. The Side-Out Foundation supports Translational research which examines the effects of individualized treatment on patients with metastatic breast cancer.[10] The Side-Out Protocol's trials take place at 4 locations in the country including Fairfax, Virginia, Scottsdale, Arizona, Sedona, Arizona, and Tyler, Texas.[11]

The Side-Out Protocol

The main beneficiary of the Side-Out Foundation is their own clinical trial, the Side-Out Protocol.[10][12] The Side-Out Protocol focuses on the treatment of Metastatic breast cancer using Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine.[13][14] The main basis of The Side-Out Protocol is using Personalized Medicine as treatment for Metastatic breast cancer and is one of the first uses of Proteomics in treating breast cancer.[3][15] The participants in the trial had all previously received chemotherapy which did not improve their Progression-free survival.[15]

The Ambassador Program

The Side-Out Ambassador Program gives students a chance to receive recognition and scholarship funds, encouraging them to continue a life of setting and achieving their goals. Ambassadors raise funds for breast cancer research through a Dig Pink® event while learning important lessons about health, community and perseverance.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "About Side-Out". The Side-Out Foundation. The Side-Out Foundation. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Matthews, Julie (2011-05-25). "Side-Out Foundation: More Than the Pink". Volleyball Magazine. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jackman, Tom (2014-12-07). "Fairfax group, volleyball teams nationwide, fund innovative breast cancer treament". The Washington Post.
  4. ↑ "The Side-Out Story". YouTube. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  5. ↑ The Side-Out Story. The Side-Out Foundation http://sideoutstory.com/. Retrieved 7 July 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. 1 2 3 "Participate". The Side-Out Foundation. The Side-Out Foundation. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Annual Report". The Side-Out Foundation. The Side-Out Foundation. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Matthews, Julie (2014-11-14). "The Assist Project". The Side-Out Foundation. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Rock the Pink". Rock the Pink. The Side-Out Foundation. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Beneficiaries". The Side-Out Foundation. The Side-Out Foundation. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  11. ↑ https://side-out.org/grants-programs/side-out-research/
  12. ↑ "Side-Out Research". The Side-Out Foundation. The Side-Out Foundation. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  13. ↑ Fox, Peggy (2015-02-04). "Cutting edge cancer trial taking place at George Mason". WUSA9.
  14. ↑ "Side-Out Foundation Awards $160,000 to Support Mason Breast Cancer Trial". George Mason University. 2011-09-29. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  15. 1 2 McDonald, Michele (2013-06-03). "Funded by Volleyball Tournaments, Breast Cancer Pilot Study Succeeds". George Mason University. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  16. ↑ https://side-out.org/ambassador-program/
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