No salaries or overhead expense allows RITA to donate 100 % of the net proceeds from all our special events.

RITA and major Sponsors donate  $250,000 to UF & Shands Jacksonville Breast Health Center.  Funds will help pay for new digital mammography equipment.  An additional $250,000 has be committed for December, 2008.

(Randy Rhoden, CEO Lexus of Jacksonville; Tim Kelly, Charles Alston, Tom Brannon, General Manager Lexus of Jacksonville, Jeanne Ramsey, Jeanne Ramsey, Karen Holley and MeLisa Puig  ( all from Bank of America )

Letter from the Volunteer Chairman:

Let me share with you my vision for Jacksonville as it relates to RITA. I believe our city will become the Southeast's center for cancer research and treatment. Here are some of the many positives that we see from our position of being a major donor. The Baptist Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, Shands Jacksonville, and Saint Vincent's are expanding their cancer programs. This increased focus covers the many forms of cancer; from solid tumor to leukemia / lymphoma. Add to this the new Shands Gainesville Genetic and Cancer Research Building, the new Cancer Hospital in Gainesville, the new University of Florida College of Medicine Proton Bean facility on the Shands Jacksonville campus, St. Vincent’s new Cancer Center, Mayo’s new hospital and basic cancer research department.  Mayo

 Clinic has National Cancer Institute designation and Shands Cancer Center is working to achieve their designation.  NCI approval means more research grants will be coming to our area.
 
How is RITA helping?  Our contributions to these local programs continue to grow.  In addition, we are working with the major institutions and medical equipment companies to Leverage our special event proceeds.  Last year we were able to donate a state of the art mammography machine costing $400,000 to the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.  We are actively pursuing additional opportunities to bring new technologies to our city.

Our newest special project is to print and distribute FREE to all area cancer programs a 'NOTEBOOK for cancer patients'. Money to pay the printing cost were raised through private fundraising activities, Memorial gifts, and other special donations.
 
How can you help?  We are one of the most fiscally responsible non profit organizations in the country.  Not only do we donate 100% of the net proceeds from our special fund raising events, but we now are working to multiply that amount by 200% to 300%.  If you to make sure that every dollar of your charitable contribution goes to solving a medical need; equipment, research, or patient, we will make sure that your contribution is not diluted by staff salaries or corporate overhead.  If you believe that new equipment and new technologies are important, make a contribution to our Equipment Fund. 
 
Research Is The Answer to help cure the many forms of cancer.  Research and treatment takes new technology… and both research and technology are expensive.  RITA is  dedicated to help fund our local research efforts and bring the new technology to our area.

    
                                                                      Charles R. Jantz, Volunteer Chairman

To contact us:

Charles R. Jantz, Volunteer Chairman
The RITA Foundation, Inc.
8334 Amherst Hills Lane
Jacksonville, FL 32256

Tel:    (904) 363-1493
Fax:   (904) 363-3036

Email: ritafoundation@bellsouth.net

Website: the-rita-foundation.org