by John Stevens
November 22, 2010 9:27 AM
The storage business has proven to be a generous industry. Whether it’s collecting clothes for the poor or Toys for Tots, storage facility owners and managers show a caring spirit. Now the California Self Storage Association (CSSA) is teaming up with Kure It to raise money for cancer research.
The goal is for the storage industry to join together to raise $1 million for research in progressive treatments and cures for cancer. Two contribution programs are being run: “Store For The Kure” and “Round Up For Research.” Store For The Cure collects donations when a self storage facility volunteers to increase rental rates on units by 50 cents per month. Round Up for Research gives to the cause by asking self storage customers to volunteer to add 50 cents per month to their rental bill. All of the generated donation money goes to Kure It.
CSSA has already made its own contribution to the cause when the winner of the annually gifted surfboard, Aaron Alsweiler of Stoman Self Storage, opted to support Kure It by offering up the surfboard to the highest bidder. The bidder was Ray Tuohy of TNT Self Storage Management who bid $1,000, sending it directly to Kure It for cancer research. The surfboard was originally donated by Greg Wells of Cushman & Wakefield.
The CSSA announced its goal of raising $1 million at its annual conference and tradeshow in San Diego, Oct. 13-16. US Storage Centers has been running both programs for more than a year, raising $150,000. For more information on how to participate in “Store For The Kure” and “Round Up For Research” donation programs, contact Kellie Newcombe at 949-428-7081.
The impetus behind Kure It came from Barry Hoeven who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1998. Seeing a need for more funding for research, Hoeven in April 2007, partnered with City of Hope to create a fund called Kure It. It has raised more than $400,000 and in Jan. 2010, Kure It was established as an independent non-profit 501 organization. The mission of Kure It is to provide direct funding for innovative kidney and other cancer research. The money raised through Kure It will directly support researchers who are committed to finding a cure for kidney and other cancers. Kure It’s goal is to be the leader in granting funds to kidney and other cancer researchers who may ultimately cure kidney and other cancers.
Sources Used:
Kure It Cancer Research. 2010.
California Self Storage Association. 2010.
“California Self-Storage Operators Partner With Kure It to Raise $1M for Cancer Research” Inside Self Storage. Nov.19, 2010.