The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation raised $665,000 from an event Sunday featuring a concert by country singer-songwriter and 14-time Grammy Award-winner Emmylou Harris. Proceeds will support medical research at the Oklahoma City nonprofit.
Coupled with a wine and food festival, Harris’ performance headlined the foundation’s annual “241” fundraiser – two events for one great cause.
This was OMRF’s ninth year to hold the benefit since 2012. Cumulatively those events have raised more than $5.9 million for medical research at the foundation. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this was the foundation’s first 241 since 2019. Traditionally it also has included a golf tournament, a component that is expected to return in 2023.
Funds raised will go toward the recruitment and retention of scientists, aiding the foundation’s efforts to bring the best and the brightest in science to Oklahoma. Proceeds from past events have supported research in cancer, heart attack and stroke, multiple sclerosis and diseases of aging.
“Our scientists work in areas that will impact every family. Events like 241 ensure that this critical research keeps advancing for when each of us needs it most,” said OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D. “Oklahomans come together for causes that matter. We can’t thank our donors enough.”
Honorary co-chairs for this year’s 241 were LaRue and Bill Stoller. Judy Hatfield and Meg Salyer served as sponsorship co-chairs.
Lead event sponsors included The Chickasaw Nation; Continental Resources; Virginia G. and John D. Groendyke; Presbyterian Health Foundation; Glenna and Dick Tanenbaum; American Fidelity Foundation; Mary K. Chapman Foundation; Arvest Bank; Best Companies/Lariat Creek LLC/GJW & Associates; D. Randolph Brown, Jr., M.D., and Susan Ross; Clearwater Enterprises LLC; Danny Zelisko Presents; Devon Energy Corp.; Ann Felton Gilliland; Hardesty Family Foundation; William D. Hawley, M.D.; Lezlie and David Hudiburg, Leslie and Cliff Hudson; Gay and Ed Kirby; Don Nickles; Charles & Peggy Stephenson Family Foundation; Tyler Media; and Wilshire Charitable Foundation.
For more information about 241, visit www.omrf.org/241.
