You might say Vernon Belcher’s passion for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation was an occupational hazard.
Belcher became acquainted with OMRF in 1978, when he took over as principal of Putnam City High School. The Putnam City school district had recently created a fund drive for cancer research, designating OMRF as its beneficiary. As principal, Belcher proudly led the fundraising activities for 25 years until his retirement in 2003.
“We’d raise $20,000 or more for OMRF in a single day,” he said.
In addition to helping support OMRF in that role, Belcher and his wife, Joanne, have personally donated to OMRF since 2001. As such, they are members of the foundation’s Loyal Donors Society, those who have given to OMRF for five or more consecutive years.
“We know that 100% of our donation goes directly to research, and that’s very important to us,” said Joanne Belcher, who was joined by her husband Thursday night at OMRF for an event honoring the group with food, drink and interactive scientific presentations. More than 100 of the society’s members attended.
At one station, donors learned about how women are more prone to Alzheimer’s and generally suffer worse symptoms. At another, they heard about experiments using yeast that can help scientists better understand how errors in gene function can lead to the formation of cancer cells.
“Of our 1,313 loyal donors, 143 reached the five-year threshold last year,” said Penny Voss, OMRF’s vice president of philanthropy and community relations. “Together, our loyal donors raised more than $2.2 million in 2024, and their total lifetime gifts exceed $41 million. Those astounding numbers are a testament to our donors’ incredible generosity.”
The longest active streak – 69 years – belongs to the Oklahoma Association of Mothers Clubs.
Randy Adams of Edmond has been giving for a decade, but his connection to OMRF dates back much further. As a student at Wilburton High School, he applied twice – unsuccessfully – for a summer internship through the foundation’s Fleming Scholars Program.
Adams eventually got over the rejection, but he never lost interest in OMRF. In fact, in 2023, at the age of 64, he asked permission to spend a morning shadowing an OMRF researcher. This time his request was granted.
“I may not be able to be a scientist, but at least I can learn what goes on in the labs here,” he said Thursday night. “I love this place.”
