Dear Friends of ASCEND, On behalf of the ASCEND Foundation, I would like to formally announce our new Executive Director, Meaghan Popper. Mrs. Popper is a graduate of the University of Colorado and offers previous experience in fundraising as well as the political arena. We’re very pleased to have Meaghan join ASCEND and ask that you help us welcome her and her husband Jeffrey to the Charleston area and the ASCEND family. It’s that time of year when we all spend time with our family and friends, and give our thanks. Many of you will make year end contributions to favored charitable organizations. I kindly ask for your continued support of the ASCEND Foundation and its mission to make eliminating cancer a national priority. Your contributions will be used to raise awareness and communicate the ways cancer dramatically affects the lives of those close to us. As ASCEND grows, so have the ways you can contribute. In addition to the ability to donate on line and the enclosed envelope, we can now accept stock gifts through our Merrill Lynch endowment account. Please contact Meaghan for more information. ASCEND will continue to strengthen the voice of those affected by cancer through our newest media campaign. By the end of December it will be completed and will be our largest and strongest campaign to date reaching several hundred thousand households here in the low country and around the state. The goal will be to educate families about the alarming impact of cancer and how they can join ASCEND to make a difference. By sponsoring an ad in your community, you are helping to spread the word. Please contact Meaghan if you are interested! I want to wish everyone a safe and wonderful holiday season and a healthy new year. Thank you for your continued support. Russ Pritchard, President