It is a favorite event among faculty and staff, patients and caregivers, neighbors, and community members. The Paws for the Cause Dog Walk, now in its 26th year, took place at Fox Chase Cancer Center on a sunny Sunday morning this September.
Dogs of all breeds and sizes—together with their humans (nearly 500 in attendance!)—gathered in the Reimann parking lot where they set off on a one-mile lap around the cancer center’s scenic Northeast Philadelphia campus. In total, they raised more than $123,000—an increase of about 12% from last year’s total of $110,000— to support cancer research and training.
“It is gratifying to see all the hard work of our Paws for the Cause volunteers and the generosity of our many partners come together on this wonderful day,” said Barbara O’Donnell, President of Fox Chase’s Board of Associates, the group that organizes this signature fundraiser. “We are thrilled to see another successful year in support of the Fox Chase mission.”
In addition to the walk itself, Paws for the Cause creates a family-friendly, festival-like atmosphere with food, giveaways, music, children’s activities, contests and prizes, vendor sales, caricature artists, raffles, and more.
Sponsorships alone this year totaled $35,000 with generous support once again from title sponsor West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., and fundraising teams continue to impress with large showings of both members and dollars raised.
New for 2025 was the launch of the Pets of Fox Chase Calendar. “It was an instant hit!” proclaimed Donna McAllister, Treasurer of the Board of Associates and Co-Chair of Fox Chase’s Patient and Family Advisory Council. “Sales kicked off the week before the walk with a sellout first day. Everyone loved seeing the dogs, cats, and exotic pets of our Fox Chase staff who are featured.”
With a new order, copies of the calendar are still available for purchase by visiting Karen’s Korner Gift Shop on the first floor of the Young Pavilion.
By the numbers, Paws for the Cause 2025 attracted:
- 474 attendees
- 54 volunteers
- 22 sponsors
- 12 vendors (including 2 food trucks)
- 2 animal rescue organizations
- 40 raffle baskets
Congratulations are extended to this year’s top fundraisers:
Top Team Fundraisers
- Team O’Donnell – $13,365
- Team Giampaolo – $10,050
- The Whetstine Lab – $3,161
Top Individual Fundraisers
- Barbara O’Donnell – $3,930
- Tracey Wheaton – $3,525
- Arland Hotchkiss – $2,090
Special congratulations go to Johnathan Whetstine, PhD, and the Whetstine Lab team—repeat winners of the “Stanley Pup” Trophy—awarded to the Fox Chase department that raises the most money for Paws for the Cause each year.
Many thanks are extended to 2025 event chair Lori Giampaolo, patient ambassador Leslie Maxwell, physician ambassador Anthony Villano, MD, FACS, and emcee Dawn Timmeney of Fox 29, as well as to all who offered their support by leading and joining teams, donating funds, purchasing raffle tickets, sharing photos of your pets for the Pets of Fox Chase Calendar, and bringing so much enthusiasm to this much-loved Fox Chase tradition.
Since its inception, Paws for the Cause has raised well over $1 million for Fox Chase Cancer Center. See more pictures from this year’s event in Fox Chase’s Flickr album.