Stories of progress, inspiration, and information in overcoming osteosarcoma.

Members of the OSI's development committee participate in a "Go Gold" event to fight childhood cancer.

The OSI’s Development Committee: Mobilizing a Community Around a Mission

How a small, strategic team fosters the community support necessary to fund the Osteosarcoma Institute’s groundbreaking work in osteosarcoma research.

“Before he died of osteosarcoma in 2005 at the age of 19, Willie Tichenor told his parents that he never wanted anyone else to go through what he went through, which was exhausting every available treatment option without any success,” says Bret Alexander, who was a close friend of Willie.

To honor Willie’s request, parents Lisa and Mac Tichenor gathered Willie’s friends — including Bret — to form the What Would Willie Want (QuadW) Foundation in 2005. One of QuadW’s key priorities was to uncover new treatments for osteosarcoma.

Bret Alexander

With time, QuadW determined that a separate research institute was needed to more effectively advance osteosarcoma science. QuadW formed the Osteosarcoma Institute (OSI) in 2017, bringing on osteosarcoma researchers and scientists to join the Strategic Advisory Board. Mac Tichenor became president of the OSI; Lisa Tichenor joined the Board of Trustees; and Bret became a founding member of the Strategic Advisory Board. QuadW made an initial grant commitment to the OSI for 2019-2024 to establish operations and launch the first round of research grants in 2019.

“Initially, the OSI’s focus was squarely on identifying and funding research proposals through a rigorous peer-reviewed process,” Bret explains. “But we knew early on that we could not just fundraise part-time. In order to be capable of defining the agenda of osteosarcoma research and progressing the field forward, we needed to learn how to raise money.”

The Formation of the OSI’s Development Committee

To address the growing need for focused attention on development strategy and donor relationships, the development committee formed in 2020 to oversee the OSI’s fundraising efforts. Its focus would be two-fold: to support the OSI’s groundbreaking work in osteosarcoma research, and to ensure that the OSI’s financial sustainability was aligned with its long-term goals.

The OSI also invested in key professional hires. Vanessa Peterson, development manager, and Amy Lobner, MPH, CCRC, scientific program manager, joined the OSI in November 2021. Amy focuses on advancing scientific programming, while Vanessa tackles the challenges of cancer research fundraising at the local, regional, and national levels.

As the organization has grown, the development staff has expanded as well.

In early 2024, Emily Allbright joined the team as a development consultant, and later in December 2024, Sarah Morale was hired as the grants specialist to raise funds from foundation grants and corporate giving.

Mashale Straker, hired in 2023, ensures accurate recording and tracking of donor contributions, and Robert Sanchez, hired in 2024, processes donations and tax receipts.

A new role for 2025 is an events and program coordinator, for which the OSI is currently hiring.

As of February 2025, the development committee is chaired by Bret Alexander, with members Mary Katherine Clarke (one of Willie’s oldest friends), David Hartz (who lost his son Miles to osteosarcoma in 2023), and Lisa and Mac Tichenor (Willie’s parents). This committee works closely with the OSI’s development staff to set strategic priorities, monitor progress, and adjust fundraising strategies as needed, meeting two to three times a year to refine its approach to philanthropy.

A Sustainable Future for Osteosarcoma Research Funding

The OSI is the largest philanthropic funder that is solely focused on osteosarcoma research. “I think that really sets us apart,” Vanessa says. “There are a lot of other organizations out there that are focused on childhood cancer and other diseases, but we are really laser-focused on osteosarcoma research.”

Another element that sets the OSI apart is its transparency and accountability with donors. The OSI is independently ranked by Charity Navigator and GuideStar, receiving the highest designation from both nonprofit watchdogs.

“Every year, the development committee sets more aggressive goals, and it has been incredible seeing the osteosarcoma community rally together to pursue better treatments for this disease.” — Bret Alexander

“Every year, the development committee sets more aggressive goals, and it has been incredible seeing the osteosarcoma community rally together to pursue better treatments for this disease,” Bret says. By the end of 2024, the OSI had committed $10.5 million to clinical trials, research studies, and scientific programming focused on better treatments for osteosarcoma. “With the momentum we have seen in the advocacy community, I am convinced that we will work together for a future world where osteosarcoma is no longer a life-threatening diagnosis.”

Bringing More People to the Cause

In the last few years, the OSI has attracted a growing number of major gift donors. “Anyone who has a loved one with osteosarcoma has an immediate connection to our mission, but we see a need to keep bringing together people and organizations to concentrate on a cure for osteosarcoma,” Vanessa says. The development team has focused on growing the organization’s long-term relationships with donors, and pursuing foundation grants, corporate partnerships, multi-year pledges, and planned giving.

Milestones from the last few years include:

In 2020, the OSI created its Partnering for Progress program to lend the organization’s fundraising infrastructure to families raising funds in honor of a loved one. The program began with two family funds (#TeamIzzy and Lizzy Wampler’s fund). To date, eight Partnering for Progress funds have raised $1.8 million for osteosarcoma research.

2022 saw the organization’s first major corporate gift: Aluminum product manufacturer Western Extrusions made a three-year pledge totaling $450,000.

In 2023, the OSI formed the Board of Ambassadors, a group of dedicated volunteers who serve as advocates for the OSI, helping to amplify its message and broaden its network of supporters.

In 2024, the OSI introduced an Events Toolkit to empower volunteers to host their own fundraising events for the OSI, expanding the organization’s reach and providing more ways for the community to engage with the cause.

Volunteer-run community events are becoming annual affairs. In 2025, the Miles of Hope team will hold its second annual Race for Hope go-kart event and Team Lydia will hold its third annual “Give Kids a Shot” golf tournament benefiting the OSI.

In 2025, the OSI launched a collaboration with Good Raising, a planned giving platform that offers an easy-to-use online tool for supporters to create a will for free and designate a portion of their estate to the OSI for continued osteosarcoma research.

With the support of QuadW, the OSI has been able to add staff resources while still directing 100% of donations to osteosarcoma research and programming. The QuadW Foundation has pledged to fund the OSI’s administrative, marketing, and fundraising expenses through 2027. “This continued partnership underscores the importance of long-term, strategic funding relationships to ensure the success and sustainability of the OSI’s mission,” Vanessa says.

The OSI invites you to join our movement to dramatically improve osteosarcoma outcomes. Get involved as an advocate or make a gift today to advance osteosarcoma research.