Beloved, adored, and, of course, respected, Aretha Franklin was the Motor City’s favorite daughter. Within months of her passing in 2018, Detroit’s Women’s Informal Network (WIN) hosted a benefit gala celebrating Aretha’s life and legacy. As a nonprofit organization promoting the growth and development of the region’s African American women, the group wanted the gala proceeds to pay tribute to the Queen of Soul.
WIN chose to honor Aretha with a $1,500 donation to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF), which established the Aretha Franklin Fund for Neuroendocrine Cancer Research. The gift was presented during a health fair sponsored by WIN on August 3, 2019.
“On behalf of the Women’s Informal Network board, I am pleased to present this donation to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation to further their efforts in neuroendocrine tumor research,” said WIN president, Beverly Smith.
“We are thrilled to accept this meaningful gift honoring Ms. Franklin” said Susan Payson, NETRF Chief Development Officer. “This support will not only move the NET research field forward but will also bring much-needed attention to this overlooked and misunderstood cancer. We are truly grateful to the Women’s Informal Network for their generosity.”
Aretha Franklin’s niece, Sabrina Owens, joined the ceremony, to represent the family. “The Aretha Franklin Family is honored to partner with the NETRF to help raise funding for education and research of this devastating disease that takes our loved ones much too soon,” says Sabrina Owens, Aretha Franklin’s niece and representative of the family. “We encourage her friends, fans, and supporters to consider contributing to this cause, until such time as we can eradicate NETs. We believe this is possible. Become a Believer and join us in this effort!”
For more information, on the Women’s Informal Network upcoming events and activities, please visit: http://www.womensinformalnetwork.com