The Kennedy Funding Invitational Pledges Two Million Dollars to The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center

The Kennedy Funding Invitational, a professional tennis tournament whose charitable cause is the fight against breast cancer, has pledged two million dollars to The Leslie Simon Breast Care Center at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. To acknowledge this exceptionally generous gift, the center has been named in memory of Leslie Simon, the woman to whom the tournament is dedicated. Leslie, who lost her long battle with breast cancer in January 2006, was a patient at the Medical Center and a member of its extended family.

Kevin Wolfer, one of the invitational’s three co-executive directors and co-CEO of the event’s major sponsor, international lender Kennedy Funding, announced the gift and the new name, The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center, on July 14 at the tournament’s gala.

The breast center’s new logo incorporates the image of a heart to symbolize the love that is the very core of the event. New signage was officially unveiled on July 16.

“This is a special way to keep alive the memory of a very special person—someone who fought breast cancer and lost… but, hopefully, as a result of what we are doing, more women will win the fight,” said Kevin Wolfer, whose parents, brothers and sister have all found joy—and solace—in the work of the invitational. The entire Wolfer family has been key to the phenomenal success of the event, which in its inaugural year attracted top players from all over the world and raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for The Leslie Simon Breast Care Center. The invitational, now firmly established as an annual event, took the philanthropic and sports world by surprise in 2006, earning Kevin and his fellow co-executive directors, James Miller and Mitch Klein, the title of the Tireless Trio.

Leslie Simon left behind her husband of 38 years, Englewood Hospital’s Dr. Clifford Simon, sons Scott and Robert and their wives, grandchildren and many, many friends, including the Wolfers. The two families have been close for many years, and dedicating the invitational to their dear friend was an act of love for the Wolfers.

During Leslie’s seven-year battle with cancer, her enthusiasm for life and her passionate concern for the people around her never diminished. More than one thousand people crowded her funeral to mourn the loss of a woman whose memory will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of the people whose lives she touched.

“Naming the breast center after Leslie pays tribute to her and to the exceptional care she received at Englewood during her long illness, “ said Dr. Simon. “She would be happy to know that in this very substantial way she has been, once again, a positive force of love and giving back.”

The donation will fund various aspects of the center’s program, including state-of-the-art technology.  “We thank our good friends at the invitational for this very generous gift and their commitment to us, and the Simon family for allowing us to share Leslie’s name and the inspiring message of her life,” said Douglas A. Duchak, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center is part of The Russell and Angelica Berrie Center for Humanistic Care at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, a community hospital and an academic center of teaching, learning and research.

Photo: Douglas A. Duchak, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, with the co-executive directors of The Kennedy Funding Invitational, Kevin Wolfer, Mitch Klein and James Miller, with Dr. Clifford Simon at the unveiling of the new sign at The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center.