Charitable cause draws on business resources

A loose confederation of businesspeople, many of them with ties to commercial real estate, is spearheading development of a nonprofit to meet the needs of children with cancer and their families.

The northern Nevada group is affiliated with The Keaton Raphael Memorial, an organization headquartered in Roseville, Calif.

In the Sacramento area, The Keaton Raphael Memorial provides financial assistance and other resources to the families of childhood cancer patients, raises money for pediatric cancer research and sponsors training programs for medical professionals.

The Reno affiliate of the organization is still learning about the needs of northern Nevada, said Doug Roberts, a partner with Panattoni Development Co.

in Reno who has been devoting a chunk of his time to getting the organization off the ground.

Robyn Raphael, executive director of the group, said it won't compete with other organizations but instead looks to fill needs that aren't currently met.

"We recognize that there are other champions out there," she said.

As Roberts began organizing the first Reno-area fundraiser for The Keaton Raphael Memorial, a golf tournament at Montreux on Sept.

26, he turned to the real estate community for help.

"The response has been overwhelming," he said.

Other development companies including some that compete head-to-head with Panattoni stepped up with offers to help.

So did real estate brokerage firms.

Banks.

Title companies.

Builders.

Along with a day of golf, the event includes a roast of Paul Perkins, a longtime Reno commercial real estate broker.

Raphael said the group believes it will sell out the 144 slots available to golfers and hopes to net $150,000 from golfer entries as well as sponsorships.

(For participation or sponsorship information, call 851-9470 or e-mail Reno@ChildCancer.org.)