GRASSROOTS
Side-Out Foundation wins PhRMA Award
The Side-Out Foundation, an affi liated member of USA Volleyball, was recently honored by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) with the Community Champion Research & Hope Award. “We’ve shown that amazing advances can come from driven teams,” Side-Out Executive Director Rick Dunetz said. “In 10 short years we’ve raised $10 million through grassroots work with volleyball players, coaches, and families. That money has gone directly to fund- ing our own clinical trials, called the Side-Out Protocol, that treat metastatic cancer in innova- tive and breakthrough ways, based not on the type of cancer, but on its molecular architecture. This gets us better therapy prediction
and better results and closer to removing the word ‘terminal’ from our cancer vernacular.” Side-Out was founded in 2004 and teams with the volleyball community to inspire science and hope in the match against breast cancer. Tens of thousands of volleyball players, coaches and families across the country have joined together to raise funds for Side-Out by participating in various programs, including the foundation’s main initiative, Dig Pink®. Side-Out’s dedication to its own research is seen through the progress of the Side-Out Protocol, which combats cancer through mo- lecular profi ling and a collaboration of treatment selection committees. These committees are made up of oncologists and other scientists from all across the country and specialize in emerg- ing techniques that look at every aspect of a particular patient’s cancer. Side-Out is able to bring data and individualized drugs and treat- ment plans to patients in its trials within just 10 days. Currently, only two percent of all cancer research funding goes toward any type of meta- static cancer, which makes Side-Out’s trials a major advancement in the fi eld. The foundation plans to begin accruing patients in early January 2016 for a new program within the protocol, Side-Out 3, which will allow greater quality and extension of life for breast cancer patients. Side-Out’s trials are at the forefront of treating cancer. They have directly and ef- fi ciently slowed the effects of stage 4 cancer. “This is truly a momentous occasion for our volleyball community, and I want to express my sincerest appreciation for your support and efforts in connection with The Side-Out Foundation,” Side-Out Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs Janice Kruger said. “Together, the volleyball community is work-
62 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag Message from USAV Board Chair Lori Okimura Player safety remains the top priority
USA Volleyball and our Regional Volleyball Associations have always believed the safety and well-being of its members is a top priority. We will continue to explore every measure under our control to protect all members on and off the court and implement a zero tolerance policy for any conduct or behavior violations. On July 27, ESPN’s Outside the Lines revisited the important issue of safety in youth sports – and volleyball in particular. Their coverage was a bold reminder that the time is now for all sport organizations to institute, strengthen, enforce and diligently monitor policies concerning reporting misconduct, in- appropriate behavior and cases of abuse. Protecting the youth and the athletes must be a priority to us all. USA Volleyball will continue to fi nd ways to ensure that those who violate the principles of fair play and USOC SafeSport will have no place within our organization. USA Volleyball is one of the fi rst sport governing bodies to implement the USOC SafeSport program. USOC SafeSport combines training and education; screening; moni- toring; reporting and responding to ensure that everyone involved in our sport – from athletes to coaches to club administrators to parents to offi cials and even bystanders – can identify inappropriate behavior and report it to the proper authorities. The USA Volleyball staff and Board of Directors are 100 percent certifi ed in the USOC SafeSport program. Our Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the Athletes Advisory Commission have spent countless hours contributing their feedback and ideas to help shape the direction of this important program. The work is ongoing. We believe everyone connected to the sport has a role to play to create a safe, healthy environment for all participants. We must seek to impose harsher penalties on those who violate the trust of our athletes and remind every- one that participating in any level in our sport is a privilege. The USA Volleyball staff and Board of Directors continue to work closely with our
40 Regional Volleyball Associations to implement a series of organizational policies to protect all of our athletes, coaches, offi cials and participants. Our risk management poli- cies are regularly reviewed and updated by experts with professional service providers familiar with sport organizations and the laws in each State. USA Volleyball requires background screenings for all adult members who have contact with junior athletes and – through our database management program – can fl ag those who do not pass or who have disciplinary action against them. Our partnership with the USOC SafeSport program provides every member of USA Volleyball with new resources that were not available in the past to identify, prevent and report abuse. We must continue to work diligently to set the highest standard for the protection of all within USA Volleyball. We will continue to have open and transparent communication about this important subject. We are committed to continually reviewing our policies and procedures, to putting measures in place to prevent abuses in our sport, and to removing those who abuse the trust of our athletes.
Sincerely, Lori Okimura
USA Volleyball, Board Chair
ing to give patients more quality time with their families and getting them closer to the day we fi nd a cure.” To learn more about The Side-Out Founda-
tion, visit
side-out.org. For more informa- tion on the 2015 Research & Hope Awards, including awardee bios and videos, visit
http://www.phrma.org/research-hope-awards.
Youth player passes away
Matt Skowronski, who played for Club 1 16 Elite, passed away June 6 from cardiac arrest. He was set to compete at the 2015
USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Cham- pionships in the 16 Open Division later that month.
Skowronski, who was diagnosed with an
enlarged aorta when he was in sixth grade, continued to play volleyball for several years thereafter and seemed to be fi ne with medica- tion and regular visits to the doctor. He did not experience any serious issues due to his condition until his fi nal day.
At 6-8, Skowronski was a standout mid- dle blocker for Club 1 and Naperville Central High School, where he also played center on the school’s basketball team. He was selected
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