The Anthony Grinnell Foundation, a local nonprofit, recently presented a $13,000 check to establish the Anthony Grinnell Memorial Fund, which will support patient care at the Wellstar MCG Health Adrenal Center and related programs at Augusta University.

“This fund will open a lot of doors for us to use for various things, from the education of the students, residents and patients, to the research that goes on in this building,” remarked Aaron Bolduc, MD, assistant professor, co-director and surgical director of the Adrenal Center.

Bolduc said he also hopes to expand patient-centered programs, including support groups, educational events and resources for families navigating adrenal cancer.

“Adrenal cancer is not that common and to get good information about it is really difficult,” Bolduc explained.

Anthony Grinnell passed away on May 14, 2024, after a five-and-a-half-year battle with adrenal cancer. An Ohio native and proud Cleveland Browns fan, he served in the Navy before settling in Augusta with his wife, Lori. He was a business owner, triathlete, golfer, father, husband and friend.

According to the National Institutes of Health, adrenocortical carcinoma is a very rare type of cancer – only about one to two people per million get it each year. Physicians rely on symptoms, lab tests and imaging to identify potential cases, with confirmation made after tumor removal. Most patients either produce excess steroid hormones or develop a noticeable abdominal mass, though about 15% of cases are discovered during unrelated tests.

“Adrenal cancer is very aggressive and very difficult to treat,” Bolduc said. “And because it’s not as common, there aren’t as many therapies available for it.”

He hopes the new Anthony Grinnell Memorial Fund will help the adrenal center’s research team pursue new treatments and therapies.

In addition to Bolduc, several other physicians involved in Grinnell’s care at the adrenal center attended the check presentation.

“I knew Anthony and his family, and they mean a lot to me personally, as well as so many others who knew him,” said Lesley Hamm, director of Philanthropy for the Dental College of Georgia. “I think it says a lot to his family that the doctors all wanted to be here.”

Lori Grinnell remembers her husband as “an incredible man” and praised the care he received during treatment at the Georgia Cancer Center and the Adrenal Center at Wellstar MCG Health. She credits his physicians with giving him nearly six more years of life when the prognosis was only 18 months.

Grinnell’s son, Kyle, founded the Anthony Grinnell Foundation in June 2024 to keep his father’s memory alive and honor his wish to create a nonprofit focused on adrenal cancer research, treatment and awareness.

“My father was a big influence in creating something focused on adrenal cancer,” Kyle said. “Its heart and vision go back to his diagnosis. I remember Googling it and seeing words like ‘rare, aggressive, hard to treat, limited research.’ It felt like such an unfair hand.

“I had never heard of adrenal cancer before, and I wanted to do something that would fund research for it and other rare cancers – hoping future patients will have a better hand because of great advances and breakthroughs from research.”

Kyle described his father as humble, kind, honest and as a man who worked and lived with integrity. He said his father would want people to remember him by knowing he loved his friends and family. He loved working and owning a business. He loved his community and building relationships with businesses and people. And he would want people to remember his Northeast Ohio roots and his grit and attitude.

“I want the Anthony Grinnell Foundation to serve as a way to remember him and to provide funding for world-class cancer research. There’s a great need,” Kyle said. “There are many great breakthroughs and advances in cancer research, which is really encouraging. Adrenal cancer is unique because of its rarity and complexity. I hope that this serves as a vehicle to advance research further and eventually lead to a cure.”

Through the memorial fund Kyle created, the Anthony Grinnell Foundation will continue supporting the adrenal center and will hold its second annual Anthony Grinnell Foundation Golf Tournament on Monday, May 11, at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans to raise money for adrenal cancer research.

If you would like to support the Anthony Grinnell Memorial Fund or learn more about creating a memorial fund for a loved one, please email Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement or call 706-721-4001.