Organizers of the 2nd annual Dave "Tolly" Tollefson Memorial Golf Tournament present a check for $13,500 on Monday to support The Hormel Institute's world-renowned cancer research in Austin. Pictured (left to right) are Ron Fielding, Executive Vice President of Hormel Foods Corp.; Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute; Tolly's wife, Peg Tollefson; and their children, Kersten Tollefson and Brian Tollefson.

2nd annual memorial golf event raises $13,500 to support cancer research in Austin

More than $13,000 in donations are going toward The Hormel Institute’s world-renowned cancer research thanks to significant support from the 2nd annual Dave “Tolly” Tollefson Memorial Golf Tournament.
Tollefson’s wife, family and friends on Monday presented a check for $13,500 to Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute, with 100 percent of the donation directly funding the Institute’s cutting-edge research aimed at discoveries leading to the prevention and control of cancer.


This year’s Tolly Tournament was held June 18 at Meadow Greens Golf Course in Austin. The event’s namesake, Tolly,  was the long-time owner of Tolly’s Time Out restaurant in Austin and a beloved community leader and friend to many in the community who died from cancer in 2009.
Overall, the Tolly Tournament now has raised $32,500 for cancer research at The Hormel Institute in Austin.
This type of significant, annual support from the Austin community is deeply appreciated and meaningful to The Hormel Institute’s faculty and staff, Dong said.  Many thanks go to Tolly’s wife,  Peg,   and their family as well as Ron Fielding, Executive Vice President of Hormel Foods Corp., for their hard work and outstanding support through the Tolly Tournament, he said.
“Research is the only answer to cancer,” Dong said. “With the great support from the Tolly Tournament and others in our community, The Hormel Institute will continue to make progress in the vital fight against cancer.”


The Tollefson family and friends plan to keep the memorial tournament an annual event.


“This year was a great success raising $13,500, with money going to The Hormel Institute,” Tolly’s son Brian Tollefson said. “The Tollefson family would like to thank all of our sponsors and friends for their support, and we’ll see everyone next year.”


The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota – Mayo Clinic is a world-renowned cancer research center and leader in cancer preventative research. The BioScience Triangle growing the collaborative partnership between the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Mayo Clinic-Rochester and The Hormel Institute-Austin is continuing to expand, with plans for a major expansion in 2013 at the Institute to add 15 labs and better space for its International Center of Research Technology.