Hormel Foods Corp.’s Austin Plant Manager Tim Fritz presents a donation of more than $3,500 this week to The Hormel Institute’s Dr. Joshua Liao, a cancer research section leader. Also pictured (left to right) are plant employees Josh Becker, Randy Arhart, Diane Fuller, Jesse Cass, Sue Lunde and Heath Garey along with Gail Dennison, The Hormel Institute’s director of development and public relations.

Employees with the Hormel Foods Corporation’s Austin Plant donated over $3,500 this week in support of world-renowned cancer research at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota.

Plant Manager Tim Fritz and other employees presented the Institute with a $3,530 donation from the plant’s annual Deryl Arnold Memorial Golf Tournament. Since 2009, the plant’s annual golf fundraiser has contributed nearly $17,000 to The Hormel Institute’s cancer research in Austin.

“This is a long-standing event held by the Austin Hormel Plant in memory of Deryl Arnold, a plant manager who died far too early from cancer,” Fritz said. “We are so proud to present The Hormel Institute with this gift in his memory.”

Started in 1942 by Jay C. Hormel, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is comprised of a group of highly successful medical scientists who are focused on determining the basic molecular mechanisms of cancer development to develop new anti-cancer agents.

The Hormel Institute is undergoing a major expansion to double in size, adding 20 state-of-the-art laboratories and better space for its International Center of Research Technology. About 120 new faculty and staff jobs will be added over the coming years, growing The Hormel Institute to about 250 employees overall.