Dan Cunningham
Name: Dan Cunningham
Induction Year: 2023
Category: Career Achievement in Support
Bio: In October of 2009, KFMCC participant Dan Cunningham called Kevin Monahan. Inspired to do more, Dan asked if he and his wife Kris could put on a charity event for the KFM Cancer Classic. With the help from friends Jen Lantz and Lindsay Riepsa, Dan and Kris organized an Ugly Holiday Sweater Party. Beginning in 2009, the Ugly Holiday Sweater Party (UHSP) for KFMCC took place for the next 5 years and raised a total of nearly $24k – ALL of which was donated to the KFM Cancer Classic. These events were well attended festive parties with silent auction items, live bands, great food, and hideous sweaters.
Personal: Dan grew up in Orland Park, Illinois where he attended Carl Sandburg High School. He headed to California briefly and then played baseball at the University of Louisville. After living in Chicago for almost 20 years, Dan and family moved to Western Springs in 2020. Dan married his wife Kris almost 18 years ago. Kris worked for the American Cancer Society in a fundraising capacity for many years. They have 2 daughters Claire (6, kindergarten) and Kate (4, pre-k). They love doing just about anything but standing still. They love to travel in their free time and Florida is the ‘go to’ in the winter and Wisconsin in the summer. Dan currently serves as Director of Sales for a medical company Bioventus, specializing in Orthopedics.
Dan’s thoughts on Hall of Fame induction: I am beyond honored to enter the KFMCC hall of fame! I am so grateful to have met Kevin years ago while living in the city and continued on our friendships throughout the years. Kevin works tirelessly to not only raise money but make sure there is some fun to be had along the way. He truly is a great example of how it takes a village to make a change. He does such a great job of gathering folks together while working hard to help those that need it most. I am not only humbled but honored to join such a group of distinguished individuals in the KFMCC hall of fame 2023! The best is yet to come!
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Elaine Zelmon
Name: Elaine Zelmon
Induction Year: 2023
Category: Career Achievement in Support
Bio: The quirkiness and eclectic spirit of the KFM Cancer Classic encountered fate when Cincinnatian Matt Holmes met with his client Elaine Zelmon and reviewed her portfolio shortly after his participation in the KFM Cancer Classic in 2015. It was then that Elaine Zelmon decided to leave a large portion of her estate to the KFM Cancer Classic. Not long after that, the KFM Cancer Classic Hall of Fame Trophy was created and named the ‘Elaine Zelmon KFM Cancer Classic Hall of Fame’.
Personal: Elaine is originally from Syracuse, NY. She studied computer science in high school in the late 60's and majored in computer science at SUNY College (Potsdam, NY). After graduating in 1973 she moved to Cincinnati, OH. She worked for the Mead Corporation/MeadWestvaco in IT for 30 years. Then she spent another 11 years working for ITellligence as an SAP consultant before retiring a few years ago. Elaine had a lot of fun being a keyboard player in the ITelligence employee rock band. Elaine has been an avid shell collector ever since she was a little girl. She now has over 3500 specimen shells from all over the world in her collection. The collection continues to grow when she attends the annual shell collectors' conventions and occasionally participates in online shell auctions. Elaine lives with her ½ French bulldog, ½ Boston terrier, Nikki, in Mason, OH.
Elaine’s thoughts on Hall of Fame induction: This is an honor I surely didn't expect. Fighting cancer is certainly one of the most worthy causes there is today. My mother was diagnosed with colon cancer when I was a senior in high school. But, thanks to early detection, she lived to be 95. A lot of other people aren't so fortunate. I'm happy that I am able to make the KFM Cancer Classic a beneficiary. That's an honor in itself. I hope that someday I'll be able to attend the KFM Cancer Classic event in person.