Western Pennsylvania
Thank you for visiting the Western Pennsylvania Chapter page, and welcome to our community of volunteers dedicated to the support of patients with pancreatic disease. We invite you to join us at one or more of our local events in support of this cause. Please see below for upcoming activities in your area!
If you would like to become more involved and volunteer in your state, please contact your Chapter Chair (information below).
Randall Brand, MD
Upcoming Events
We are currently working on future Chapter events. Please check back for updates.
PAST Events
Pittsburgh Bowling Stones
Paradise Island Bowl and Beach
601 Grand Avenue
Neville Island, PA
Sunday, October 24th, 2021
3-5 pm
Patter Birsic
To register or learn more, CLICK HERE.

Courage for a Cure Gala 2019!
Date: Friday, September 13, 2019
Venue: The Fairmont Pittsburgh
510 Market Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
For ticket and sponsorship information, please CLICK HERE.
Pancreas Fair
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2019
Venue: John G. Rangos Sr. Conference Center at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (4401 Penn Avenue, Floor 3 Conference Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224)
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the National Pancreas Foundation are proud to host a (free) Pancreas Fair for patients, families, and caregivers
For more information, please contact Patter Birsic.
Courage for a Cure Gala!
Date: Friday, September 14, 2018
Venue: The Fairmont Pittsburgh, 510 Market Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
For ticket and sponsorship information, please CLICK HERE.
To view the full invite, please CLICK HERE.
To read more about a stent treatment that is making big breakthroughs in pancreatitis, CLICK HERE. Dr. Shyam Thakkar and Mr. Mike Zock, both interviewed in this article will be given awards on this very special night.
Walk for Children’s
Date: Saturday, June 23, 2018
Venue: Schenley Park
Time: Event opens at 8:00 AM, walk starts at 10:00 AM
A 3rd annual Walk for Children’s in support of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC! For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs – Pancreas Disease Awareness Night!
Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Come out to PNC Park to join the Pittsburgh Pirates and the National Pancreas Foundation raise awareness for those impacted by diseases of the pancreas. A portion of all ticket proceeds will fund cutting-edge research for a cure.
To purchase tickets, please CLICK HERE.
The Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club and the National Pancreas Foundation partnered to host “Pancreas Awareness Night” on Tuesday, July 31st at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. NPF volunteers distributed educational information and purple t-shirts at the NPF Information table inside the stadium. PNC Park was adorned with purple as NPF supporters cheered on the Pittsburgh Pirates to beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-4.
Susan Rushlander, a previous NPF Compassionate Care awardee and Tom Birsic, NPF founder and Executive Committee board member made it on the Jumbotron. On the field were 2018 NPF Courage for a Cure Gala co-chairs, Payal Thakkar and Wendy Feigel with their children; 2018 compassionate Care awardee, Deah Davis; Susan Rushlander and Tom Birsic.


Three Gables Inn Holiday Home Tour
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2018
Time: 10 AM to 2 PM
Location: Five Corry, PA Area residences
This year’s featured homes are the residence of Anita and Dan Baker, 17290 Route 89, Corry; Marcelle and Josh Dyne, 44 E. Congress St, Corry; Megan and Shawn Hayes, 103 E. Irving St, Corry; Donna Magoon 680 Wayne St, Corry; and Kristy Elchynski and Jeff Mack, 20056 Spartansburg Highway, Corry.
Advance home tour tickets are available for $8 each at the following businesses in Corry: The Whistlestop, Something Special and Bloomers. Tickets will also be available at the featured homes the day of the event for $10.
A gift auction and refreshments will be set up at the Cobblestone Inn & Suites. All proceeds from this year’s event will go to the National Pancreas Foundation in memory of the late Peggy Paul, founder of the home tour and owner of Three Gables Inn.
The PA Good Cause Pour
Date: November 2, 2017
Time: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: The Capital Grille, 301 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Join the The National Pancreas Foundation on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at The Capital Grille, as we raise awareness and hope for people suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. There will be appetizers, a wine tasting, a live silent auction, and a raffle. Tickets are $150 per person. Space is limited to the first 100 people.
To buy tickets and donate, please CLICK HERE.
Stay Home For A Cure – All of June
Your support of the National Pancreas Foundation throughout the years has allowed NPF to expand and strengthen our mission of providing hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Building on the $22,500 we raised at the 2016 Courage gala to fund a research grant, we are inviting all of our supporters to stay home this year, and simply donate online to help us meet our 2017 Courage challenge of $200,000. These dollars will be restricted to fund research in our region and at the national level. To make a donation, please CLICK HERE.
2020 REGIONAL GRANT RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Pancreas Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of (1) one year grant of up to $35,000 for the support of research performed in Western Pennsylvania and relating to diseases of the pancreas. The research must be performed at an institution in Western Pennsylvania and pertain to pancreatic neoplasms, acute or chronic pancreatitis, or pancreatic diseases in children. The research may focus on basic science and clinical research in nutrition, pain management, and quality of life. Proposals to develop public education and patient or family support programs are also encouraged.
Proposals should be prepared using the application form and following the included instructions. Completed proposals should be submitted electronically by August 15th to Stacy Fisher, administrative support, Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Pancreas Foundation by EMAIL.
Support of all events sponsored by the Western PA chapter of the NPF is encouraged.
Please contact co-founder and chapter Chair, Patter Birsic, with any questions by EMAIL.
NPF Centers
NPF Centers focus on multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatitis by treating the “whole patient” with a focus on the best possible outcomes and an improved quality of life. To view more information on the criteria to be an approved NPF Center, please click HERE.
Treatment Centers located in this state are:
Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network 320 East North Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15212 844-246-2778 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and NutritionUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Mezzanine Level, C-Wing-PUH
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-648-9115
Media
2015 Courage for a Cure Gala: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette #SEENSummerParties
Video on The National Pancreas Foundation: CLICK HERE
From Pop News: National Pancreas Nonprofit Matures from Local Origins
Gallery of Past Events
2019 Courage for a Cure Gala

