The Foundation

Our Mission Nationally

  • To take pancreatic cancer off the sideline and to the finish line for a cure!

Our Vision Locally

  • Through the Sideline Cancer movement, we fund patients through the power of sports.

Our History (2010-Pandemic)

The Birth of a Foundation, Creation of Sideline Cancer, and Foundations Laid for a Post-Pandemic Boom!

View the Timeline of the Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation

2020-Present Day 

-The Birth of Sideline Cancer’s Patient Assistance Program; $100,000 Raised Supporting 30+ Patients!

-Watch the video to see how Sideline Cancer took a moment during the pandemic to impact the lives of many battling with the financial hardships of cancer.

GFF History Feature Image

Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program Video

Catherine R. Griffith, President

Cathy is the Wife of Greg Griffith who passed from Pancreatic Cancer at age 50 on August 26, 2011. She’s a 1984 Graduate of Allegheny College, MD with an Associate of Arts Degree in Dental Hygiene. Cathy has 32 years of experience as a Dental Hygienist. She’s a Patient Advocate for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Research Advocate Network, and the American Association of Cancer Researchers. She’s also Vice-Chair of the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) in Washington DC, a member of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, and Chairman of GFF’s Sideline Cancer campaign.

Jordan Griffith, Executive Director

Jordan serves as a volunteer Executive Director of The Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation/SidelineCancer and Assistant Head Coach of SidelineCancerTBT. Jordan is a co-founder of the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program. Jordan is proud to be a 12th grade Social Studies Teacher and Assistant Head Boys Basketball Coach at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School. Jordan and his brother Jamie BelieveAlways that one day soon Pancreatic Cancer will be Sidelined and Cured!

Bruce Erb, Board Treasurer

Bruce Erb has served as a board member and treasurer of the GFF since its early days.  He is a graduate of Hollidaysburg Area High School and Juniata College.  In 2015 Bruce retired as Sr. V.P. and Director of Trust Services of First National Bank upon his election as a Blair County Commissioner.  He continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners after being re-elected in 2019.  Bruce and Greg Griffith became friends when their banking careers crossed at the former Hollidaysburg Trust Co.  Bruce and his wife Cathy have 4 children and 7 grandchildren.  In his free time, he enjoys time and activities with his family, reading, and personal fitness.

Sierra Cobler, Board Member

Sierra Cobler is a Hollidaysburg native serving as Secretary of the Griffith Family Foundation. Sierra is a co-founder of the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program. She graduated from Penn State University Park with a Bachelors in Biology in 2019. She finished her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies at Chatham University and graduated in July 2021. She has been involved with Sideline Cancer as a volunteer and intern since Junior High School. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, and traveling to new places. Sierra is a founding member and former President of SidelineCancer at Penn State. Sierra serves as our MultiMedia Strategist for our SidelineCancerTBT Basketball Team since 2014.

Rosalind Sky, Board Member

Rosalind is a retired school teacher and reading specialist, who has dedicated her life to her community as a volunteer and philanthropist for numerous organizations. In 2017, Rozzie and her husband Phil were the recipient the Central PA Community Foundation Philanthropy award for their dedication to build stronger communities. Rozzie served as Vice Chair Penn State Altoona Development Council and is a lifetime member of Penn State Altoona Alumni Association. The Sky Family and Griffith Family Foundation #BelieveAlways that Together We Can #SidelineCancer!

Dr. Lance DeFrancisco, Board Member

M.D., Blair Gastro Gastroenterology Associates; B.S.: Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA; M.D.: Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Internship: Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Residency: Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Fellowship: University of California, Irvine, CA. Board Certified in Gastroenterology. The Griffith Family met the DeFrancisco family through High School basketball through Hollidaysburg. Lance was very active throughout Greg’s journey with pancreatic cancer and was able to help us at many challenges times during the illness. He has remained an integral part of our Griffith Foundation.

Stephen C. Gildea, MBA, FACHE, Board Member

Stephen Gildea is the Executive Director at Blair Gastroenterology Associates in Altoona, PA. Gildea joined Blair Gastro in 2016 after serving as the Chief Executive Officer at Tyrone Regional Health Network for seven years. While at Tyrone Regional Health Network, Gildea oversaw the hospital’s emergence from bankruptcy in June, 2010. In 2015, Gildea led the effort to preserve the therapy services for special needs children that were formerly provided by Easter Seals in Altoona through the development of the We CARE Foundation. Gildea received a Master of Business Administration from St. Francis University in 2007. Steve and Greg Griffith were Basketball Teammates at Hollidaysburg High School. Their friendship continued and they raised their families together in the same neighborhood! This lifelong friendship of both families continues today and is the cornerstone of The Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation/SidelineCancer! He and his wife Deanne Gildea have five children, one grandchild, and live in Hollidaysburg, PA.

JT Tidd, Board Member

Investment Planner, Edward Jones Investments; B.S. University of Virginia, 1977. MBA, College of William & Mary, 1983. VP Comcast Corporation, 2002. Edward Jones, currently employed as a Financial Planner. The Tidd’s and the Griffith’s paths connected when the Tidd family moved to Hollidaysburg when their son was a sophomore in High School. Their son, Stephen, played on the Hollidaysburg High School basketball team with our sons, Jordan and Jamie. JT has been involved with the Griffith Foundation since its inception.

Nancy Fulchiero, Board Member

Studied at Hahnemann University. Widow of Dr. Gregory Fulchiero Sr. who lost his heroic battle to Pancreatic Cancer. Dr. Fulchiero was the very first person to reach out to Greg Griffith upon his diagnosis. Nancy and her family have lost seven family members to Pancreatic Cancer. The Fulchiero family are advocates for change in the Pancreatic Cancer community and work tirelessly to raise awareness and for the urgency of an early detection test of Pancreatic Cancer.

Jack E. Collins, Board Member

COO, Link Computer Corporation; BS, Accounting Mgr, Bucknell University, MBA, Carnegie Mellon. Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, Board Member, Hollidaysburg Rotary. Board Member of Blair County Chamber of Commerce. 24 years at Link Computer Corporation. 5 years at Legent. 2 years at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. The Collins family connection began nearly 30 years ago when Greg and I were in high school. Jack was dating his future wife, Andrea and Greg was dating his future wife, Cathy. Upon hearing the news of Greg’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis, the Collins family immediately jumped in on the fight.

Shawn McCarl, Board Member

Executive consultant and member of Burke and Company, LLC dba S.P. McCarl and Company, Inc. Shawn was also a founding member of Sideline Cancer Golf Tournament. Greg Griffith and Shawn enjoyed coaching and working on community projects together through the Hollidaysburg Area Youth Football Association. The GFF/SidelineCancer Family thanks Shawn for his dedication and leadership as Chairman of our SidelineCancer Golf Committee.

Dennis Degol, Jr., Board Member

Dennis is a Sales Representative for the Degol Organization. He is a graduate of Penn State University
and is a board member of The Bruno and Lena Degol Family Foundation. The Degol Family has been instrumental in capital campaigns at St.Francis University and throughout Central PA. Their family philosophy is “Giving Back to The Communities!” Greg Griffith coached Dennis Degol Jr. in Elementary Basketball and Dennis wanted to give back in Honor of Greg! Dennis serves as the Co-Chair of our GFF SidelineCancer Golf Tournament. Our GFF/SidelineCancer Family appreciates the outstanding support of The Bruno and Lena Degol Foundation and Scotch Valley Country Club in our efforts to take Pancreatic Cancer Off The Sidelines and to The FinishLine for a Cure!

Office Administrators

Jennifer Gregory

Jennifer Gregory is the Controller of S.P.McCarl & Company Inc. and also serves as Executive Office Administrator for The Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation/SidelineCancer. Jennifer graduated from West Virginia University She is a Certified Public Accountant and member of American Institute and PA Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Jennifer serves as Co-Chair of the GFF SidelineCancer Golf Tournament.

Sherry Hatch

Sherry Hatch is employed as a legal secretary at the office of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and volunteers as a Legal Administrative Assistant for The Greg and Cathy Griffith Family/SidelineCancer. Sherry is a cancer survivor who wants to use her God given gifts and talents to take Pancreatic Cancer off The Sidelines and to The FinishLine for a Cure!

Thank you to all our sponsors for their continued support of our Sideline Cancer® Initiative!

SIDELINE CANCER® STARTED WITH A GROUP OF SENIORS AT THE HOLLIDAYSBURG HIGH SCHOOL IN 2012. Since then it has unleashed a wave of scientific and entrepreneurial innovation all across the world. The Griffith Family Foundation, through Sideline Cancer®, provides wisdom and experience to enable students to use their entrepreneurial energy to address the devastating effects of Pancreatic Cancer, which has become one of the top causes of cancer related deaths in the US.

The name Sideline Cancer® has been trademarked through the Griffith Family Foundation. Sideline Cancer® events can be hosted by any school, office, or company, with all proceeds going to the Griffith Family Foundation and pancreatic research.

Visit our Sideline Cancer page to learn more about this initiative.

If you are interested in hosting a Sideline Cancer® event, please click here to learn more.

Together WE CAN #SidelineCancer!

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is a 5-on-5, winner take all tournament with a grand prize of $1+ million. The Sideline Cancer team has been a participant in the TBT since its inaugural debut in 2014. For the last 7 years, Sideline Cancer has brought a unique platform and story to the TBT by raising awareness for Pancreatic Cancer.

Click here to learn more about Sideline Cancer TBT.

Together WE CAN #SidelineCancer

To get involved…