Local media personality Amy Vanderoef is returning for the third consecutive year as Hostess of the III Forks Golf Classic Auction Dinner, benefiting TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation. She will be joined by 660-AM The Answer talk radio personality Mark Davis as Master of Ceremonies.
 
“Chris Vogeli has been a friend for many years,” said Ms. Vanderoef. “And when he told me about TeamConnor and it's mission, I wanted to help. Chris is so passionate about this cause. And he throws an amazing event!”   
 
The May 3rd auction dinner at III Forks Steakhouse will feature a live auction, silent auction and dinner prepared by III Forks executive chef and proprietor Chris Vogeli.  The following day, May 4, more than 200 golfers will gather at the prestigious Gleneagles Country Club in Plano to compete in the 11th annual III Forks Golf Classic, beginning with a helicopter drop and a chance to win $1,000.  Foursomes or dinner tickets to the III Forks Golf Classic can be purchased at TeamConnor.org http://www.teamconnor.org> .
 
“Over the years, I've interviewed so many moms and dad's who’ve lost young children,” Vanderoef confided. “I would pull them aside and ask, ‘How can you do this? How do you talk on TV about this?’ And they all reply the same, ‘How could I not?’ It kills me to think how unfair it is. But that's when grief turns into faith, and education and awareness and ultimately a cure!”
 
Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes. In the United States, cancer kills more children every year than AIDS, asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and congenital anomalies combined. Yet, the National Cancer Institute allocates less than four percent of its funds to pediatric cancer research. TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation is dedicated to serving families, building awareness, and raising funds for research to help cure childhood cancer.
 
III Forks is the title sponsor with Northwestern Mutual – Dallas coming in as the presenting sponsor for the 2015 III Forks Golf Classic.  Additional sponsors include Park Place Lexus Plano; Partners National; Bang Whitetail Ranch; Alex Beilin; Benefits Texas; Scott & Reid General Contractors; Northwestern Mutual - Allen; Anchor Distilling Co.; Jordan, Houser & Flournoy, LLP; Rick & Beck Welday; Mark Vehslage; Wings by Metten; Charles Armstrong; Richard Asel; and Scott & Candy Lane.
 
The III Forks Golf Classic is ranked as one of the top grossing golf tournaments in Dallas-Fort Worth by the Dallas Business Journal.  Last year, the event raised more than $327,000.
 
Vanderoef recently left WFAA-TV after 10 years as host of Good Morning Texas. “I am forever grateful to WFAA. They made me a household name. In February, when I was offered another contract, I felt led to walk away while I was still wanted. Which meant taking a step out in faith without a safety net! I left that door open. I would love to go back and help for special assignments. It's home there.  But it was time to get out of my comfort zone and take the next step, which for me is television hosting on a national level!  So stay tuned. And, yes, Dallas will always be my home base.”
 
TeamConnor hosts several events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the 4th Annual Splash Out Childhood Cancer at Hawaiian Falls The Colony July 16, the National Childhood Cancer Awareness Concert September 12; Color Me Green 5K and Caterpillar Dash October 3; and the Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot on November 5.  In addition, TeamConnor’s national Coins for Kids with Cancer http://www.coinsforkidswithcancer.org>  program raises funds in schools, churches, offices and organizations to help fund childhood cancer research.
 
For more information on how to impact the lives of those affected by childhood cancer please visit teamconnor.org or on Facebook.com/TeamConnor.