Richard and Stacie Stephenson

Stacie and Richard J Stephenson, both born and raised in the heart of the Midwest, believe that empowerment is a fundamental human right and that the strength of the human spirit knows no bounds. As philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and healthcare professionals, the Stephensons live by this ethic in everything they do. From their leadership of Gateway for Cancer Research, tireless support of global poverty eradication programs, disaster relief initiatives, and services and advocacy for victims of child abuse, to their commitment to advancing our understanding and treatment of neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, among many other causes, Richard and Stacie are champions of organizations working to empower people with the information, resources, and tools they need to overcome adversity.

Richard and Stacie share both a commitment to fighting cancer and a core belief in patient-centered treatment and care. These are the founding principles of Gateway for Cancer Research, which Richard launched in 1991 to fund clinical trials for all types of cancer. Under his leadership as chairman and with Stacie by his side as a director, Gateway engages patient representatives at every level of the organization to ensure its investments put patients first, prioritizing clinical trials that enhance quality of life so patients can begin healing, today. To date, and to the credit of its talented staff, Gateway has raised close to $85 million and maintains an unprecedented fundraising and administrative expense ratio: 99 cents of every dollar received from public and private contributions goes directly to funding life-changing clinical trials.

With Stacie spearheading Gateway’s largest event – the Cures Gala in Chicago – the organization’s fundraising totals continue to grow annually. The 2018 gala raised $4.1m, an impressive 17% increase over 2017’s gala fundraising total.

Stacie is also the founder and chairwoman of Gateway’s flagship western region event, Vino con Stelle. Due in part to the successful launch of Vino con Stelle, as well as her passionate support of Childhelp, Celebrity Fight Night, and the American Heart Association’s annual Phoenix Heart Ball, in addition to many others, Stacie was named one of 2018’s most influential people by Arizona Foothills Magazine.