Thrasher Research Fund

History of the Fund In 1972, Mr. E. W. "Al" Thrasher donated 2,034 acres of second-growth redwood timber property, with the intent that the proceeds from its sale would support pediatric medical research. In 1977, this timber tract was sold for nearly $14 million, leading to the establishment of the Thrasher Research Fund. In the early years, the small funding organization granted many awards in the area of biomedical research. As more money became available for grants, the Fund moved to focus on clinical research and expanded its reach to the international community. Currently, the Fund supports clinical, hypothesis-driven research in both international and domestic locations. To date, the Fund has awarded over $100 million in research grants, resulting in diagnostic methods, treatments, and governmental policies that have improved the lives of children on a global scale.