Employees of the Hormel Foods Corporation’s Austin plant donated nearly $2,400 Tuesday in support of The Hormel Institute’s cancer research.

Hormel employees presented a check to The Hormel Institute’s Executive Director Dr. Zigang Dong for $2,378.91, raised from the annual Deryl Arnold Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 16 at River Oaks Golf Course in Austin. The event, named in memory of former Hormel Foods plant manager Deryl Arnold, who passed away from cancer, has donated more than $10,000 over the last four years to The Institute’s research.

“Our employees take great pride in raising this money,” said Tim Fritz, Hormel Foods Austin Plant manager.

In addition to the annual golf tourney, Fritz and the Hormel Foods plant employees also raised funds last February as part of Austin’s first “Paint the Town Pink” citywide initiative to raise awareness and support for The Institute’s breast cancer research.

These types of community partnerships are vital for supporting The Hormel Institute’s cancer research, Dong said.

“Our friends at Hormel Foods know that research is the only answer to cancer and they continue to provide significant, unwavering support for our cutting-edge cancer research,” he said. “We are very grateful for this annual support.”

With one of the top scientific publishing records, The Hormel Institute is a world-renowned cancer research center. Its scientists conduct research focused on how cancer works and what nontoxic, natural compounds can be used to prevent and control cancer.