Ann’s Hope Foundation Ann’s Hope Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable/not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to raise awareness of the dangers of melanoma cancer and to raise the level of research, early detection, and prevention efforts in the community. The Foundation was founded by two friends who both lost a loved one to melanoma cancer. Funds are raised through annual events including a gala, held in February, and a run/walk, held in May. In 2007, the Foundation donated $65,000 to support work at the College to refine a test that detects whether or not melanoma cancer cells have spread into the lymph nodes.