David and Dana Pump Stop at Nothing in Fight Against Cancer

LOS ANGELES -- Looking out over an audience in the Los Angeles ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza that included Muhammad Ali, Denzel Washington, Hank Aaron, Morgan Freeman, Ernie Banks, Jerry Rice, Julius Erving, Jamie Foxx, Serena Williams, Snoop Dogg and even the Bachorlette, Ali Fedotowsky, one of the co-hosts of Thursday night's gala offered a heartfelt apology.

"I'm sorry we're starting late," David Pump said. "But I was out front trying to scalp some tickets."

The capacity crowd of about 1,600 roared at Pump's opening remark. Master of ceremonies Greg Anthony also took a light-hearted shot at David and Dana Pump.

"If you're really connected to the Pumps," Anthony said. "The NCAA officials are waiting to speak to you in the lobby."

Still more laughs at the Pumps' expense. But they didn't mind. Because what brought out the dozens of stars from the sports and entertainment field, including Oscar, Grammy and Tony winners, Super Bowl MVPs, football, basketball and baseball Hall of Famers, was no joking matter. It was for a very serious cause -- the fight against cancer.

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Ten years ago when Harold Pump was lying in his bed with less than a week to live, David and Dana Pump made a promise to their dying father. "We told my dad we wanted to do something for him," David told FanHouse.

The result was the Harold Pump Foundation, honoring their father who died of cancer. Thursday marked the 10th anniversary of the charitable event, which has raised $3.7 million for the fight against cancer in the first nine years, including donations to the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in nearby Northridge, Calif.

"It's quite amazing," said Jeanne Ashe, the widow of tennis great Arthur Ashe, who died in 1993. "Considering this economic climate that they're so successful with their fundraising, it means people care and it says something about the Pump family and about their cause."

Denzel Washington said the Pumps' fundraising success is simple.

"They have an uncanny ability of bringing people together," Washington said. "Two redheaded, freckled, slightly overweight Jewish boys."

The two redheads were born on Jan. 29, 1967. Dana is 30 seconds older than David. It seems like they've been networking before they could walk and if cell phones existed back then, they likely would have placed their first call minutes after birth.

"These are special guys. They're a unique pair ... Almost everyone on the planet is affected by cancer. This is what it's all about raising funds."
-- Julius Erving As kids they sold lemonade and collected baseball cards -- only to sell for thousands of dollars later on. They played basketball in high school in Hollywood, attended junior college and then Cal State-Northridge, but never graduated. But by then they were already involved in summer basketball leagues and were even featured on "The Today Show" at the ripe old age of 23.

"As a young person, I knew of Sonny Vaccaro," said David Pump, of the Godfather of summer basketball. "Then I met Sonny Vaccaro and he introduced me to a whole different world. That's the way the world is."

The Pumps' world changed with their father's death. They made defeating cancer their biggest priority and are hoping Thursday's event would push the 10-year total to more than $5 million. They already have dedicated two wings of the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in memory of their father and in honor of their mother, Carole, and are working on a third.

Just last year, the Harold Pump Foundation provided 1,400 free cancer screenings to individuals that were without health insurance and could not afford it in the Los Angeles area.

NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving said he quickly learned about the Pumps' commitment to fighting cancer.

"Bill Russell gave the Pumps a ringing endorsement," said Erving, whose sister, Alexis, died of colon cancer when they were in their 30s. "I trust Bill's judgment and his judgment was correct. These are special guys. They're a unique pair. They broke the mold after those two guys. So when they called, we built an instant relationship.

"Almost everyone on the planet is affected by cancer. This is what it's all about raising funds."

The Pumps were able to attract the Muhammad Alis, the Denzel Washingtons, the Julius Ervings and the Morgan Freemans because of their incredible list of contacts, their -- let's just call it "persistent" -- ability to wear people out with their relentless cell phone calls and their ridiculous networking talents.

"The Pump brothers seem to have numbers of anyone you know or want to know," said Eddie Murray, a Major League Baseball Hall of Famer. "They can cut the distance down. It's an amazing thing to go to Northridge Hospital and see that these are some people that are doing some things right."

The Pumps could probably survive several minutes without oxygen, but probably wouldn't last a minute without their cell phone nearby. A couple of years ago, David Pump wrecked his BlackBerry when he answered his cell phone -- while taking a shower. He was able to replace the water-damaged phone, but almost lost his more than 4,300 phone numbers.

Muhammad Ali and his wife, Lonnie, know all about the Pumps' constant cell phone messages. "They were a machine," said Lonnie Ali, who was convinced to attend the event after the Pumps flew to Phoenix to personally meet with her. "We need to take notes from them."

Denzel Washington's wife, Pauletta, also was, uh, convinced by the Pumps to attend. "They called 10 times -- the Pump way," Denzel Washington said. "My wife said 'just tell them we'll do it, so they'll stop calling.' "

Kansas State coach Frank Martin initially told Dana Pump that he couldn't attend because of prior commitments. So Pump called Martin's wife, Anya, with a proposition.

"She tells me he promised if we came, we would get to sit at Denzel Washington's table," Martin said. "I told her there's no way we're sitting with Denzel. She said, 'yes, he promised. Let's go.'

"So we come and we're seated at table 90 -- next to one of the video screens that Denzel was on."

Martin was one of a few coaches that attended Thursday night's gala after the NCAA and the National Association of Basketball Coaches warned college coaches last month about having any financial relationships with the Pumps. Because the Pumps are involved with AAU teams, colleges or their coaches are not allowed to donate money to any of the Pumps' endeavors after this year or risk NCAA penalties.

Leslee Tarlov, the Harold Pump Foundation's administrator for the past four years, said the NCAA's insinuations about the Pumps funneling money away from their cancer related charities are untrue.

"I've been in the event business for 30 years," Tarlov said. "Never have I worked with people who are so -- I don't know if I can use this word -- 'mashugana.' It's a Yiddish word that means crazy in a good way. There's not a mean bone in their bodies, they've been breaking their necks for this foundation and in spite of themselves, they do some of the most amazing work I've ever seen.

"When I heard about the NCAA, my feeling was this is their business and I administered the foundation. There's no hanky panky going on. The foundation is 100 percent above board. I wouldn't risk my fundraising license if it wasn't."

Former NFL great Deion Sanders is outraged the NCAA will not allow college coaches to donate to the Harold Pump Foundation.

"First of all the NCAA is the biggest money gougers that have ever been," Sanders said. "They are the one prostituting kids. That's what they're doing. They need to check themselves. They're ignorant. But if you put 'NCAA' on it, or put an NCAA shirt on it, you can donate to it.

"You can have a good cause, but have a bad heart and we wouldn't connect. But the Pumps have a wonderful cause and they're very good people that generally care. Off the red carpet they care. The people they have here, it's like a 'who's who' and adds validity to the case. Everyone in America has been touched by cancer in some way."

On Sunday, Dana Pump turned his attention to another significant event. Dana married Leah Walker at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Rhythm and blues crooner Jeffrey Osborne sang at the wedding.

Osborne, who lives in Los Angeles, attended Thursday night's event. He left afterward for a concert date in Chicago, but returned for the wedding. "I've supported them from Day One," said Osborne, who performed "On the Wings of Love" and "You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song)." "They are simply the best."

Among the highlights of Thursday evening's $500 a plate dinner was the honoring of Ali, Washington, Aaron and Joseph Brandmeyer. During the program, several auctions were held to raise money. Oscar De La Hoya and George Lopez offered a trip on a private plane to play golf at Pebble Beach and De La Hoya added two ringside seats for an upcoming boxing match to increase the bidding. Singer Brian McKnight donated a personal one-hour concert, at the winning bidder's house, which went for $25,000. The same amount was the winning bid to have a dinner party with Washington.

Also more than $200,000 was raised in a matter of minutes by those in attendance as individuals watched their donations scroll on theballroom's video screens in real time. The night was simply a huge success.

After the program had concluded Dana Pump was mingling with some friends. They congratulated him on the night and told him it was the Pumps' best event ever. They then asked how the Pumps could possibly top it in 2011.

"I'm going to get (Barack) Obama next year," Dana Pump said.

There you go, Mr. President, you've been warned. Change your cell phone number now before it's too late.

Contact FanHouse senior writer Brett McMurphy at brettmcmurphy@gmail.com or Twitter @Brettmcmurphy