Forbeck Foundation

The Forbeck Foundation was established in 1984 by George and Jennifer Forbeck after losing their son, Billy Guy, to neuroblastoma at age 11. During his treatment, they recognized a lack of collaboration among researchers and were determined to change it. In 1985, they launched the first Forbeck Forum, bringing leading scientists together to openly collaborate and share unpublished work to accelerate discovery, enable earlier detection, improve treatments, and ultimately find a cure for pediatric cancers.
More than 40 years later, the Foundation continues to honor Billy’s legacy by convening top scientists and clinicians from around the world. Through annual invitation only meetings, including gatherings in Lake Geneva, the Foundation creates a focused environment where experts share unpublished data, exchange ideas, and build collaborations that drive breakthroughs across both pediatric and adult cancers.
In 2026, the Lake Geneva area will once again serve as the backdrop for a series of impactful events that bring our community together in support of this mission. Highlights include our Spring and Fall Scholar Retreats, the Taste of Lake Geneva on May 5, our annual golf outing featuring a Mahjong event, the Como Crawl for Cancer on July 11, a Pickleball and Mahjong event on August 3, and our signature Blue Jean Ball on September 26. We will also come together to Walk the Lake for Kira Faith in Fontana on October 3. Every dollar raised directly supports the Foundation and much needed cancer research.
All our events can be found here.