The Rick Agee Foundation is a nonprofit organization promoting research, awareness, and support for those suffering from oral, head, and neck cancers, supporting education through scholarship opportunities, and providing direct support to those affected by oral, head, and neck cancers.

Our namesake is Rick Agee. Rick was a consummate friend to everyone, and a man who helped anyone who needed it. His optimistic spirit as well as his courage during his protracted battles with cancer continues to serve as an inspiration for those affected by oral, head, and neck cancers to this day.

He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and battled cancer bravely three separate times over the course of almost twenty years before finally succumbing to the disease on February 19, 2015.

"His impact on those around him was evidenced by the standing-room only crowd at his funeral. To this day when friends of Rick’s get together, they inevitably laugh and smile as they recount one of the many stories about Rick’s athletic achievements, friendly pranks, or outdoor adventures."

The Rick Agee Foundation

Rick’s cancer was in remission for several years before returning in 2008. After the cancer returned, Rick devoted increasingly larger portions of his time to helping those in similar circumstances. He worked very closely with Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer, better known as SPOHNC, which seeks to raise awareness and meet the needs of oral and head and neck cancer patients. His work with SPOHNC included Skate 4 SPOHNC, an event Rick organized through which he was able to raise thousands of dollars for SPOHNC by in-line skating 100 kilometers. He also attended meetings and even traveled to SPOHNC headquarters in New York to meet with top administrators.

Rick’s cancer once again went into remission but ultimately returned again, fiercer and more aggressive than ever. True to form, however, even in the face of a frightening prognosis, Rick stayed optimistic and continued to devote time to helping others in similar situations. When he finally lost his last battle, Rick was surrounded by his family, and his spirit and love will not soon be forgotten.

In February 2022, some of Rick’s friends and family decided to go one step further and establish The Rick Agee Foundation. The Rick Agee Foundation will continue to work closely with SPOHNC but will also expand into other causes that would have been important to Rick. The mission of The Rick Agee Foundation is to serve those affected by head and neck cancers by donating funds towards research, promoting awareness by offering direct help to patients, and promoting education by funding scholarships.

The Rick Agee Foundation seeks donations year-round, with the largest fundraising event being The Rick Agee Foundation Golf Tournament held in June of each year. Friends and strangers alike gather to remember Rick, support a great cause, engage in fellowship, and play at a beautiful golf course. As we continue to grow, The Rick Agee Foundation will continue to operate The Rick Agee Foundation Golf Tournament and will expand further into other fundraising events.

Funds collected by The Rick Agee Foundation are distributed in ways to maximize benefits to those affected by oral, head, and neck cancers. Some funds are donated to SPOHNC to help subsidize their cancer research efforts. A portion of funds collected each year are also used to fund an endowment and scholarship at Rick’s alma mater, Texas Tech University. Still other funds are used to help those affected by oral, head, and neck cancers in more direct ways. As the Rick Agee Foundation expands, we will continually explore other avenues of both direct and indirect support, with the ultimate goal being to both raise awareness about oral, head, and neck cancers, and to provide direct support to those affected.