Runners at the start of the AACR Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon. More than 19,000 runners participated in the half marathon and a 5K race to raise funds to support cancer research.
Supporting Innovative Cancer Science
Only the AACR has the breadth and depth of scientific expertise and the authoritative voice in the community to fully achieve its ambitious goal of preventing and curing all cancers. The AACR Foundation works to provide the resources that the AACR needs to reach that goal. It supports investment in conferences, grants, and other programs that accelerate progress and impact the lives of cancer patients.
Party with a Purpose
The AACR Foundation built new relationships with the philanthropic community in 2016, enhancing the AACR’s reputation as a beneficiary of choice for discerning donors. After an extensive search, the Philadelphia-based “Party with a Purpose” group selected the Foundation as the beneficiary of its exclusive fund-raising gala. Under the leadership of President Beverly Goldberg and event chairs Meredith Goldstein, Carol Lissack, John Parker, and Yvonne Winig, the 2016 edition of Party with a Purpose attracted 410 guests and raised more than $400,00 in support of lifesaving cancer research.
During the gala, philanthropist John J. (Jack) Donnelly was recognized with the Party with a Purpose Humanitarian Award for his dedication to the community. Another highlight of the event was the presentation of the newly established AACR Foundation/Party with a Purpose Scientific Achievement Award to Jeffrey A. Drebin, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. As part of this award, which fosters the work of early-career cancer researchers, Dr. Drebin selected Major Kenneth Lee IV, MD, PhD, Penn Medicine assistant professor of surgery, to receive a $50,000 grant for his surgical and laboratory work in pancreatic cancer research.
Local Events: Fund-raising and Friend-raising
Recognizing the potential of local philanthropy to have a global impact on cancer patients, the AACR Foundation built upon its existing fund-raising events and launched new events with the potential to expand beyond the AACR’s Philadelphia hometown.
Public Outreach Campaign
In 2016, the Foundation continued its efforts to educate the public about the mission of the AACR and how funding that mission can have a vital impact on the lives of cancer patients. Several of those cancer patients were featured in a marketing campaign in the Philadelphia region, telling their stories about how advances in cancer treatment enabled them to go beyond simply enduring their disease. The campaign inspired the public to support cancer research so that patients can live with and beyond cancer.
Forging Partnerships to Advance Cancer Science
SUSAN AXLER
Cancer Survivor, Patient Advocate
Susan Axler, 69, is a patient advocate who participated in the AACR Scientist↔Survivor Program in 2013. She has been a breast cancer survivor for more than a third of her life. Upon marking her sixteenth year of living with metastatic breast cancer, Susan (above left, with Scientist↔Survivor Program Chair Anna Barker, PhD) celebrated her “sweet sixteen” by requesting that friends send donations to the AACR instead of birthday gifts:
“This is my sixteenth year living with metastatic breast cancer, and my gratitude to your research organization is overwhelming. I have benefitted so much from the advances, the therapies developing daily, and the new understanding of pathways and toxicities.”
AACR-Waun Ki Hong Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research
While progress against cancer depends on the generous support of the public, foundations, and corporate partners, members of the cancer research community also came together in 2016 to support the AACR’s mission—and to honor a distinguished colleague, mentor, and friend.
At the 2016 Annual Meeting, the AACR announced the establishment of the AACR-Waun Ki Hong Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research. The award—which will recognize a cancer researcher under the age of 46 who has conducted highly meritorious laboratory, translational, or clinical cancer research anywhere in the world—was named in honor of Waun Ki Hong, MD, AACR past president, Fellow of the AACR Academy, and mentor to hundreds of cancer scientists.
AACR members and other members of the cancer community responded to the Foundation’s call to ensure that the legacy of the AACR-Waun Ki Hong Award would endure, raising $1,000,000 in only 15 months to support the award in perpetuity.
Research Grant Funders
John E. and Elizabeth S. Leonard (left) and AACR President (2015-2016) José Baselga, MD, PhD, FAACR (right), present the 2016 AACR John and Elizabeth Leonard Family Foundation Basic Cancer Research Fellowship to Fides D. Lay, PhD (center). Through its partnership with the AACR, the Leonard Family Foundation has provided $150,000 since 2014 to support basic cancer research.
Acknowledgment of Supporters
Joseph Cordaro, PharmD, MBA (left), Vice President of U.S. Medical Affairs for Incyte Corporation, and AACR President (2015-2016) José Baselga, MD, PhD, FAACR (right), present the 2016 AACR-Incyte Corporation NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research to Sophia Y. Lunt, PhD (center). In the first year of this partnership, Incyte provided more than $650,000 in funding to support cancer research.
Every effort is made to acknowledge the generosity of our donors with accuracy. Please contact the AACR Foundation if you believe there is an omission or error related to your support.
© 2017 American Association for Cancer Research
