Donor Recognition

Despite incredible scientific progress year in and year out, 600,000 Americans and eight million people worldwide still die from cancer each year. This is the statistic that caught the attention of Steve and Joan Clark during the announcement of The Dana-Farber Campaign in May 2021 and inspired their $4 million gift to establish the first two High Pointe Investigatorships in Gastrointestinal Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“This is 2022 and the statistics related to cancer deaths continue to be alarming,” said Steve Clark. “After all these years and the remarkable scientific advancements, these are staggering statistics, and they cannot be ignored. It is always a matter of following the numbers and, although these numbers are incredibly discouraging, it demonstrates the dire need to continue to ramp up our attack on this disease.”

The gift from the Clarks will support mid-career investigators within the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology, in perpetuity. The center is an international leader in the development of novel treatments for patients with gastrointestinal cancers, including cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bile duct, gallbladder, liver, colon, and rectum. The researchers who earn High Pointe Investigatorships will have an opportunity to expand the incredible research already taking place at Dana-Farber. Currently, patients have access to 1,100 clinical trials, which represent a substantial, potential opportunity for new therapeutics, new treatments, and possibly new cures. As the knowledge base increases, the researchers at Dana-Farber will also continue to make strides in prevention and early cancer detection.

“I am extremely honored that Steve and Joan Clark continue to support the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology,” said Brian Wolpin, MD, MPH, chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology and the Robert T. and Judith B. Hale Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at Dana-Farber. “The Clarks have repeatedly risen to the occasion to propel real momentum in gastrointestinal cancer research. These investigatorships will allow for our retention of the most brilliant minds in cancer research, while also helping with our recruitment of new faculty in areas of scientific need.”

The Clarks’ son was diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer several years ago. This personal experience, as well as the distressing statistics related to gastrointestinal cancer mortality rates, has inspired the family’s giving to Dana-Farber. “We are incredibly blessed to be able to further this cause in this meaningful way,” said Steve Clark. “We encourage others to consider participating within their own respective means. If this community of supporters comes together, some miraculous achievements may be accomplished. The needs are huge, and we must attempt to meet this challenge.”

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Institute Trustees and longtime supporters Debbie and Bob First are focused on a singular goal: early detection of cancer to provide more opportunities for cures. Their latest gift of $1 million continues to propel Dana-Farber toward that objective and supports The Dana-Farber Campaign through investments in revolutionary science and essential opportunities.

Debbie and Bob’s cancer journey, and their passionate commitment to early detection, began in 1977 when Debbie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a young professional and working parent. At the time conventional wisdom was that the disease would be fatal. Through a very dear friend, Bob received a call from the late David Livingston, MD, at Dana-Farber who became Debbie’s oncologist. From that point forward, very little about Debbie’s experience would be conventional. Livingston started Debbie on a non-traditional protocol— there was no standard treatment at the time for her illness—and his optimism and kind nature were the perfect complement to Debbie’s positive mindset. “David gave me the confidence to know my life was going to be OK,” said Debbie. “I’m here today because of him.”

Then, in 1985, Livingston called Bob to tell him that something very nice was about to happen to him—an invitation to join Dana-Farber’s Board of Trustees. Debbie would join Bob as a Trustee in 2009, and she is also a member of the Executive Council of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-Farber.

The Firsts have been Dana-Farber donors for more than three decades. “It is a privilege to give back to an organization that is wide open to new ideas and a fresh look,” said Bob. The Firsts know personally how important early detection is to successful outcomes. Bob is a prostate cancer survivor and was also treated at Dana-Farber. Their recent gift supports ovarian cancer early detection, prostate cancer early detection, and the Institute’s top priorities via the Presidential Initiatives Fund.

“Thanks to Bob and Debbie’s tenacity and vision all these years, what was once a dream—a reliable diagnostic blood test—is closer than ever,” said Dipanjan Chowdhury, PhD, who is the lead investigator in the development of the first-ever blood serum microRNA detection tool for ovarian cancer. “Their stalwart support has been instrumental to our progress and I am deeply grateful for their partnership.” For this portion of their gift, the Firsts are equally supporting Chowdhury and Kevin Elias, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who are collaborating on this work.

“So many of our highest ideals at Dana-Farber, like the value of collaboration and the importance of investing in early career scientists, evolved over the years because of committed individuals like Debbie and Bob who believed in us and challenged us to think in new ways,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, president and CEO of Dana-Farber and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine.

“It has been exciting to be engaged with an organization like Dana-Farber that isn’t satisfied with the status quo,” said Debbie.

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A gift of $1 million from Institute Trustee Winnie W. Wong, PhD, and Arthur Cheng, ScD, will go towards advancing the careers of early career investigators through the Wong Family Awards in Translational Oncology. The couple first established the Wong Family Awards in 2011, and with this most recent gift, they have given a total of $5.5 million on behalf of their family to endow these awards at Dana-Farber.

As one of three cancer survivors in her family, Wong said that a top priority for her and her husband was fulfilling unmet needs for cancers that don’t yet have cures. “I insisted on these awards being for translational research—I think something that has clinical needs in mind, and an understanding of the disease mechanisms, gets us closer to discovery of new medicines,” said Wong. “That’s very important, because basic science is in one camp, and clinical research is in another camp, and there has to be a way to bridge those two.”

They also see these awards as a crucial way to invest in the next generation of oncology researchers. With her background in pharmaceutical research as well as immunology, Wong understands firsthand the obstacles that come with traditional government funding for research. “I view this as an opportunity to try out new ideas and give the young researchers a chance to think outside the box,” she said.

The awards are given on a yearly basis and include project salary support to encourage young investigators to pursue innovative projects in clinical and/or translational oncology, biotechnology development, precision medicine, or immunotherapy approaches. They are overseen by the Institute’s Chief Clinical Research Officer Jeffrey Meyerhardt, MD, MPH, FASCO, in consultation with Chief Scientific Officer Kevin Haigis, PhD.

“It is so important that we encourage our early career investigators to pursue novel ideas, and the Wong Family Awards provide a pathway to do just that,” said Meyerhardt, who is also the Douglas Gray Woodruff Chair in Colorectal Cancer Research at Dana-Farber. “It’s a very competitive process every year, and our recipients are excited to share their findings and progress with Winnie and Arthur and thank them for supporting their innovative ideas.”

“Over the past 10 years, the Wong Family Awards have helped jumpstart the careers of many investigators, who have gone on to make their mark in the field of cancer research,” said Haigis. “Winnie and Arthur’s visionary investment is helping transform the future of cancer research and care, while also training the next generation of oncologists to drive that future.”

Wong looks forward to meeting with the new recipients every year and hearing about the projects they are working on—she always learns something new about technical advances happening in the field and where the new frontiers of research are. Above all, she encourages the investigators to continue being creative and taking risks. “New ideas deserve a chance,” said Wong. “They don’t always succeed but they deserve a chance to get tested.”

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For Meg and Don Steiner, philanthropy is a passion. “All people who are philanthropic understand the feeling of pleasure and delight from supporting something they believe in,” says Meg.

Recently, the Steiners took great pleasure in making a gift of $1 million to The Dana-Farber Campaign in support of cancer research under the direction of their friend and neighbor Stephen Sallan, MD, Dana-Farber’s chief of staff emeritus, and Institute physician David Fisher, MD. The funds will be applied at the discretion of both physician-scientists to advance promising research through the lens of their specialties—pediatric and adult blood cancers.

The Steiners have lost loved ones to blood cancers and, over the years, have come to know Fisher, who specializes in this area. They have a keen interest in advancing research that will lead to new, more effective treatments and are encouraged by the breakthroughs in cancer medicine over the last decade. They feel that their support can help the greatest number of patients by furthering cutting-edge research.

“We invest in Dana-Farber because of the high likelihood of success,” says Don. “The most impactful projects today may not be the most impactful projects three years from now. We trust Drs. Sallan and Fisher to use these funds to support research projects that are gaining traction and have the best chance of helping patients.”

“David and I are so grateful to have this support from our dear friends, Meg and Don,” says Sallan, who is also the Quick Family Chair in Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber. “At the Institute, we have a dual focus on adult and pediatric cancer research, which uniquely positions us to translate findings from studies of genetically simpler pediatric cancers to more complex adult cancers. Our research has the potential to transform the way we treat cancer and greatly expand targeted treatment options— ultimately for both children and adults.”

Savvy philanthropists, the Steiners give to Dana-Farber and other nonprofits through their donor-advised fund—a philanthropic investment account that provides an immediate tax benefit and enables donors to increase their charitable giving potential as their investment grows. “We get a wonderful feeling about our donor-advised fund,” Don says. “We’ve already given the money away, so it’s no longer ours—we just get to decide where it will have the greatest impact.”

The couple, who has supported the Institute for many years, also joined the Dana-Farber Society by making a provision for Dana-Farber in their will. Meg adds, however, “We would rather do more while we’re alive and while others are alive who might benefit from this work. With a donor-advised fund, we have the pleasure of watching Dana-Farber benefit from our dollars now.”

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Elena Driscoll was always healthy. So in late 2019, when she began experiencing symptoms like bloating and fatigue, her doctors insisted it was symptoms of menopause. As the symptoms worsened, Elena sensed something more was going on, and in early 2020, she was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer.

Elena’s story is a familiar one for many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The disease is often difficult to diagnose in its earliest stages because symptoms can be vague or similar to those of common conditions, like menopause.

“I think it’s important for us to advocate for ourselves, to know our bodies, and know when we feel something is not right,” said Elena. “I want to share my story to help people be more aware, and to advance the pursuit of treatments that can improve outcomes for patients facing this disease.”

That drive to make a difference inspired Elena and her husband, Tom, to give $1 million in support of ovarian cancer research under the direction of Elena’s doctor, Ursula Matulonis, MD, chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and the Brock-Wilson Family Chair at Dana-Farber. The funds will support research into natural killer (NK) cellular therapies for ovarian cancer, a promising new avenue of immunotherapy being pursued by Dana-Farber’s Rizwan Romee, MD.

“From what we’ve learned, NK cellular therapy seems to be a very promising treatment option,” said Tom Driscoll. “We wanted to provide funding that jumpstarts novel and promising areas of ovarian cancer research—areas that may be underfunded. We feel that Romee’s work is clearly something that will advance the field and improve outcomes.”

NK cells demolish diseased cells and can eliminate cancer circulating in the body—but they are short-lived and often do not “remember” or recognize cancer cells to strike again. In 2012, Romee and his colleagues were the first to generate an immune response in human NK cells by employing lab-modified cytokine induced memory-like (CIML) NK cells, which are enhanced to gain memory function, proliferate inside the body, and persist longer than standard NK cells.

“This type of therapy has already shown promise in other forms of cancer,” said Romee, who serves as director of the Haploidentical Donor Transplantation Program at Dana-Farber. “Now, thanks in part to funding from the Driscolls, my team is working closely with Dr. Matulonis to test this therapy for use against recurrent high-grade ovarian cancer.”

“I am so grateful to the Driscolls for supporting this important project, which will have a significant and lasting impact on patients facing ovarian cancer,” said Matulonis. “Their incredibly generous gift enables us to continue improving the quality, breadth, and durability of urgently needed treatment options for this cancer.”

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Founded in 1982, the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation aims to advance knowledge in life sciences by sponsoring scientific research that will benefit mankind. As investigative methodologies, technologies, and tools have advanced, The Mathers Foundation embraces innovative translational research for a better future.

The Mathers Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $2.16 million to Dana-Farber’s Eric Fischer, PhD; Amy Si-Ying Lee, PhD; and Pere Puigserver, PhD, to advance key research into structural biology, translation regulation, and cell biology and mitochondrial medicine.

Supported by the foundation, Fischer will pursue research into structural mechanistic understanding of HUWE1 (a member of the HECT family of ubiquitin ligase), a master regulator of the cellular stress response that plays a role in carcinogenesis, as well as a role in developing resistance to cancer therapies. Though little is known about how HUWE1 exerts its critical function, Fischer will work to establish a molecular understanding and shed light on how the understudied class of HECT ubiquitin ligases work, ultimately providing the basis for future efforts to develop novel anti-cancer therapeutics.

Lee’s research concerns the fundamental understanding of the correlation between cellular state, gene regulation, and the ribosome. While all cells in the human body contain the same genetic information, every cell has its own role and function from organ development to responding to environmental cues. The ribosome plays a key role in a process known as translation, in which genetic material is decoded to create new proteins. With this funding, Lee will study whether ribosome composition can be regulated by the cell in response to cellular stresses, and how ribosome composition provides a new mechanism by which the cell controls gene expression. Her work will close a critical gap in the understanding of gene expression, as well as specialized translational control during multiple developmental and environmental contexts.

Puigserver will address an unsolved problem in cell biology: the principles that govern somatic mitochondrial pathogenic heteroplasmy. Mitochondrial heteroplasmy defines the severity of cellular and tissue damage in mitochondrial diseases with mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). These mtDNA mutations and mitochondrial failures occur in aging; cardiomyopathies and heart failure; cancer; and metabolic and degenerative diseases such as obesity, diabetes, Parkinson's, or Alzheimer's diseases.

“Right now, very little is known about the cellular mechanisms that balance levels of pathogenic and healthy mitochondria in somatic cells, creating a need for heightened research in this area,” said Puigserver. “This funding from The Mathers Foundation will help me advance the understanding of basic human biology and the causes of genetic variation of mitochondrial organelles that leads to severe tissue damage, laying the important groundwork for new therapeutics for metabolic and degenerative diseases.”

“The Mathers Foundation is highly supportive of innovative, potentially transformative projects in the basic life sciences and translational medical research. These three projects— in gene expression, in structural biology, and with mitochondrial organelles—share that common vision and commitment,” said Zach Handelman, director of operations at The Mathers Foundation. “We’re proud to support the doctors at Dana-Farber in their journeys to change the world of cancer.”

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The Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research has pledged $25 million to the Bridge Project, a collaborative research program of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) and the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, to transform drug discovery and early stage development.

As part of this commitment to the Bridge Project, the Commonwealth Foundation gift will propel “Expansion Grants,” which fund projects being readied for clinical testing or that are already in the clinic. It will also place a significant focus on projects that accelerate therapeutic drug development, stimulating research on traditionally challenging classes of cancer drug targets and/or on more conventional targets found in rarer forms of cancer.

The gift builds on a previous investment of $20 million in 2015 from the Commonwealth Foundation to the Bridge Project. To amplify the impact of this new gift, DF/HCC and MIT will match these funds over the next five years, resulting in a combined $50 million expansion of the Bridge Project. The matching pledge has already resulted in a gift of $8 million from an anonymous donor.

The Bridge Project, launched in 2011, funds cross-institutional and interdisciplinary teams of cancer scientists, engineers, and clinicians to solve long-standing problems in the most intractable cancers. The program was designed to integrate advanced cancer science research at both institutions by leveraging MIT’s strengths in basic cancer research and bioengineering, and DF/HCC’s strengths in clinical cancer research and cancer care. As such, each team is co-led by at least one MIT investigator and one DF/HCC investigator.

The Bridge Project links the cancer research efforts of MIT and DF/ HCC—Massachusetts’ two National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers. The Koch Institute is an NCI-designated basic laboratory cancer center, and DF/HCC is an NCIdesignated comprehensive cancer center that unites the cancer research efforts of Harvard’s five principal affiliated hospitals and two health science schools.

“We are deeply appreciative to the Commonwealth Foundation and the Goodwin Family for their continuing generosity. Their commitment is a reflection of the world-class innovation taking place through the Bridge Project, a collaboration that is changing lives through science,” said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, president and CEO, Dana-Farber, and director, DF/HCC. “This support will fund high-impact research and drug development to offer new solutions to patients.”

“We are very proud to continue our support of the Bridge Project, which brings together the brightest minds in cancer research and care to develop new approaches and therapeutics for patients,” said Bill Goodwin, chair of the Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research. “Through this contribution, we hope to amplify our impact by inspiring other families to support this innovative, collaborative effort.”

The Bridge Project has been led by Tyler Jacks, PhD, founding director of the Koch Institute and the David H. Koch Professor of Biology at MIT; and David Livingston, MD, the Charles A. Dana Chair in Human Cancer Genetics at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Emil Frei III, MD, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, who passed away unexpectedly on October 17, 2021. His loss is felt deeply across the entire cancer research community, and Dana-Farber leadership remains committed to the Bridge Project and the impactful, collaborative science that is part of Dr. Livingston’s legacy.

“We very much look forward to the opportunities that the Commonwealth Foundation’s new gift creates to focus on direct translational studies and developing novel treatments,” said Jacks. “Their support, along with contributions they have inspired others to make, have been essential to our formation of a highly effective Greater Boston network for applying basic research and technological advances to clinical questions and challenges.”

“Since 2011, the Bridge Project has enabled us to bring together the best of cancer science and engineering, funding dozens of multidisciplinary teams that have made great strides in innovative cancer research,” said Livingston before his passing. “We thank the Commonwealth Foundation for their transformative contribution and continued partnership as we continue to rapidly develop new ways to improve outcomes for cancer patients.”

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A recent $10 million commitment by The Rossy Foundation to establish the David Liposarcoma Research Initiative aims to bring hope to liposarcoma patients worldwide. This five-year initiative will support groundbreaking research into liposarcoma at Dana-Farber and partner institutions to revolutionize treatment of this rare, underfunded, and understudied disease. This investment represents The Rossy Foundation’s largest commitment to Dana-Farber and the most support dedicated to liposarcoma in the Institute’s history. The Rossy Foundation and KBF CANADA have partnered to fund the first phase of the initiative, thanks to the generosity of The Rossy Foundation.

Cancers known as sarcomas develop from stem cells and connective tissues such as muscle, fat, and bone that hold the body together. Since sarcomas are rare—they account for about 1% of cancers in adults—investment in liposarcoma research has been limited. Recent improvements in technology and an increasing number of available patient samples have led to a growing molecular understanding of liposarcoma and point to new targets for therapy, and this support will push this research forward.

This initiative will focus on collaborations among several departments at Dana-Farber and be led by George Demetri, MD, director of the Sarcoma Center, senior vice president for Experimental Therapeutics, and Quick Family Chair in Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber. He and his colleagues are leading a broad spectrum of studies to better understand this disease, unleash the immune system against it, overcome drug resistance, and advance novel therapies.

“The visionary and forward-looking support from The Rossy Foundation will greatly enhance our understanding of the underlying biology, genomics, epigenetics, immunologic and mechanistic characteristics of liposarcomas,” said Demetri. “It is our hope that the new research collaborations made possible by this gift will ultimately lead to better therapeutic options for patients diagnosed with this rare disease.”

“We appreciate The Rossy Foundation’s very generous commitment, as well as their recognition of the strength of Dana-Farber’s exceptional portfolio of basic science and clinical research programs to mobilize our world-class Sarcoma Center,” said Dana-Farber President and CEO Laurie H. Glimcher, MD.

The David Liposarcoma Research Initiative brings together teams of 11 principal investigators from four institutions—Dana-Farber, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard—to collaborate within the cycle of discovery, validation, and clinical testing. Dana-Farber will be the lead and coordinating institution.

“The Rossy Foundation is proud to make this meaningful contribution toward better treatments for liposarcoma, which affects more than 4,000 patients in the United States and Canada every year,” said Gregory J. David, vice-chair of The Rossy Foundation. “The David Liposarcoma Research Initiative, under the direction of Dr. George Demetri, will drive breakthroughs that not only transform the landscape of liposarcoma research, but most importantly help extend and enhance the lives of patients across the globe.”

This initiative will be overseen by an international Scientific Advisory Board. In October 2022, The David Liposarcoma Research Initiative International Scientific Symposium in basic, translational, and clinical liposarcoma research will convene as an opportunity for the team to share results, guide the development of clinical trials in years three through five, and stimulate new partnerships in this field.

The Rossy Foundation, based in Montreal, funds initiatives in health care, including cancer research, as well as mental health, civic engagement, education, and the arts. KBF CANADA works with Canadian donors to promote and implement international charitable projects all over the world. KBF CANADA is part of the KBF Family (KBF BRUSSELS, KBF US, KBF CANADA, Give2Asia), and is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency as a charitable organization. This commitment supports The Dana-Farber Campaign, an ambitious $2 billion multi-year fundraising effort that will accelerate success and help Dana-Farber defy cancer through investments in revolutionary science, extraordinary care, exceptional expertise, and essential opportunities.

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Andrew Kaczynski and Rachel Ensign’s lives were upended in September 2020 when their baby daughter, Francesca, was diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), one of the most malignant and aggressive of all brain tumors that affect infants. The family moved from New York to Boston so that Francesca, affectionately called “Beans” by her parents, could receive treatment at Dana-Farber/ Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center.

Tragically, on Christmas Eve, a few months after her diagnosis, Francesca died. Andrew and Rachel, both journalists, had used social media to share their family’s story during Francesca’s treatment and after her passing. Their candor and vulnerability were matched only by Beans’ joy at life and bravery in the face of her cancer.

“We miss Francesca tremendously every day,” said her mom and dad. “We will always be her parents and our efforts to fight childhood cancer are a way of staying true to our responsibility to take care of her.”

The Team Beans fundraising movement got a boost when Francesca’s story caught the attention of Danielle Pourbaix, a rider in the PMC Winter Cycle, the stationary cycling event at Fenway Park that kicks off fundraising each year for the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). Though she had never met the family, Danielle was inspired to reach out to Andrew and Rachel for permission to ride the Winter Cycle in Francesca’s honor.

Overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from family, friends, and even strangers, Andrew and Rachel established the Team Beans Infant Brain Tumor Fund at Dana-Farber to maximize the impact of gifts made in Francesca’s memory. With more than $1.5 million raised to date, the Team Beans Fund is supporting Dana-Farber’s new Infant Brain Tumor Program within the Pediatric Brain Tumor Center at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. This specialized, comprehensive research and clinical program spans multiple disciplines—cancer biology, computational biology, neuro-oncology, neuropathology, neurosurgery, and more—and is laser-focused on the treatment and care of the youngest of children.

“Support from Team Beans was instrumental in our ability to launch the new Infant Brain Tumor Program,” said Susan Chi, MD, deputy director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology. “Treatments are currently limited for ATRT and other malignant and aggressive brain tumors that affect infants—but we hope to change that.”

The Team Beans movement continues to gain momentum. Andrew participated in the PMC as a first-time rider in August 2021 alongside 17 other riders who comprised Team Beans, collectively raising more than $1.1 million through both Pourbaix’s PMC Winter Cycle and Team Beans’ PMC fundraising efforts. The PMC donates 100% of every rider-raised dollar to Dana-Farber and is its largest single contributor, accounting for 55% of the Jimmy Fund’s revenue. Andrew also ran the 2021 Boston Marathon®, raising $200,000 for Team Beans, and has no plans to stop. “Francesca will not get to live the life she should have. She should have been able to build her own story and her own legacy, but Rachel and I will build her legacy for her through the Team Beans Infant Brain Tumor Fund,” said Andrew.

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For over 10 years, Reverend Priscilla Lawrence and Patrick MeLampy have been invaluable supporters to Dana-Farber’s mission and success through support of various Jimmy Fund initiatives. In addition, Lawrence and her brother, Mark, also serve as trustees of the Oliver and Jennie Donaldson Trust, and were key in advocating for Dana-Farber to apply for grants from the trust. As a result, Dana-Farber was awarded funding for two projects, including a gift to the PROMISE study—a Dana-Farber-led screening study of individuals at high-risk of precursor conditions of multiple myeloma. Priscilla’s mother passed from the disease and a close friend of the couple is undergoing treatment at Dana-Farber for it as well.

More recently, Priscilla and Patrick furthered their support with a generous gift to The Dana-Farber Campaign, to establish the Lawrence-MeLampy Fund for Multiple Myeloma Research.

The fund will advance research led by Irene Ghobrial, MD, in the Center for Prevention of Progression of Blood Cancers (CPOP) within the Jerome Lipper Center for Multiple Myeloma. Ghobrial serves as director of CPOP, as well as director of translational research in the department of Multiple Myeloma and a Lavine Family Chair for Preventative Cancer Therapies at Dana-Farber.

With multiple myeloma, most patients have one or two precursor conditions, called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), prior to progression of the disease. CPOP hopes to gather more data to inform early detection and treatment strategies through national studies of large groups of healthy patients to gather a better understanding of the molecular markers that prevent disease progression. In addition to providing funding, Priscilla is also a participant in this study.

“To be able to stop this disease before it leads to pain and more serious damage would be incredible,” said Priscilla.

“Priscilla and Patrick’s generous gift and commitment to my research is incredibly important. This funding will be crucial to support research that will strengthen our ability to better understand these markers and will help us provide a road-map of therapeutic options that will make multiple myeloma a preventable or possibly curable disease,” said Ghobrial.

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The Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way presented by Hyundai marked its second year as a virtual event on Sunday, October 3, by raising more than $6.9 million for Dana-Farber. To keep the thousands of participants safe, the event was once again “Your Way”: instead of walking the historic Boston Marathon® course, participants each walked in a location of their choosing, such as their own neighborhood, a local park, a town walking path, or wherever worked for them.

The Jimmy Fund Walk, Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s signature event, has raised more than $155 million in its 33-year history, and the flexibility of the Your Way format meant even more walkers from outside the Boston area could contribute to that tremendous total. In 2021, more than 6,100 participants defied cancer by walking in 42 states and 9 countries, all for the shared goal of supporting Dana-Farber’s revolutionary science, extraordinary care, exceptional expertise, and essential opportunities.

Team Beyond CRC, led by David Thau and Brigette Arsenault, walked together in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. The team walked a 5K to a local restaurant where they celebrated their success together outside. Beyond CRC team members are united around raising awareness and funds to support Dana-Farber’s Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center, which is led by Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH. The team is comprised of patients, survivors, caregivers, and medical professionals.

“The creation of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center was made possible by philanthropy and would not be where it is today without the support of events like the Jimmy Fund Walk,” said Thau. “So thank you to all of our walkers and donors!”

Thau was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 34 and travels to Dana-Farber from Washington, D.C., for treatment. Raising more than $127,000, Thau is the top fundraiser for the 2021 Jimmy Fund Walk.

Ellen Caliendo, co-captain of the Ovarian Cancer Brigade, celebrated her 30th year with the Jimmy Fund Walk in 2021. A friend of Caliendo’s, and her friend’s mother, both lost their battles with ovarian cancer, inspiring Caliendo to raise money and awareness for ovarian cancer research through the Jimmy Fund Walk. Caliendo says she never saw herself as a fundraiser, but knowing the impact the money has on the work of Dana-Farber has allowed her to become more confident raising funds.

“I keep reminding myself that I’m not asking for me,” says Caliendo. “I’m asking people to help save lives, and that gives me the motivation.”

Christine Carberry is another walker who got creative with her walk. Carberry, of team Purple Striders, walked back-to-back half marathons. Carberry completed her first half marathon in Durham, N.H., and the second with her co-captain, Sarah Liziewski, in Kennebunk, Maine.

Carberry walks in memory of her husband, Timothy, who passed away in 2018 from pancreatic cancer. Carberry says the Jimmy Fund Walk provided her with motivation to keep moving forward and to turn her loss into something good.

“Dana-Farber played an important role in our cancer journey, and it was the first place I looked for an event that would help me give back in memory of my husband,” Carberry said. “I have done many long-distance walks, so walking a full marathon was a perfect fit and a new challenge.”

The entire Jimmy Fund Walk community, in turn, plays an important role in The Dana-Farber Campaign, providing essential funds that accelerate the Institute’s mission to prevent, treat, and defy cancer for patients everywhere.

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When Jane and Fred Jamieson decided to give $1 million to The Dana-Farber Campaign last year, it was the latest example in a long history of the Jamieson Family supporting the Institute’s work in women’s cancers. Jane, an Institute Trustee since 2000, has seen Dana-Farber grow in leaps and bounds over the years, and is especially following the work happening at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers.

The Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers was the vision of the late Susan F. Smith, an Institute Trustee and steady force behind an effort to unite the clinical and research strengths of Dana-Farber’s breast and gynecologic cancer programs and increase opportunities for scientific collaboration and translational research. When Jane first became acquainted with Dana-Farber in 1997, one of the first people she met was Eric P. Winer, MD, who was at that time the chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at the Smith Center, and recently stepped down as chief clinical development officer, senior vice president of medical affairs, and Thompson Chair in Breast Cancer Research at Dana-Farber. Jane’s conversations with Winer about the pressing need for more research inspired her first gift to Dana-Farber and women’s cancers.

That first interaction sparked a decades-long partnership with Dana-Farber. Jane is one of the founding co-chairs of the Susan F. Smith Center Executive Council, which supports the Smith Center’s work through education, fundraising, and advocacy initiatives. The center has since grown into one of the most comprehensive and advanced programs of its kind, pushing the frontier of research by developing innovative therapies and setting cancer care standards for physicians across the globe.

This latest gift establishes the Jamieson Family Fund for Early Career Breast Cancer Researchers, which will go towards training researchers starting out in their careers. Jane wanted to ensure this gift would support the Smith Center’s faculty. “I have had the opportunity to see the team I met 10 to 15 years ago mature and develop into fantastic clinicians and researchers— into a world-class team,” said Jamieson. “Part of their mission is to support the next generation, and I am hoping this gift will help to do just that.” Supporting and developing exceptional expertise is central to the Institute’s mission and is a key strategic priority of The Dana-Farber Campaign.

Every year, two early career researchers will be selected to receive funding from the Jamieson Family Fund for their innovative research in women’s cancers. “I am extraordinarily appreciative and grateful for Jane’s partnership and friendship over the years,” said Winer. “This gift from Jane and Fred will support our pipeline of physician-scientists and the innovative work—often high-risk, high-reward investigations—they will undertake to change the future of breast cancer.”

When talking about her long history with Dana-Farber, Jane reflects on how exciting it has been to watch the Smith Center evolve. She especially values the opportunity she had to work with Susan Smith. “One thing I appreciated about Mrs. Smith is that she never lost her passion and commitment,” she said. “She was always focused on the future.”

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The Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) team started its 26.2-mile race from all different places in 2021—some runners set off from the famous Boston Marathon® start line in Hopkinton on Marathon Monday, Oct.11, and some were virtual participants in locales of their own choosing between Oct. 8 and 10. No matter the location or the date, DFMC teammates hold one thing in common: their cancer-defying mission for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“I am so honored and so humbled to be a part of such a generous community leading us all to be a part of the solution,” said seven-year DFMC team member Tracy Saperstein. Tracy surpassed $250,000 in lifetime fundraising in 2021, a standout accomplishment in the DFMC community.

In total, DFMC runners collectively raised more than $4.2 million to benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber. The Barr Program focuses on basic science investigations that explore biology’s fundamental questions and can lead to major breakthroughs and new treatments for cancer. One hundred percent of all DFMC fundraising efforts support the Barr Program’s discovery science, a crucial strategic priority of The Dana-Farber Campaign.

Matt Bergin, who has run DFMC for an incredible 30 years, has seen firsthand how the evolution of cancer treatments has grown over the years. “My wife and I met through Dana-Farber. We have four children. Dana-Farber is a second family to me and has helped create my primary family. My dad passed away after battling pancreatic cancer,” said Matt. “However, treatments have improved so much since I started running in 1992. While there is still so much more to do, many cancers have gone from untreatable to curable in my 30 years on the DFMC team.”

David Kelly is a newer member of the team roster who has quickly made a big impact through his support of the Barr Program. “I’m so excited to be running the Boston Marathon for Dana-Farber for the third straight year,” said David. “I’m lucky to be on the team because of all the wonderful teammates, volunteers, organizers and our training advisor, Jack Fultz, who make the long miles and tough hills so much easier to run. I am personally honored because of how researchers at Dana-Farber helped our family in its time of need seven years ago.”

Every DFMC runner takes off from the starting line with a story—a quest—to defy cancer, and with every step, brings Dana-Farber closer to the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.

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A career venture capitalist, Dana-Farber Trustee Howard Cox has always had an eye for investing in innovation. It’s this mindset that motivated him to establish the Presidential Entrepreneurial Initiatives Fund for The Dana-Farber Campaign, which empowers Dana-Farber President and CEO Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, to direct funds to emerging areas of critical need.

With a new commitment of $1 million, Cox has empowered Glimcher to deploy resources to support some of the most entrepreneurial priorities driving The Dana-Farber Campaign, an ambitious multi-year, $2 billion fundraising effort to help Dana-Farber defy cancer through investments in revolutionary science, extraordinary care, exceptional expertise, and essential opportunities.

“This fund is critical because it provides Dr. Glimcher with a discretionary fund for entrepreneurial initiatives that will have the most immediate impact,” says Cox. “While certain types of funding can take time to secure, this money can be deployed immediately—whether it’s to recruit and fund a promising new researcher or break new ground with a cutting-edge clinical study.”

Through his generosity, coupled with his enthusiasm for innovation, Cox has helped advance many of the Institute’s most entrepreneurial-minded programs, including ImmunoProfile, which aims to customize treatment to a patient’s immune system, enabling it to recognize and fight cancer cells and guide more effective and durable outcomes; single cell analyses, a new technology critical in understanding cancer biology; and groundbreaking research into the progression of gastrointestinal cancers, with a goal of improving treatment and prevention. Most importantly, Cox’s generous support has enabled Dana-Farber to attract and retain its most valuable asset: the world-class faculty that drive this vital work, ensuring they are funded at the most critical stages of their careers.

“Cancer medicine is a swiftly evolving field, and Howard’s visionary philanthropy keeps the Institute ahead of the curve by empowering us to capitalize on the most promising opportunities for pivotal breakthroughs,” says Glimcher, who is the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine. “Strengthened by this versatile funding, we have been able to nimbly invest in entrepreneurial projects and people that are continuing to pay off for patients many years later.”

Immediately, Cox’s gift will be used to recruit and retain some of the field’s most talented faculty and researchers to help achieve the ambitious goals outlined in The Dana-Farber Campaign, which will accelerate the Institute’s success in preventing, treating, and defying cancer. “Science is moving quickly—we now have technology that allows us to get things done in months that used to take years,” says Cox. “Our goal is to cure cancer, and the only way we can cure cancer is to come up with new initiatives, new ideas. And that’s what this fund is all about.”

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Everyone loves a comeback story, and the 19th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon presented by Arbella Insurance provides a powerful example. After a year off due to the pandemic, this signature broadcast came roaring back in 2021 like a ninth inning rally, culminating in one of the most successful fundraising appeals in the program’s history.

Broadcast live from Fenway Park over 36 hours on Aug. 24 and 25, Radio-Telethon raised more than $3.8 million in unrestricted funding for Dana-Farber, bringing the event’s cumulative total to over $62 million since 2002. This incredible support from the Jimmy Fund community advances The Dana-Farber Campaign, an historic fundraising effort to accelerate the revolutionary science, extraordinary care, and exceptional expertise needed to defy cancer at every turn, now and for years to come.

As always, at the heart of the Radio-Telethon’s success were the Boston Red Sox and their 68-year strong partnership with the Jimmy Fund. Team ownership raised nearly $190,000 through the annual Red Sox Partners Challenge. Players, coaches, and alumni pitched in with memorable on-air appearances by Alex Cora, Xander Bogaerts, Chris Sale, and 2021 Jimmy Fund Captain Nathan Eovaldi, as well as Sox legends David Ortiz and Roger Clemens, among others. 2021 also marked Radio-Telethon’s expansion to the Red Sox Spanish Radio Network airwaves.

Beyond the Red Sox, local all-stars stepped up to the plate to make the 2021 Radio-Telethon a hit. Granite Telecommunications Co-Founder and CEO Rob Hale and his wife, Karen, challenged donors by matching all gifts received during The Greg Hill Show, totaling a gift of $355,000 and inspiring thousands of donations. Numerous area celebrities participated over the phone and in-person, including Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask and Charlie Coyle, and others from the Bruins and Boston Celtics. Anchoring this powerful lineup was presenting sponsor Arbella Insurance, which donated $100,000 through its “Strike Out Cancer” promotion, contributing $50 for each strikeout thrown by a Red Sox pitcher this season.

Dedicated media partners WEEI 93.7 FM and New England Sports Network (NESN) produced an outstanding two-day broadcast featuring moving stories from Dana-Farber patients, doctors, nurses, researchers, and leaders, who embodied the Institute’s mission and exemplified the Radio-Telethon’s impact. Dana-Farber pediatric and adult patients also attended games both nights and took part in special pre-game activities, from singing the national anthem, to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, to starting the games with an emphatic “Play ball!”

Thanks to this strong team effort, the 2021 Radio-Telethon provided a rousing comeback performance rivaling the action on field and generating bedrock funding that touches every aspect of Dana-Farber’s life-changing work. “A very special thank you to everyone across Red Sox Nation who helped make this year’s Radio-Telethon such a success,” said Larry Lucchino, Chairman of the Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Trustee, Chairman/Principal Owner of the Worcester Red Sox, and President/CEO Emeritus of the Boston Red Sox. “Your support strengthens cancer care and research at Dana-Farber and benefits all patients, and we are truly grateful.”

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Golf courses around New England were back in the swing of things in 2021, as supporters of Jimmy Fund Golf presented by Mohegan Sun returned to the fairways across the country to fundraise for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Thanks to thousands of dedicated volunteer tournament directors, sponsors, donors, and players, more than 80 Jimmy Fund Golf events raised over $5.6 million in 2021 to help Dana-Farber defy cancer.

Fundraising through golf took on extra meaning over the past year, as each dollar raised and ball hit was part of The Dana-Farber Campaign, the Institute’s ambitious, multi-year fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer by accelerating revolutionary science, extraordinary care, and exceptional expertise. Every golfer was a partner in this effort, raising funds that are already at work at Dana-Farber to help patients today get the best treatment possible, while enabling innovative researchers to discover breakthroughs that will help future patients both in New England and around the world.

With continued ebbs and flows in the ongoing pandemic, tournament directors showed incredible perseverance and agility by adapting their events to meet local guidelines. From moving from shotgun starts to tee times, and pivoting their post-golf gatherings to outdoor receptions, tournament directors got creative to hold their events safely and raise critical funds for Dana-Farber. Additionally in 2021, Jimmy Fund Golf welcomed 14 new events to its strong community of golf fundraisers. And many individuals joined the Jimmy Fund Golf Challenge, fundraising virtually throughout the summer to earn a chance to play at The Cape Club of Sharon in August.

While 2021 may have looked different, the dedication of the Jimmy Fund Golf community remained the same, with everyone deeply committed to raising vital funds to bring hope to Dana-Farber’s patients. Jimmy Fund Golf is extremely thankful for its loyal supporters who take to the course each year in support of Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission.

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Capping off another successful fundraising season in 2021, Expect Miracles Foundation made a gift of $1.1 million in support of the Robert and Renée Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science at Dana-Farber. Expect Miracles Foundation has supported Dana-Farber for more than 27 years—in that time, their cumulative giving has surpassed an incredible $11 million.

As in years past, the funds were raised through their many high-profile events, including three large golf tournaments held throughout the year and across the country: the West Coast Classic at the Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach, Calif.; the East Coast Classic at the Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, Mass.; and the Atlantic Coast Classic at the Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, N.J. The three events impressively drew around 600 golfers in total and were held in person, following state guidelines.

Support from the foundation will help advance groundbreaking research at the Belfer Center. Research currently underway at the Center includes a collaborative project with Dana-Farber’s Rizwan Romee, MD, a leading expert in therapeutics that leverage natural killer (NK) cells—a deadly but short-lived immune attacker. Romee previously discovered that NK cells could be coaxed into lengthening their immunological “memory” to boost the immune response. Now, alongside the Belfer Center’s ImmunoOncology Group, Romee is exploring additional ways to further boost the efficacy of NK cell therapies.

Additionally, Joyce Liu, MD, MPH, director of clinical research in Dana-Farber’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and Ursula Matulonis, MD, chief of that division and the Brock-Wilson Family Chair at Dana-Farber, are working to create effective new therapies for patients with recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer. Using organoids—living models of tumors rapidly grown from patients’ cells—developed at the Belfer Center, Liu and Matulonis aim to determine how these tumors respond to specific drugs or combination therapies, providing hope for patients with limited treatment options.

“Belfer Center scientists tackle some of the most critical issues in cancer today,” said Pasi Jänne, MD, PhD, director of the Belfer Center and of the Carole M. and Philip L. Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology and the Chen-Huang Center for EGFR Mutant Lung Cancers. “Thanks to Expect Miracles Foundation’s ongoing partnership, our team continues to identify strategies that are revolutionizing the way we detect and treat cancer, which makes a meaningful difference to patients around the world.”

“Expect Miracles Foundation’s partnership with the Belfer Center and Dana-Farber continues to help us in accomplishing our central mission: to provide hope in the face of cancer,” said Frank Strauss, chairman of Expect Miracles Foundation. “As always, we’re honored to be able to partner together in pursuit of that promise—investment in today’s research makes tomorrow’s miracles.”

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America runs on Dunkin’, and the Jimmy Fund is proud to run on the support of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, a longtime partner in the fight against cancer.

This year, through their annual golf tournament, the Dunkin’ Joy | NDCP Golf Classic held on August 9, 2021, Dunkin’ Joy raised an incredible $1 million to fund precision medicine for pediatric cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, an important strategic priority of the Institute and of The Dana-Farber Campaign. The tournament is annually sponsored by Dunkin’ Franchisees, NDCP, suppliers, and business partners who share in the desire to improve treatment options for pediatric patients at Dana-Farber and around the world.

The 2021 event attracted more than 250 golfers who were treated to a Margaritaville-themed day of golf, a live auction led by NHL Hall of Famer and Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque, and a post-event dinner with remarks by Scott Armstrong, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber and the David G. Nathan Professor of Pediatrics.

“Cancer affects every community. Dunkin’ Franchisees and the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation are proud to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s groundbreaking work to improve outcomes for pediatric cancer patients,” said Victor Carvalho, co-chair of the Board of Directors for the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation.

Advances in genomics—a field dedicated to identifying genetic factors responsible for the development of cancer—have tremendously benefited adult patients with historically intractable cancers, and with this generous gift, researchers at Dana-Farber are working to develop new targeted therapies for children.

One of these initiatives is the Cancer Vulnerabilities Project led by Kimberly Stegmaier, MD, co-director of the Childhood Hematologic Malignancy Center and the Ted Williams Chair at Dana-Farber. Pediatric cancers have few driver mutations, so developing targeted drugs for these diseases can be difficult. To address this problem, Stegmaier and her team are utilizing CRISPR technology to fully catalog genetic dependencies—genes required for cancer’s survival and proliferation— across childhood cancers to reveal precision medicine strategies. This comprehensive catalog, called the Pediatric Cancer Dependency Map, has already uncovered several promising drug targets.

The insights gleaned from studies like the Cancer Vulnerabilities Project are helping to develop specific therapies based on the unique genetics of an individual’s tumor. With this knowledge, physicians will be able to match existing drugs with specific diseases in an effort to prevent drug resistance which will have a direct impact on children both at Dana-Farber and across the globe.

“Dana-Farber’s precision medicine initiatives are empowering researchers to pursue a wide range of potential therapeutic strategies for children on a national scale,” said Armstrong. “We are grateful to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation’s continued partnership as we work to bring better, more targeted treatments to pediatric cancer patients, and expand our understanding of the biology of pediatric cancer.”

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