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The Multiple Myeloma
Research Foundation (MMRF) raises over $875,000 for cancer
research at the 14th Annual Laugh for Life COMEDY
event
On May 3, 2016,
nearly 650 supporters including patients, family members,
healthcare leaders and business executives attended the 14th
Annual Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Laugh for
Life: New York. The evening raised over $875,000
making this year’s event the
most successful ever. This support further accelerates
scientific research in multiple myeloma while setting the
standard for efforts in all cancers.
The event featured
the comedic talent of Joy Behar, comedic emcee, writer,
actress and Emmy Award-Winning talk show co-host. Actor and
comedian Brad Zimmerman opened the night, and New York stage
actor and stand-up comedian Mario Cantone was the headline
performer. For the second year in a row, WABC-TV
meteorologist Amy Freeze served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
The MMRF was proud
to honor Laugh Co-Chair, Sherri Lippman with the Carol
Goldschein Spirit of Hope Award presented by Celgene
for her extraordinary commitment to the MMRF and its
mission. Mrs. Lippman’s dedication and drive to cure this
disease is inspired by her close connection to multiple
myeloma: her father passed away from the disease, and her
sister, Jane is currently battling this incurable cancer.
Laugh for Life was
founded by three sisters – Sue Korn, Cindi Stern, and the
late Carol Goldschein –to support the MMRF mission and to
celebrate life through laughter. It has since raised almost
$7 million to support transformative cancer research. The
MMRF is so incredibly grateful for Laugh co-chairs, Sherri
Lippman and Alison Slap Tress for their commitment and
dedication to this event and the Foundation.
The MMRF is thankful
for the support of these leading pharmaceutical companies:
Presenting Sponsor – Celgene Corporation and Leadership
Circle Sponsors – Janssen Oncology and Takeda Oncology.
The MMRF is an
organization founded by a patient, Kathy Giusti, to help
patients. The MMRF has a tremendous sense of urgency to
speed multiple myeloma research, drive new insights and
advance the precision medicine model to find new
treatments. The MMRF’s Precision Medicine Model is the only
end-to-end system in cancer research today and is leading
the way in developing the next generation of treatments and
ultimately finding a cure.
About Multiple
Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is
a cancer of the plasma cell. It is the second most common
blood cancer. An estimated 30,330 adults (17,900 men and
12,430 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with
multiple myeloma in 2016 and an estimated 12,650 people
(6,430 men and 6,220 women) are predicted to die from the
disease.
About the Multiple Myeloma
Research Foundation (MMRF)
The Multiple Myeloma Research
Foundation (MMRF) was established in 1998 as a 501(c) (3)
non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and
Kathy Giusti, soon after Kathy’s diagnosis with multiple
myeloma. The mission of the MMRF is to relentlessly pursue
innovative means that accelerate the development of
next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the
lives of patients and lead to a cure. As the world’s
number-one private funder of multiple myeloma research, the
MMRF has raised more than $300 million since its inception
and directs nearly 90% of total budget to research and
related programming. As a result, the MMRF has been awarded
Charity Navigator’s coveted four-star rating for 11
consecutive years, the highest designation for outstanding
fiscal responsibility and exceptional efficiency.
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