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.
2016 Laugh for Life Media Contacts:
Susan Kriskey
[email protected]
Marni Lane
[email protected]
Kriskey Lane Communications
MMRF Media Contact:
Sharon Saias
203-652-0211
[email protected]