Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation

Spring 2009 rwww.waxmancancer.orgep 1249 Fifth Avenue, Suite 907, New York,o NY 10029 phone:r 212.348.0136 fax:t 212.426.2273 [email protected]

Mildred and Abby Levine are among the staunchest supporters of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Through the Mildred and Abner Levine Family Foundation, they have been generous donors since their first gift in 1991, and have maintained their support in the face of current economic challenges. In a recent conversation, they described their commitment and the reasons that motivate them to maintain it. What follows comes from the record of what was said, with the interviewer’s remarks in italics.

How did you first get involved with the Samuel Waxman Cancer So helping our friends by recommending him is something else that Research Foundation? I’ve gotten out of it. Mr. Levine: We first got involved with the Foundation in 1983. I had Mr. Levine: We both have. cancer. I was referred to Dr. Waxman and I think that he’s the main reason why I’m alive today. I’m still here and I’m very indebted to him. Supposing someone came to you and said, “I’m thinking of giving some money to the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Are you aware of the results the Foundation has been achieving? Foundation.” What would you say? Mr. Levine: Yes, I’m aware of the wonderful research. But the thing Mrs. Levine: I’d say, “I’ll mail the check for you!” that has particularly attracted me to the Foundation is the fact that Mr. Levine: And I’d say that you couldn’t find an organization that is they don’t try to do it in one laboratory. Dr. Waxman’s idea is having more worthy or more focused on trying to find a cure for something scientists all over the world work together. I think that that has been that’s been so fatal to so many of us, to our families, to our friends, the key to why we support the Foundation, because of this approach. to people we know and love dearly. Mrs. Levine: Sharing. They share the information. It’s what they Mrs. Levine: It’s been a pleasure to work with such an organization. call the “Institute Without Walls.” They use results from one area to Everything they do is first class. speed up the work in others. Mr. Levine: My feelings are that if we’re going to find a cure, it’s going Mr. Levine: It’s very efficient, and it makes a lot of sense in today’s to be through the research that is being done like this—research economy that each dollar gets used fully. It was way ahead of its time. without waste and drawing on the best researchers all over the world. Not in one place, not with one person, not with ten scientists, not in If you had to point to the single most important return you get one hospital, but all over the world. And God bless him, Dr. Waxman. from your support of the Foundation, what would you say it was? Mr. Levine: Well, I think the most important thing comes from my understanding of what the Waxman Foundation stands for. Dr. Waxman has had the diligence and the caring to continue this work way, way beyond what most doctors do. He has kept at it with Table of Contents persistence. This is his one goal in life—to find a cure for cancer. Stopping the growth of cancer and finding a treatment. Letter from the Chairman...... 2 Mrs. Levine: I also feel something else very strongly about Sam The Tuttle Agency Gives Back...... 2 Waxman. Every patient we have recommended has come back and Collaborating for a Cure Gala...... 3

said, “He’s such a fine human being. It’s not only that he’s a good Hamptons Happening Summer Event...... 4 doctor, but you feel that he really is interested in your own welfare.” Why Support SWCRF?...... 5

Did You Know?...... 6 From the Chairman Samuel Waxman Cancer Research An organization is only as good as its people, and this Foundation is Foundation doubly fortunate. We support some of the world’s best scientists and Chairman we are supported by some of the world’s finest donors, who make this Michael Nierenberg innovative research possible. Vice-Presidents Gary Jacob We often talk about our investigators and their progress. J. Jay Mautner David S. Taub This newsletter highlights our donors – their dedication, Dena K. Weiner their achievements and the events that mobilize them. Secretary Laurie L. Schaffran We want to underscore our appreciation for the critically- Treasurer important support of so many generous donors. Clifford Greenberg Board of Directors In the last year, scientists supported by the Samuel Waxman Cancer Dale Claman Thomas A. Conway Research Foundation achieved breakthrough results, including James E. Frankel international recognition for curing one of the deadlier forms of leukemia. Gary Gladstein Yet even with such encouragement as these achievements, our mission Eric Goldstein Dennis A. Herman demands tremendous patience and dedication from everyone. Linda Herman Costas Kondylis Thank you for your commitment to, and support of, the Samuel Waxman Abner Levine Cancer Research Foundation. Together, we have already made a Mildred Levine difference, and we will continue to make a greater and greater difference Howard Shlafmitz Tony M. Shogren as we move closer to our goal of containing cancer. Bernard Sillins Clifford Sterling Spencer Waxman Corporate Council Greenberg Traurig, LLP ITOCHU International, Inc. —Michael Nierenberg Costas Kondylis & Partners, LLP Chairman of the Board Orda Management Corporation Elie Tahari, Ltd The Trump Organization Chairman’s Council Lawrence Altman Peter Claman Robert E. Fischer Arminio Fraga Leslie Elliot Krause Thomas Marano Richard Mazer Edward Sheldon Honorary Board Maureen Cogan Martin L. Coyne Mary Kantor Susan W. Rose The Tuttle Alan P. Safir* Joan A. Safir* Agency Edwin C. Scheurer Alfred J. Seaman* ­Michael A. Wiener Gives Back and Zena Wiener Scientific Director Feels Great! Samuel Waxman, M.D. Associate Scientific Directors Ethan Dmitrovsky, M.D. Sitting at lunch with Dr. Waxman a few months We are particularly excited about launching an Jonathan Licht, M.D. ago, I was inspired by all the amazing work that innovative “Dollar a Paycheck” program for our Scientific Advisory Board I. David Goldman, M.D. SWCRF is doing to try to figure out how a grass employees. As a Staffing Agency, we employ Jennifer Rubin Grandis, M.D. roots fundraising program could help the Samuel not only our in-house staff, but a multitude of Waun Ki Hong, M.D. Waxman Cancer Research Foundation face this temporary and contingent workers. A dollar a Douglas R. Lowy, M.D. Franco M. Muggia, M.D. economic climate. week won’t buy you a coffee at Starbucks, but Max S. Wicha, M.D. all together those dollars can help cure cancer! Stuart Yuspa, M.D. Staff at the Tuttle Agency threw themselves into Times are certainly tough right now for The Executive Director this project with enthusiasm and we formed a Merle Duskin Kailas fundraising committee. We immediately made Tuttle Agency recruiters, but we feel great about DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PLANNING SWCRF the beneficiary of February and March helping SWCRF. AND MARKETING Friday Denim Day, when employees can donate Didi Lacher $5 to the designated charity to wear jeans that —Theodore L. Angelus, Jr., CPC DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT Joan Siffert day. Most of the eligible employees participated President & CEO, The Tuttle Agency *Past Chairman and raised about $500. www.tuttleagency.com SWCRF REPORT David Jobrack, Writer Lili Schwartz, Design Gala Guests Raise More than $4 Million “Cancer doesn’t stop and neither did we!” Foundation supporters attending the Eleventh Annual Collaborating for a Cure benefit for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation raised over $4 million to fund life saving research. Hosts Elin and Michael Nierenberg presided at the 1,000-seat event on November 20, 2008. With Chevy Chase as Master of Ceremonies and Hugh Hildesley of Sotheby’s as auctioneer, guests had a gala time, in every sense of the word. Celebrity guests included Tamara Tunie, star of Law & Order: SVU, Cancer 101 founder Monica Knoll and ESPN host Jeremy Schaap. Amid much excited comment, and encouraged by a record $1.5 million challenge grant from the Foundation’s Board of Directors, guests bid for such exotic items as tennis with Andre Agassi, a cruise on a yacht newly renovated for $18 million, dinner at the Waverly Inn with Chevy and Jayni Chase, corporate jet trips to private villas on St. Barts and St. Maarten, and a set of drums and lesson from Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, who personally auctioned off this once-in-a-lifetime experi- ence. Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Steely Dan gave an intimate after- dinner concert, followed by a rocking after-party with the Lost Trailers.

photos by: Rebecca Weiss and Patrick McMUllan SWCRF Funds Why Support the Members of the Institute Without Samuel Waxman Cancer Walls at:

Research Foundation? Brandeis University, Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center California Institute of Technology What sets the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation Dana-Farber Cancer Institute apart from other cancer research organizations? Dartmouth Medical School Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research 1. A focus on one of the most promising strategies in cancer research. Center Epigenetics investigates how to reprogram chaotically growing cancer cells to die like normal cells. Harvard University, Massachusetts Foundation-sponsored researchers are developing precisely targeted drugs to cure cancer without major General Hospital side effects – a dramatic advance over the blunt instruments of chemotherapy and radiation. This strategy The Institute of Cancer Research even has potential to prevent some cancers. (England) Johns Hopkins University, 2. The outstanding quality of the science being practiced and of the scientists who practice it. McKusick-Nathans Institute of Foundation-sponsored research is being conducted by top scientists at some of the most prestigious Genetic Medicine institutions in the United States and six other nations, organized into the Foundation’s Institute Without Johns Hopkins University, Walls. An outside panel of scientists from the National Cancer Institute and other major research cancer James Buchanan Brady centers reviews the research every year. Urological Institute McGill University, Department 3. Impressive effectiveness and efficiency. of Oncology (Canada) The Foundation has earned a distinguished reputation for effectiveness and efficiency. Memorial Sloan-Kettering The Foundation has cured acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Current research is making Cancer Center breakthroughs in such hard-to-treat cancers as lung and pancreatic. Important progress is being Mount Sinai Medical Center made in understanding the mechanisms of metastasis, which is responsible for most cancer deaths. Northwestern University, Robert Lurie Progress is accelerated by a unique requirement for active collaboration among researchers. As they Comprehensive Cancer Center share tools, techniques and preliminary findings, the pace of research is significantly accelerated. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies In addition, SWCRF grantees have privileged access to two powerful analytic facilities – Center Shanghai Institute of Hematology (China) for Molecular Therapeutics at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and the Epigenomics Center at Weill Cornell Medical Center. Sheba Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Oncology (Israel) SWCRF channels some 87% of the funds it raises directly into the research laboratory. University of Barcelona (Spain) University of California Los Angeles, Because we need your help to Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center University of California San Francisco, support exceptional research focused Helen Diller Comprehensive on the most promising strategy Cancer Center University of Maryland Medical Center, for curing and preventing cancer! Baltimore University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center University of New Mexico, Lovelace Respiratory Research University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Lineberger Cancer Center University of Rochester Medical Center University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Hospital (Canada) Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Cancer Center Weill Cornell Medical College The Wistar Institute Hamptons Happening The Sixth Annual Hamptons Happening promises to be the most exciting ever! The benefit will be held on July 25, 2009 at Susan and Louis Meisel’s stunning Sculpture Field in Sagaponack. Costas Kondylis is Honorary Chair, with Marion Waxman and Laurie Schaffran serving as Co-Chairs. About 500 guests are expected. The event will feature 25 gourmet food stations, ranging from the debut of Southampton’s about-to-open Annie’s Organic Café to well-established favorites like Bobby Van’s Steakhouse, from sparkling Ichiban Sushi to legendary cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. Try your luck at the al fresco casino and the always-interesting live auction. Funds raised at the event will support the Foundation’s cancer research grants, with a portion allocated to the Lori Kondylis Breast Cancer Research Fund at the Foundation. For a slide show of past Hamptons Happenings and details about this year’s event, please go to: http://www.waxmancancer.org/hamptons_happening/ What is special about the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation?

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation’s “novel atmosphere of collective effort across international boundaries is the heart of the Institute Without Walls and provides the energy for the advances being made in translational science. These advances, prominently displayed as new models for drug screening, new molecular targets for therapeutics and interesting new lead compounds for drug development, have identified the Waxman Foundation as a fully comprehensive organization contributing to both basic and applied components of the battle against cancer.” —Dr. Stuart H. Yuspa, Co-Chief, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute Member, SWCRF Scientific Advisory Board Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE 1249 Fifth Avenue, Suite 907 PAID New York, NY 10029 NEW YORK, NY www.waxmancancer.org PERMIT NO. 938

Mark these exciting events on your calendar:

27th Annual Golf Tournament and Dinner on the Beach Monday, June 15 | 10 AM – 7 PM Steak and Lobster at Sunset The Creek Country Club

6th Annual Hamptons Happening Saturday, July 25 | 6 PM – 9 PM Sagaponack Sculpture Field Hosted by Susan and Louis K. Meisel

Help us keep costs down, please send your email address to:[email protected]

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