The T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer Research announces the appointment of seventeen new National Board of Directors and two Executive Committee appointments. The new announcement follows the recent appointment of Greenberg Traurig's Joel A. Katz as Chairman of the Board of Directors. At the annual board meeting on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, the Board of Directors voted to award nearly $1.3M in grants to outstanding scientists in seven prominent hospitals in five states.
Joel Katz, chairman of the board of directors said, "Donors from all over the United States come together to support the brightest scientists with the most innovative ideas from Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Columbia University Medical Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University."
The Foundation's National Scientific Advisory Committee, chaired by Donald J. Tindall, Ph.D., is comprised of outstanding researchers from renowned universities and cancer centers, oversees the grant-making process. The diverse research topics funded this year include breast, Sarcoma, colon and lung immunology oncology, prostate and bladder, neuroblastoma leukemia, psych-oncology, ovarian, and stem cells.
"Without the support of the T.J. Martell Foundation, the innovative breakthroughs that we all deserve and fortunately have come to expect as a return on our investment could not have happened, said Mitchell C. Benson, M.D., Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Urology at Columbia University Medical Center. "The T.J. Martell Foundation takes educated risks on supporting early-stage research. These risks result in new understanding of cancer, which leads to new treatments and ultimately the great promises of saving lives."
The newly elected National Board of Directors members are Craig Balsam, Co-Founder, and CEO of Razor & Tie; Larry Beckwith, Chairman of Iconic Entertainment Group; Scott Borchetta, Founder of Big Machine Label Group; Michael Cohl, CEO S2BN Entertainment; John Esposito, Chairman & CEO of Warner Music Nashville; Steve Gawley, Executive Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs of Universal Music Group; Steve Greenberg, Founder & President of S-Curve Records; Julie Gurovitsch, Talent Executive, Music for "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon"; Stanley Lim, Partner at Gelfand Rennert & Feldman, LLP; Ruby Marchand, Vice President of Repertoire Development at Warner Music Group; Charles B. Ortner, Partner, Entertainment Industry at Proskauer Rose LLP; Jason Owen, President and CEO of Sandbox Entertainment; Don Perry, Business Consultant for Greenberg Traurig; Darren Stupak, Executive Vice President/General Manager of Sales for Sony Music Entertainment; Russell Wallach, President of Media & Sponsorship at Live Nation; Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclay's Sports and Entertainment; and Chaka Zulu, Co-Founder of Disturbing Tha Peace Records. Scott Borchetta and John Esposito will also serve on the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee includes Vice-Chairmen John Amato, Co-President of the Hollywood Reporter and Billboard Media Group; Scott Borchetta, Founder of Big Machine Label Group; Tom Corson, COO of RCA Records; John Esposito, Chairman and CEO of Warner Music Nashville; Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing; Monte Lipman, Founder and CEO of Republic Records and Julie Swidler, EVP, Business Affairs & General Counsel for Sony Music Entertainment. Marcus Peterzell, Partner, EVP Entertainment, Ketchum Sports & Entertainment was named President of the Executive Committee and Vice-Presidents are Rick Krim, Co-President, Sony/ATV U.S. Music Publishing and Julie Talbott, President, Premiere Networks. Charlie Feldman, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations serves as Secretary of the Executive Committee, and David Satler, Chief Operating Officer, Barclays Wealth Management & Investment Management, Americas is Treasurer.
"I feel honored to be able to work with such an impressive group of leaders," said Laura Heatherly, CEO of the T.J. Martell Foundation. "Their passion and drive for excellence in our continued efforts in funding innovative scientific research are outstanding."
The T.J. Martell Foundation National Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from the music, sports, hospitality, medical and the legal and financial industries affiliated with entertainment.
