Jessica M. Berman, a loving Los Angeles wife, mother and friend, was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer while five months pregnant with her son Leo. At the tender age of 34, she became a tireless fighter for her life, an inspiring advocate for others afflicted by this disease, and a prolific fundraiser for breast cancer research. Since childhood, Jessica had an affinity for Wonder Woman, the warrior princess fighting for justice and peace. She came to embody this heroine in her personal battle against breast cancer. Though Jessica passed away on August 24, 2014, at age 38, her legacy lives on through the WONDER WOMAN WALK.
The proceeds from the Walk will benefit the Jessica M. Berman Fund at Tower Cancer Research Foundation, which provides funding for important and innovative breast cancer research and patient support services.
In partnership with Tower, the Jessica Berman Foundation has established two $500,000 five-year Senior Investigator Grants focused on innovative breast cancer research. In April 2015, the first $500,000 Jessica M. Berman Senior Investigator Grant was awarded to Dr. Richard Pietras of UCLA, Division of Hematology/Oncology for his work on next generation estrogen receptor downregulators for breast cancer therapy. The second $500,000 Grant was awarded in May 2016 to Dr. Michael Press of USC’s Norris Cancer Center for his work to develop a biomarker needed to establish cancer susceptibility to a new agent that directly targets cancer cell division in breast cancer patients. Over $100,000 has also been committed to breast cancer patient support services, which includes a $50,000 grant to Camp Kesem, a year-round volunteer organization that creates, manages and runs life changing camp programs to support children through and beyond their parent’s cancer.
To register for the walk, visit www.wonderwomanwalk.org or call 310.299.8470.
Media RSVP and Talent Inquiries: rachel@pr-a.biz
This event generously sponsored by Platinum Sponsors MACQUARIE and the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation, Gold Sponsor Revlon, and:
Skadden Arps
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Leonard Green & Partners
Latham & Watkins
Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA
Bench International
Gibson Dunn
Northern Trust
PLAYSTUDIOS
One Wealth Management
Mass Mutual
Bloomberg Philanthropies
AQUAhydrate
Paul Mitchell
Revitalash
Mattel Foundation
Gelson’s
Palisadian Post
Coco Libre
Starbucks
KindBar
SmartyPants Vitamins`
Justin’s
ABOUT THE JESSICA BERMAN FOUNDATION The Jessica Berman Foundation was lovingly established in 2014 by Jessica’s husband David to honor Jessica’s memory and continue her legacy of raising awareness and funds to fight breast cancer and childhood neurological disorders. The Foundation’s goal is to actively seek out and fund the most promising and innovative research in both of these areas, while also deploying funds for patient support services for those that need assistance or support. https://jessicabermanfoundation.org
ABOUT TOWER CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION : Tower has been the Southern California cancer patient’s greatest ally since 1996. Tower provides grants for innovative research, caring patient support and community education to promote more effective treatments for cancer. As a leading donor-directed, specialized cancer research foundation, Tower is focused on funding Southern California initiatives with a global impact. Tower has raised over $25 million in the last decade alone -- resources that have funded specific groundbreaking research and patient support programs that are professionally vetted by committees comprised of local scientific and community leaders. In addition, Tower awards several $100,000 Career Development Grants annually to young pioneering physician scientists engaged in groundbreaking bench-to-bedside research. In the last two decades, Tower has participated in over two hundred clinical trials with thousands of patients and awarded over 2 million dollars to 32 physician scientists pursuing novel hypotheses. While there are many brilliant scientists performing cancer research, Tower recognizes the importance of nurturing the regional pool of rich research talent because important breakthroughs have come from unexpected directions and provided new perspectives. The physician scientists who have received Tower’s Career Development Grants often demonstrate such promising results that they later obtain large grants from other foundations and cancer research centers. Tower’s initial $2 million investment has led to $35 million in additional clinical research funding. http://towercancer.org/
Contact: Rachel Schwartz/PR AdvantEDGE Inc.
310.990.2764
Email
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SOURCE Tower Cancer Research Foundation
