MMRF Appoints to Board

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) has appointed William K. Bowes, Jr., Marie Pinizzotto, and Pat Williams to the foundation’s board of directors. The appointments bring experiences in venture capital, health care, and leadership to the foundation’s board.

PRESS RELEASE

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) today announced that William K. Bowes, Jr., Marie Pinizzotto, and Pat Williams have joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The three recent additions bring invaluable experiences in venture capital, health care, and leadership to the foundation’s prestigious Board of Directors.

A founding partner of US Venture Partners (USVP), William “Bill” Bowes, Jr. led the firm’s investments in Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Applied Biosystems, Devices for Vascular Intervention, Glycomed, Sun Microsystems and Ventritex. Prior to founding USVP, Bowes had established himself as a successful venture capitalist with companies like Cetus, Raychem and Dymo Industries. Bowes is an active supporter of arts and education in the San Francisco Bay Area and interdisciplinary medical research nationwide. Bowes holds a BA in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard University.

Marie Pinizzotto, MD, is currently the President and CEO of the Carol A. Ammon Foundation, an organization focused on health care, education, and children with disabilities. She was previously the president of Drug Safety Solutions, L.L.C., a Pharmacovigilance and Risk Management consulting company whose main focus is on narcotics and other high risk drugs. Pinizzotto is a trustee, steering committee member, advisory board member, and board member for numerous nonprofit and private organizations. Pinizzotto received her BS in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh, her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, and her MBA from the University of Delaware.

A Senior Vice President and Co-Founder of the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Pat Williams is one of America’s top motivational speakers and the author of over 65 books. A member of seven Hall of Fames around the country, Williams served for seven years in the United States Army, worked for ten years in Major League Baseball, and was a General Manager for more than four decades in the NBA. Williams earned his bachelor’s degree at Wake Forest University and his master’s degree at Indiana University. A dedicated supporter of the MMRF and a myeloma patient, Williams recently delivered a moving address as the Spirit of Hope Award Honoree at the MMRF Chicago Awards Dinner in April 2012.

“We are delighted to welcome Bill, Marie, and Pat to the MMRF Board of Directors,” said Kathy Giusti, Founder and CEO of the MMRF and a multiple myeloma patient. “They are steadfastly committed to our mission of advancing transformative research necessary to speed the development of new treatments and a cure for this fatal cancer.”

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer. The five-year relative survival rate for multiple myeloma is approximately 38 percent, one of the lowest of all cancers. In 2012, more than 21,000 adults in the United States will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma and nearly 11,000 people 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 over $200 million since its inception and directs 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 nine consecutive years, the highest designation for outstanding fiscal responsibility and exceptional efficiency.

SOURCE: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation