DFLC Newsletter - May 2020 Edition
Dana-Farber Leadership Council
Table of Contents
  • A Message from your Co-Chairs
  • Update on DFLC Events
  • Member Spotlight
  • Committee Corner
  • Events in Review
  • Science Spotlight
  • Dana-Farber in the News
A Message from Your Co-Chairs
Friends, we hope you and your loved ones are healthy and faring well in these difficult times. Never has the importance of community been more apparent, as we all take measures to keep the most vulnerable among us safe and support those on the frontlines of this pandemic. We are enormously grateful for our DFLC community. Your dedication to Dana-Farber is not new, but it has never been more important or appreciated.

So much has happened in the last month, and we are so glad we had the opportunity to see so many of you at our Winter Gathering on March 4—before we began to embrace videoconferencing and virtual togetherness! Special thanks to DFLC member Maya Calabrese for sharing her family’s connection to Dana-Farber and inspiring us all to do even more to support Dana-Farber’s mission to conquer cancer.

At the event, we were happy to announce Michael Dotto as the new co-chair of the DFLC Events Committee. Mike joined the Council in 2017 and has been an active member on the Events Committee ever since. We are thrilled he has agreed to assume this role, working alongside Chris Tracy. And we want to offer a sincere thank you to Amy Sullivan, who preceded Mike, serving as a founding co-chair of the Events committee. Amy, we know your involvement with the Council is not ending and we appreciate everything you have done and continue to do for the DFLC!

At the Winter Gathering, we were proud to celebrate our fundraising achievements from fiscal year 2019 and present our famous “big check.” The Council raised $532,508 last year! This brings our grand total raised since the DFLC’s founding to over $9.7 million dollars. These vital funds will continue to support the DFLC Postdoctoral Fellow and research and patient care initiatives at Dana-Farber. We could not make this incredible impact without your generosity and dedication to Dana-Farber so thank you for all that you do!

On that note, many have asked what you can do to provide extra help during this difficult period for Dana-Farber and our healthcare institutions. This outpouring of support is so heartening. There are many ways you can further our shared mission, including monetary gifts, donations of personal protective equipment, and blood and platelet donations. If you have yet to make your FY20 DFLC gift, please consider making your gift today to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s Emergency Response Fund. For details on other ways to help, visit Dana-Farber’s COVID-19 donations page.

As always, thank you for supporting the lifesaving mission of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

Please stay safe and healthy,
Deb Drapalla and Larry Fahey
Left to right: Paul Enderle, Katelin Kalal, Rachel Pearson, Erin Morano, Michael Dotto, Deb Drapalla, Jeff Feccia, Larry Fahey, and Chris Tracy
Left to right: Paul Enderle, Katelin Kalal, Rachel Pearson, Erin Morano, Michael Dotto, Deb Drapalla, Jeff Feccia, Larry Fahey, and Chris Tracy
Update on DFLC Events
Dana-Farber is continuing to do everything it can to ensure that patients and families are kept as safe as possible.  Weakened immune systems are often a consequence of both cancer and its treatments, which requires us to be especially vigilant in reducing the potential for exposure to COVID-19 in this critical time.  We also want to limit the exposure to and further spread of illnesses, including COVID-19, among our dedicated community of donors and supporters.   

The Division of Philanthropy is postponing, cancelling, or making other adjustments to all in-person events until the COVID-19 outbreak is under control. Therefore, in concert with our hosts at Eaton Vance, we have made the decision to postpone our annual Eaton Vance Rooftop Reception. We will inform you of new dates and details once they are confirmed over the coming months.
Member Spotlight: Erik Ornitz
Erik Ornitz
Name: Erik Ornitz
My hometown is: Old Greenwich, Connecticut.
I currently reside in: I live in Cambridge, MA with my wife Haley and our two year-old black lab, Ranger.
I attended: I graduated from Brown University in 2010 and got my MBA from Harvard Business School in 2018.
My workplace and title are: I am the Director of New Ventures at Tripadvisor, based in Needham, Massachusetts. I’ve been at Tripadvisor since 2018, prior to which I worked in venture capital. I have always valued exploration, but travel took on special meaning for me while my wife was being treated for breast cancer at DFCI from 2017-2018. While we weren’t exactly globetrotting at the time, every small getaway provided us refuge from the battle. When the opportunity at Tripadvisor arose, I jumped at the chance to help bring joy and connection to so many people who rely on the Tripadvisor community to explore new places and experience new cultures. I now lead a team to build and launch new, innovative businesses for the company.
If I am not working I am most likely: With friends around a good meal, in the woods with Haley and Ranger, or out cycling.
My favorite Boston restaurant is: This is a tough one. Haley is an incredible cook and gastronomy student, so we love exploring all the amazing food around town. If forced to choose, I’d have to go with Pammy’s in Cambridge.
I joined DFLC because: Joining the DFLC was inspired by my wife, Haley, and in remembrance of my sister, Alix, both of whom battled breast cancer at Dana-Farber. They received amazing care, support and treatment from wonderful people across the Institute. When Haley finished her final treatment in May 2018, I committed myself to giving back to Dana-Farber and to finding ways to help others going through their own cancer battle. I joined the PMC and Annual Giving committees to help raise funds and awareness. I hope to bring fresh, new ideas on how to support both the lifesaving work of researchers and healthcare workers as well as the livelihoods of patients and families that are impacted by cancer.
Committee Corner
Outreach Committee
Bethany Grazio and Katelin Kalal, Co-Chairs

We’re starting the year off with 3 new Council members! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to:
Oren Wiesler
Stephanie Bernard
Kate Gladziszewski
Since we are all looking for ways to stay connected, we’d like to remind members to engage with DFLC on social media so we can stay in touch. Find us on LinkedIn and Facebook! And we’d also like to remind members to check out our website, www.dana-farberleadershipcouncil.org. You can use the site to search for members’ contact information, download recruitment tools, RSVP for events (once we can gather again), and more. If you have not yet set a password, please email Marisa Kwoczka and she’ll send you the information you need to register.
 

Annual Giving Committee
Bob Pieroni and Erin Morano, Co-Chairs

The DFLC Annual Giving Committee would like to thank all members listed below who made their fiscal year 2020 Annual Fund gift. We are happy to report that as of March 31, 2020, the Leadership Council Annual Fund has raised over $152,000, with 24% member participation.

In this especially anxious time, our cancer patients are encountering serious hardships due to interrupted access to treatment and support. And our leadership and heroic clinical staff are doing everything possible to keep patients and each other safe. We remain steadfastly committed to providing them exceptional care in these unprecedented circumstances. If you have yet to make your FY20 DFLC gift, please consider making your gift today to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s Emergency Response Fund, which will help our patients continue to get the cancer treatment and support they desperately need.

If you have questions about the Emergency Response Fund or would like to make a gift today, please contact Alex Buonfiglio or call 617-632-4780.
 

DFLC President’s Circle Members
Cumulative Giving of $1,500 and more as of March 31, 2020
Camille Colatosti
Wendy & Stephen Faberman
J.P. Fine
Bill Gillen
Jeff Goldstein
Kim & John Kelley
Tim Kierstead
Andrew Kiley
Eric Marandett
Kate May
Erin Morano
Rob Nicewicz
Bob Pieroni
David Silk
Oren Wiesler
Matt Witkos
Marc Zwetchkenbaum

DFLC Members
Cumulative Giving of $250 and more as of March 31, 2020
Charlie Abrams
Linda Bertone
Paul Enderle
Michael Ewald
Laura Fischman
Cynthia O’Brien
John Murphy
Jed Ruccio
John Shea
 
Golf Committee
Victor Chiang and Craig Maurer, Co-Chairs
  • The Golf Committee has postponed the 17th Annual DFLC Golf Tournament to October 6th, 2020 at Granite Links in Quincy, MA.
  • Reach out to Co-Chairs Victor and Craig if you would like to donate auction items or learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
 

DFLC Events Committee
Chris Tracy and Michael Dotto, Co-Chairs
  • The DFLC Events Committee will be hosting a terrific wine and beer tasting event in the fall of 2020 called Raise Your Glass. The planning committee is working to confirm an exciting venue for the 2020 event. We are partnering with a well-known Chef in the Boston restaurant scene and it’s going to be a unique culinary experience.
  • The committee is looking for a few more members to join so if you are interested in getting more involved in the DFLC Events Committee, please reach out to Chris or Michael to learn more!
 

Pan-Mass Challenge Committee
Henry Cataldo, Matt Delaney, and Paul Enderle, Co-Chairs

The 2020 PMC is currently planned for August 1–2, 2020. PMC leadership is consulting with public health experts and plans to make a decision by early June as to whether or not they can safely, and responsibly, stage the PMC weekend in its traditional form. As of now, the three options for PMC weekend that the PMC staff are working on are:
  • In its intended form, with COVID-19 precautions
  • In a significantly modified form
  • In a virtual form
  • Registration for the Sunday routes is still available at www.pmc.org and the commitment to raising funds for Dana-Farber remains resolute. Reach out to Paul, Henry, or Matt to learn more!
 

Walk Committee
Rachel Pearson and Jeff Feccia, Co-Chair
  • Save the date for the 2020 Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk! It is scheduled for Sunday, October 4 and registration is open. You can use the promo code DFLC to receive $5 off the registration fee.
  • You can walk with the DFLC team, start your own, or walk as individuals. Recruit friends and family to join you in October! Whether you’re interested in walking with Team DFLC, volunteering, or starting your own friends and family team, we would love to see you out along the historic Boston Marathon course in October. Please contact Rachel Pearson or Jeff Feccia today!
  • We are currently looking for a Co-Chair and committee members to help support DFLC’s Jimmy Fund Walk efforts. Responsibilities include: helping to draft communications, plan fundraisers, and more. Please contact Rachel Pearson if interested or have any questions.
Science Spotlight
Dana-Farber’s own Dr. William Kaelin is one of three researchers who has been awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. While working independently of each other, they discovered the mechanism by which cells measure and respond to oxygen levels.
Dana-Farber In the News
Dana-Farber Research Team Awarded Pancreatic Cancer Collective 'New Therapies Challenge' Grant
The Pancreatic Cancer Collective, the strategic partnership of the Lustgarten Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), has awarded up to $16 million to four teams of top researchers, including a team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as part of its “New Therapies Challenge Grants,” the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Scientific Partner of SU2C, announced today.

Institute Establishes Chen-Huang Center for EGFR Mutant Lung Cancers
With a $5 million gift from Winston Chen, PhD, and his wife, Phyllis Huang, of Silicon Valley, Calif., Dana-Farber will create the Chen-Huang Center for EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) Mutant Lung Cancers to stimulate research, promote clinical trials, and strengthen the Institute’s capabilities for studying and treating lung cancer.