This month, Philly Fights Cancer was included as one of 25 companies recognized within the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2020 Faces of Philanthropy award.  This annual award highlights praiseworthy pairings of companies and nonprofit organizations who serve their communities through philanthropic efforts large and small, from multimillion-dollar programs to grassroots initiatives.

Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center with Philly Fights Cancer was recognized for a philanthropic partnership of over five years. The award states:

“Since its founding in 2015, Philly Fights Cancer has raised $39 million for life-saving clinical trials and translational research and has helped achieve more than nine FDA approvals for groundbreaking cancer treatments discovered by researchers at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center. The nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser is Philly Fights Cancer. In October, more than 2,000 guests attended Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard starring John Mulaney, Hugh Jackman, Andy Grammar and Lauren Hart, cancer survivor and voice of the Philadelphia Flyers. Round 5 raised nearly $13 million and was dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness.”

The Philadelphia Business Journal is a weekly paper providing local business news to Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. The Philadelphia Business Journal has been recognized for general excellence by the Society of American Business Editors and Writers in 2009 and 2005, and is one of only 14 publications nationwide to receive the association's inaugural “Best of the Best” award.

To read the full story and learn more about this year’s other honorees please see here: https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2020/04/16/2020faces-of-philanthropy-the-stories-of-our-25.html

Philly Fights Cancer is saddened to announce the passing of our organization’s founder and the namesake of the Abramson Cancer Center, Mrs. Madlyn Abramson. A loving mother and wife, a very proud grandmother and beloved friend, Madlyn passed on Wednesday, April 15th at the age of 84 years old.

Madlyn was dedicated to improving the health of those who were ill. "The reputation we enjoy today as one of the nation’s preeminent cancer centers has been built on the strong foundation that Madlyn laid," said Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, director of the Abramson Cancer Center. "Our pursuit of curing cancer unites us every day to do more for our patients here in the Abramson Cancer Center and across the world, and we have Madlyn, together with her husband Leonard, to thank for the vision that set us on this path." Always leading the way in support of patients, the Abramsons were the first to step up at the onset of the current global health crisis, contributing $1 million in support of COVID-19 related research performed at the Abramson Cancer Center. She was known for her drive, her absolute focus on compassionate patient care, and her dedication to Penn’s physicians and researchers.

A survivor of breast cancer herself, Madlyn put she and Leonard’s gift into a personal context in 1997: “As a cancer survivor for 12 years, I understand the importance of patient-centered approaches in research and clinical activities.” In the years since, the ACC has established national models for cancer care, on-boarding a diverse team of patient-service coordinators, cancer nutritionists, and psychosocial counselors and social workers, and developing robust survivorship programs.

In a statement on Thursday, J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD said of Madlyn “Her public commitment would prove prescient: Among first recruits to the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute made possible by their gift was Carl June, MD, the immunotherapy pioneer responsible for the development of what became the first personalized cellular therapy for cancer. At a celebration event attended by hundreds of faculty and staff to celebrate the FDA’s historic approval of the therapy in August 2017, Madlyn and Leonard stood by proudly with Dr. June, his team of physicians and scientists, and our leadership. It was an honor to have her share that moment with all of us.”

He continued: “Madlyn’s impulse to help, to share, and to inspire is one she learned from her father, Maurice Kornberg, and his devotion to his patients.” As Madlyn recalled, “It was very important to my father to do something that was helping and healing.” She also credited her father’s influence for her decision to attend Penn, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree, both in education.

Philly Fights Cancer asks that our friends and supporters keep Madlyn’s husband, Leonard, three daughters — Marcy Abramson Shoemaker, Nancy, and Judy Abramson Felgoise — and many grandchildren in your thoughts and prayers.  Madlyn’s passing is a loss to the world, and her impact on cancer research will be felt for generations to come.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3535 Market Street – Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA  19104 or Philly Fights Cancer.

Madlyn Abramson’s full obituary can be found here: https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/madlyn-abramson-leonard-philanthropist-abramson-center-for-jewish-life-trustee-penn-died-20200416.html

To our supporters and friends, we understand that we are amid challenging and uncertain times. Our normal way of life has been interrupted, with lingering questions and fear surrounding the long-term impact of COVID-19. Especially for those caring for a loved one with cancer or battling the disease themselves at this time, the health risks of COVID-19 can be especially concerning.

Penn Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center continue to be fully-operational hubs for patient health and treatment. We encourage our Philly Fights Cancer family to stay up-to-date on CDC guidelines and best-practices through the Penn Medicine website.  You may also access Penn Medicine’s hotline if you have any questions about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 disease. 267-785-8585. Penn Medicine staff are fully prepared to evaluate and care for patients who may be infected with COVID-19 disease, while taking the strongest possible precautions to ensure the health and safety of all other patients, their families, and hospital staff.

We look forward to the incredible medical advancements to come, and thank the heroes on the front lines- the nurses, doctors, medical staff- who selflessly and tirelessly continue to fight for the health and wellbeing of us all.

Nancy Wolfson and Missy Dietz
Philly Fights Cancer Co-Chairs

Photo courtesy of Penn Medicine