On Monday, January 14th,  the honorable Mayor Jim Kenney, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Abramson Cancer Center Director Dr. Robert Vonderheide, CEO of University of Pennsylvania Health System, Ralph Muller and Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine, Larry Jameson joined to celebrate Philly Fights Cancer in honor of an official citation being presented to co-chairs Nancy Abramson Wolfson and Missy Dietz.

In a ceremony taking place within Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, the City of Philadelphia recognized Philly Fights Cancer as an ally to the city in representing the region on a global scale. To date, the organization has raised nearly $26 million to benefit essential clinical trials, including those that led to the historic FDA approval of CAR-T Cell Therapy in 2017. In November 2018, Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4 starring Jerry Seinfeld and Maroon 5 raised close to $10 million. The evening also honored Sean Parker, Founder of the Parker Research Institute and Dr. Carl June, named one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2018 for their work in cellular immunotherapy. With the help of Philly Fights Cancer, the Abramson Cancer Center has been able to radically transform the lives of thousands, giving patients hope that even greater discoveries lie ahead.

Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4 took place Saturday, November 10^th at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Over 1,800 guests gathered to raise nearly $10 million dollars for clinical trials and translational research at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, while enjoying performances from three-time cancer survivor Jessy Kyle, comedy icon Jerry Seinfeld and international superstars Maroon 5.

This year’s honorary physician was Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center researcher Dr. Carl June, the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy. Dr. June was recently named to TIME Magazine’s 2018 TIME 100 - its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world - for his breakthrough CAR-T cell therapy. Last year, the FDA approved Kymriah™ (formerly CTL019) for pediatric leukemia, and Dr. Carl June and colleagues at Penn continue to lead the immunorevolution to expand this life-saving therapy to other cancers. The treatment has been deemed a “miracle drug,” and its approval was referred to by the FDA as “historic action.” The New York Times called it “a milestone that is expected to transform treatment."

This year’s honorary chair was Sean Parker, Founder and Chairman of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. The Institute was established in April 2016 through a grant from the Parker Foundation, which brought together 6 institutions across the United States aimed at accelerating the development of breakthrough immune therapies – including a Penn Parker Institute.

A limited-edition Porsche 911 Speedster was also auctioned off. Jerry Seinfeld performed an exclusive set to close the gala, and guests danced the night away to an unforgettable performance from Maroon 5 at the after party, who played hits including Animals, Misery, Moves Like Jagger, and Sunday Morning.

Photo credits: Paul Loftland

This month’s issue of Philadelphia Style Magazine highlights the city’s non-profits that are working hard to make a difference. The Give Back Issue features Philly Fights Cancer’s dedicated co-chairs Missy Dietz and Nancy Abramson Wolfson, as well as their daughters Paige Dietz and Stephanie Wolfson who co-chair the Young Friends Committee.

Philly Fights Cancer has widely known for its groundbreaking success over the last few years. All proceeds go to fund Abramson Cancer Center’s clinical trials and translational research, striving to end cancer once and for all. Philly Fights Cancer puts a spotlight on the center’s unparalleled treatment for those affected by cancer, earning national and global recognition.

Missy Dietz explains, “Since last year, there have been significant milestones in immunotherapy treatments, including several new FDA approvals.”

Abramson Cancer Center is on track to continue providing cutting edge treatment and personalized care, which Philly Fights Cancer proudly helps to fund by bringing attention and awareness to the hospital, bringing patients from near and far.

“Our reach truly goes beyond Philadelphia- patients travel from all over the world to be treated at Penn.” Nancy explains, “Cancer touches everyone. It is our goal to continue to raise funds.”

Philly Fights Cancer has raised over $16 million since 2015, and Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4 will be taking place this month at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, starring comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld and international superstars Maroon 5.

Philly Fights Cancer is proud to announce Porsche North America as our exclusive automobile partner for Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4. Through year-long fundraising efforts, the annual Philly Fights Cancer event, and with the help of incredible sponsors like Philadelphia Porsche Dealers, the organization will continue to make strides towards the goal of raising awareness and funding for translational research and clinical trials at the Abramson Cancer Center.

“Porsche of Philadelphia is proud to partner with an organization that is changing the game for the future of cancer research and treatment. Philadelphia Porsche Dealers of the Main Line, Conshohocken, Princeton, Cherry Hill, Warrington, and Delaware are honored to get in the ring and fight alongside the remarkable survivors, physicians, families, and caretakers who are involved with Philly Fights Cancer.”

In an exciting new addition for this year’s Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4 event, a limited-edition Porsche 911 Speedster will be auctioned live, with all proceeds benefitting the Abramson Cancer Center.

This year’s SOLD OUT fundraising event will take place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on Saturday, November 10th. Interested in getting involved with the organization or sponsoring next year’s event? Please contact Sonia Berroa via email (soberroa@upenn.edu) or by phone (215-360-0940).

For more information about Philadelphia Porsche Dealers, visit http://www.phillyporschedealers.com/.

The Young Friends of Philly Fights Cancer will be hosting a fundraising event with INTERMIX on October 18th from 5-8pm. Guests will receive a first look at INTERMIX’s limited-edition dress collection, and 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Philly Fights Cancer. Champagne will be served and guests in attendance will be in the running to win a $2,500 INTERMIX wardrobe. To RSVP, email Philadelphia@intermixny.com.

Intermix

1718 Walnut Street

215-545-6034

Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4’s honorees will include Dr. Carl June and Sean Parker. One of the preeminent cancer doctors in the world, Dr. Carl June was named in Time Magazine last year as one of the 100 most influential people in the world and given the nickname “The Cancer Slayer.” This summer, he spoke at a CAR-T immunotherapy conference in Boston where he gave praise to Sean Parker, who generously has contributed to the funding of this groundbreaking research.

As recorded from an interview that took place between reporter Elizabeth Cooney and Dr. Carl June for Stat News:

“Sean Parker has been an early believer. He’s a disruptor. He did Spotify, he did Napster. He put $600 million into a foundation and he’s 35 years old. The guy is amazing.” Said Dr. Carl June. He went on to say “There are six primary Parker Institutes with the idea we can leverage the infrastructure of different existing universities and then work on new therapies more nimbly than each of us in our own foxholes. He [Parker] never went to college, but he started reading. He reads Cell and all the Nature [journals]. He became interested in immune therapy and could he hack the system and make it work more rapidly? That’s how I met him, when he was looking into how to make this happen faster”

To read the entire conversation between Dr. Carl June and Elizabeth Cooney, and to learn more about Dr. June’s work on CAR-T therapy, see the full story from Stat below.

https://www.statnews.com/2018/09/06/car-t-carl-june-nih-sean-parker/

Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4, taking place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on Saturday, November 10^th is now officially sold out! If you are interested in being added to the wait list, or still interested in sponsoring the event, please reach out to Sonia Berroa via email (soberroa@upenn.edu) or by phone (215-360-0940).

For sponsorship levels and benefits, please see here: http://phillyfightscancer.org/about/sponsorships/.

The Young Friends of Philly Fights Cancer will be hosting a comedy fundraiser on Thursday, September 13^th. A core member of the "Chelsea Lately" roundtable, Josh Wolf is a staple of the LA comedy circuit. In addition to his work on "Chelsea Lately" and its spinoff "After Lately," Wolf had his own show on CMT, "The Josh Wolf Show," and has appeared numerous times on Doug Benson's "Getting Doug with High." Tickets can be purchased here: https://philadelphia-heliumcomedy-com.seatengine.com/shows/85439

Philly Fights Cancer takes pride in the growing number of young people passionate about raising funds and awareness for the life-saving clinical trials at Abramson Cancer Center. The Young Friends, a division of supporters aged 21 – 35 years old, are a vital part of the vision and the mission behind Philly Fights Cancer. The organization’s signature fundraising event of the year is taking place on Saturday, November 10^th and will feature a performance by Philadelphia-based jazz singer Jessy Kyle, comedy by Hollywood icon Jerry Seinfeld, and followed by an after-party concert from international superstars Maroon 5.

A limited number of Young Friend-level sponsorships for Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4 are now available. For information about sponsoring and attending the event, please click here: http://bit.ly/pfc2018yf

*Please note: ID will be required for entry to Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4

- Full Table Sponsorship (12 Guests) –$2,500.00

- Individual Sponsorship (1 Guest)- $250.00