Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation

Posted in Mesothelioma, News on Thursday March 11, 2010

New Mesothelioma Cancer Foundation Launches, Focuses on Supporting Medical Community's Search for a Mesothelioma Cure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Simmons law firm, a national law firm that has represented thousands of families affected by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, announced that it has founded the Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation will provide much-needed financial, organizational, volunteer, and other resources, to support the national efforts of medical experts and researchers, hospitals, universities, patient caregivers and philanthropic organizations in the pursuit of improved quality of life for patients and, ultimately, finding of a cure for mesothelioma.

“Mesothelioma is an ‘orphan’ cancer disease that affects approximately 3,000 families each year and has needlessly taken the lives of thousands of innocent people,” said Joy Wheeler, Foundation board member and VP of Medical and Patient Relations for the Simmons law firm. "We hope the Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation will grow into a catalyst to help fund the fight against this rare disease.”

Wheeler said the Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation will identify and engage expert oncologists, researchers, hospitals, universities and philanthropic organizations. The Foundation will continue and expand the Simmons firm’s storied history of philanthropy. Foundation partnerships will include: 

• Dr. Harvey Pass at NYU Medical Center, author of 100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma and Malignant Mesothelioma
• Dr. Robert Taub, Director of Columbia University’s Mesothelioma Center
• Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler, Director, Mesothelioma Program at the University of Chicago Medical Center
• University of Pennsylvania

Said firm and Foundation President John Simmons, “As long as mesothelioma continues to take the lives of innocent people, there remains a need to support research, generate awareness, provide education, and work collectively to fight this aggressive killer. As someone who has witnessed the pain and suffering caused by mesothelioma, I look forward to the Foundation working with other organizations and experts to make a real impact and a lasting difference.”

Since 1999, the Simmons firm has been a leading law firm fighting for the rights of mesothelioma patients inside and outside the courtroom, and has provided $20 million to philanthropic causes, including $15 million to cancer research. The firm will seed the Foundation with over $2 million in 2010.