December 19, 2008

Contact:
Jennifer Berman
Office of Communications
NYU Cancer Institute
NYU Langone Medical Center
212.404.3532
Jennifer.Berman@nyumc.org

Pediatric Cancer Foundation Hosted CAREnivale Event to Help Raise Funds For Pediatric Cancers and The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

Matthias Karajannis, M.D., guest speaker at CAREnivale and one of the recipients of the 2008 Young Investigator Award

New York City, NY - November 21, 2008 - Pediatric Cancer Foundation hosted a CAREnivale fundraiser, Thursday, November 20, 2008, at Strata in Manhattan. Two hundred guests attended.

Guest speakers included: Dr. Matthias A. Karajannis, recipient of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s Young Investigator Award and Coco and Bruce Lefkowitz, proud parents of six, who courageously fought a winning pediatric battle in their own family. In addition, there was a silent auction with many opportunities to help the fight against pediatric cancer.

Offered for 'sale' at the CAREnivale event was an opportunity to raise funds for pediatric cancer programs at local hospitals - such as the Young Investigator Award at Hassenfeld, a project under the auspices of William Carroll, M.D., Director of the NYU Cancer Institute and Director of the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center. Dr. Karajannis addressed the group, thanking the Pediatric Cancer Foundation for supporting his research aimed at investigating biological processes leading to childhood cancer and develop new therapies targeted at disrupting pathways unique to the tumor cell. "We are working to identify new methods of customizing treatment so children can receive effective therapy without unnecessary exposure to drugs with potentially debilitating side effects" explained Dr. Karajannis.

Pediatric cancer remains the number one cause of non-accidental deaths in children. Over 12,000 infants and children are diagnosed every year. Funds raised by Pediatric Cancer Foundation go directly to eradicate childhood cancer. A mission more critical than ever since funds for national research projects have been cut by 40%, forcing laboratories all over the country to possibly close down, many of which were on the cutting edge of finding a cure. Pediatric Cancer Foundation receives NO Federal funding from the government, nor from pharmaceutical companies and therefore must rely solely on the generosity of participants at events such as this.

Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization that funds treatment, fellowships and equipment for pediatric cancer research. The Foundation supports several New York area hospitals and their satellite hospitals including: The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at NYU Langone Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Schneider Children’s Hospital at North Shore LIJ Health System, and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.

About The Hassenfeld Center Since its inception in 1990, the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at NYU Langone Medical Center has established itself as a national leader in outpatient treatment of childhood cancers and blood diseases. The Center is named in memory of Stephen D. Hassenfeld, the former chairman of Hasbro, Inc. and founder of the Hasbro Children’s Foundation.

For more information about the Center,visit www.hassenfeldcenter.org.

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Above: Dr. Matthias Karajannis of NYU Cancer Institute and Beth Rothman, co-chair of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.