Mutual Funds Against Cancer

A Letter From The Chairman

Frank Strauss
Chairman, Mutual Funds Against Cancer

When seeking a partner, a shared ideology is imperative. However, when your mantra is “expect miracles” – two small words that say so much – a partner is not always easy to find. Mutual Funds Against Cancer (“MFAC”) searched diligently to find a partner who shared in the beliefs that there is a better way to fight the war on cancer, that this war must be won sooner rather than later, and that this fight must be taken into our own hands. The revolutionary Center for Applied Cancer Sciences (“CACS”) at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute made the perfect partner for MFAC.

CACS brings together the medical and academic fields with the pharmaceutical and business communities to provide an integrated approach to discovering new cancer drugs and better, earlier detection methods. By utilizing cutting edge gene research, CACS will significantly increase the percentage of successful drugs brought to market, in turn reducing the incredibly high cost of drug development. This more cost efficient model provides incentive to pharmaceutical firms to fund more investigatory new drugs and increase the drug pipeline.

While CACS research will focus on the six deadliest cancers – lung, melanoma, colon, pancreatic, gioblastoma, and multiple myeloma - many of the advances will be applicable to other cancers. And while the research will be based in Boston, leveraging the Dana- Farber’s partnerships with Harvard and Children’s and Brigham & Women’s Hospitals, the impact of these advances will be felt worldwide.

MFAC has already donated over $500,000 to CACS as part of our 5-year, $4 million commitment. This represents a very substantial portion of CACS’ initial commitments and will play a significant role in allowing them to fund critical research, produce tangible results, and obtain more funding. By being an early investor, MFAC and all MFAC supporters will play a vital role in the success of CACS and ultimately in winning the war on cancer.

2007 has been another stellar year as the industry continues to further embrace MFAC. We will raise close to $600,000 this year, topping 2006 by a whopping 60%. We added a third course to our annual golf tournament and still had to turn folks away. We were the featured charity at the prestigious Mutual Fund industry Awards and have been asked back for 2008 – an unprecedented event for the awards dinner.

Of course all of our success wouldn’t be possible without your support. So many firms and individuals have contributed greatly to MFAC’s success. We are delighted and proud to partner with all of you who also share our ideology that together we can expect miracles.

With Sincere Appreciation,

Please feel free to contact anyone on the Board of Directors or make your comments via the web site.