Mutual Funds Against Cancer

Mutual Funds Against Cancer Brings Together More Than 450 Financial Executives For Day of Giving

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mutual Funds Against Cancer (MFAC) one of the leading advocates in the fight against cancer within the financial industries will hold its 14th Annual Mutual Funds Against Cancer Expect Miracles Golf Classic, presented by Interactive Data Corporation, on Thursday, June 12, 2008. The event will be held at both Pinehills and Waverly Oaks Country Club in Plymouth, Mass.

This sold out annual event spans three golf courses hosting more than 450 business and financial executives, along with more than 80 leading financial sponsors, for a day of competitive golf coupled with social responsibility. Former New England Patriot and cancer survivor Joe Andruzzi will attend the event as a featured speaker alongside WEEI's John Dennis, who will emcee the dinner reception.

"A key to the success of Mutual Funds Against Cancer is that we have brought the financial industry together to work in unison for such a critical cause," said Frank Strauss, MFAC chairman and founder. "We are elated that the industry has embraced MFAC as its charity and has joined our mission to make a difference on the war against cancer."

Interactive Data Corporation of Bedford, Mass. currently serves as Foundation Sponsor for MFAC. Top sponsors of the Expect Miracles Golf Classic include: State Street Corp, JP Morgan, Citi, Confluence, BOWNE|GCom2Solutions, Legg Mason, Computershare Fund Services, RR Donnelley, Bank of New York Mellon, John Hancock Financial Services, MFS, Boston Financial Data Services, Broadridge, Eaton Vance, Northern Trust, Sentinel Investments, and UMB Fund Services.

To date, MFAC has raised more than $2 million for cancer research. MFAC was recently honored for the second year in a row as "Charity of Choice" at Institutional Investor News' Mutual Fund Industry Award Gala in New York City in March 2008.

Golf event expected to raise $650,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston
By Sue Asci
InvestmentNews
June 2, 2008

More than 400 executives from 50 mutual fund and financial services companies are expected to raise $650,000 June 12 at the 14th annual Expect Miracles Golf Classic, sponsored by Mutual Funds Against Cancer. The sold-out tournament, which raises money for research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, will take place at the Pinehills and Waverly Oaks golf courses in Plymouth, Mass.

Donations to the Hingham, Mass.-based charity have increased 60% during the last three years, said co-founder and chairman Frank Strauss, a principal at Beacon Consulting Group in Boston.

Those are "not bad returns," Mr. Strauss said.

Through its golf tournament and other fundraising events throughout the year, Mutual Funds Against Cancer raised $570,000 last year, up from $360,000 in 2006, $225,000 in 2005 and $156,000 a year earlier.

'MAKING A STATEMENT'

"The organization has impact," said Ken Starr, vice president of interactive data pricing and reference data at Interactive Data Corp. of Bedford, Mass., and foundation sponsor for 2008 and 2009.

"It's the mutual fund industry making a statement to a challenge: cancer research. It is important to a lot of people," he said.

Interactive Data has made the group one of its preferred charities and is sponsoring the golf event to build awareness about the organization, and to generate donations.

"It's an important organization to the industry we work in," said Doug Miller, executive vice president at State Street Corp. of Boston. "We have an opportunity to be leaders and to attract firms to this organization."

"It's a tremendous cause," said Jeff Masom, managing director of institutional services at Legg Mason Inc. of Baltimore. "It's a great opportunity for us to partner up with some of our competitors and our clients to support this great cause."

A 20-year veteran of the financial services industry, Mr. Strauss was chief investment officer at The CGM Funds of Boston when he started the organization. His mother had been diagnosed with leukemia, and he "saw a lot of children in the hospital when I visited my mom. She won her battle against cancer. It all came together."

The first friends and family golf tournament attracted 40 players who raised $6,000. "The banquet was me flipping burgers on my back deck," Mr. Strauss said.

Mutual Funds Against Cancer, which receives donations from more than 100 financial firms, most of them mutual funds, has funded several research programs, said Nancy Rowe, director of the Jimmy Fund Golf Program at Dana-Farber. "The money was unrestricted and is used wherever it was needed," she said.

For the past two years, donations have been directed to Dana-Farber's Center for Applied Cancer Science, which researches some of the most challenging cancers, such as melanoma, multiple myeloma, and colon, pancreatic, brain and lung cancer, Mr. Strauss said.

"They are doing some very cutting-edge research in the field of the major cancers," Ms. Rowe said. "There are breakthroughs that will happen because of the MFAC support. It's going to have a huge impact."

E-mail Sue Asci at sasci@investmentnews.com.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On June 7, 2007, the 13th Annual Mutual Funds Against Cancer (MFAC) “Expect Miracles” Golf Classic presented by JPMorgan Fund Services, hosted over 380 financial executives from some of the top firms in the country raising over $350,000 for cancer research. All funds raised benefit the Center for Applied Cancer Sciences (CACS) at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

MFAC was proud to report over 65 sponsors participated in the event including title sponsor JPMorgan Fund Services. The event grew from 280 golfers in 2006 to over 380 this year. “It was an amazing day to bring the mutual fund industry together as one for an incredible, important cause,” stated Frank Strauss, Founder and Chairman of MFAC and principal at Beacon Consulting Group. “This industry is extremely powerful and together we can make a difference in the fight against this deadly disease.”

The event took place at Pinehills Golf Club and Waverly Oaks both in Plymouth, MA. After a day of golf the event concluded with a dinner and awards ceremony hosted by John Dennis from WEEI. "The mutual fund industry clearly demonstrated its commitment to helping the fight against cancer. JPMorgan Fund Services is proud to be among MFAC's supporters and a sponsor of this important event,” said Lisa Onorato, vice president at JPMorgan Fund Services.

In addition to JPMorgan Fund Services, top firms including Legg Mason, State Street Corp, RR Donnelley, Confluence, GCom2 Solutions, Bridgeway Funds, BISYS, Eaton Vance, Broadridge, Evergreen Investments, Bank of New York, SEI, and Computershare joined MFAC as sponsors for the 2007 season.

To date, MFAC has raised over $1.5 million for cancer research with all proceeds to benefit the Dana-Farber. “A key to the success of Mutual Funds Against Cancer is that we have brought the financial industry together to work in unison for such a critical cause,” added Strauss, “MFAC has become “the charity” for the mutual fund industry.”

MFAC holds additional fund raising events and initiatives all to raise funds for the innovative new research center, The Center for Applied Cancer Sciences (CACS) at the Dana Farber. CACS is creating a drug discovery and development pipeline for six of the deadliest cancers: colon, pancreas, lung, melanoma (skin), myeloma (blood) and glioblastoma (brain).

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On June 7, 2007, the 13th Annual Mutual Funds Against Cancer “Expect Miracles” Golf Classic presented by JPMorgan Fund Services, will be held at both Pinehills and Waverly Oaks Golf Clubs in Plymouth, Mass. The sold out event will host over 350 financial and business executives who will play to raise funds for cancer research benefiting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

MFAC is proud to announce JPMorgan Fund Services as its 2007 title sponsor for both the Expect Miracles Golf Classic and Expect Miracles Wine Extravaganza, MFAC’s two cornerstone events. “JPMorgan Fund Services is honored to support Mutual Funds Against Cancer’s fight to eradicate this deadly disease,” said Lisa Onorato, vice president at JPMorgan Fund Services in Boston. "We have been proud to support MFAC over the years and are delighted to increase our support as we continue to expand our operations in the region."

To date, MFAC has raised over $1.5 million for cancer research with all proceeds to benefit the Dana-Farber. “A key to the success of Mutual Funds Against Cancer is that we have brought the financial industry together to work in unison for such a critical cause” said Frank Strauss, MFAC chairman and founder.

In addition to JPMorgan Fund Services, top firms including Legg Mason, State Street Corp, RR Donnelley, Confluence, GCom2 Solutions, Bridgeway Funds, BISYS, Eaton Vance, ADP Investor Communication Services, Evergreen Investments, Bank of New York, SEI, and Computershare have also joined MFAC as sponsors for the 2007 season.

Mutual Funds Against Cancer was recently recognized in March as “the featured charity” at the Mutual Fund Industry Awards Gala hosted by Institutional Investor. MFAC holds additional fund raising events and initiatives all to raise funds for the innovative new research center, The Center for Applied Cancer Sciences (CACS) at the Dana Farber. CACS is creating a drug discovery and development pipeline for six of the deadliest cancers: colon, pancreas, lung, melanoma (skin), myeloma (blood) and glioblastoma (brain).

Mutual Funds Against Cancer (MFAC) is one of the leading advocates in the fight against cancer within New England’s mutual fund and financial industry. Proceeds go to benefit The Jimmy Fund, the fund-raising arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the leading cancer research and patient care facilities in the world.

Article published on Oct 16, 2006 By Lisa Lacy

The fund industry's participation in the fight against cancer has taken many forms this year, ranging from fund raising and special events to seminars, among other events. Several industry firms are pitching in to do their part. Both on an individual employee level and corporation-wide, MassMutual, American Century, SalesPage Technologies, State Street, Investors Bank & Trust, JPMorganChase, Beacon Consulting Group and Mutual Funds Against Cancer, among many others, have enlisted to battle the disease in some form or another.

In recognition of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, MassMutual is combining seminars for women with its fundraising efforts. The firm says it is working to raise awareness and to provide a minimum donation of $100,000 to local research, detection and treatment programs to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. MassMutual’s U.S. Insurance Group will make charitable contributions of up to $3,000 to local cancer organizations in the name of each agency that conducts its “Pearls of Wisdom” financial educational seminar in October. The firm’s Pearls of Wisdom seminar is an interactive video-based seminar that includes women telling stories about how their financial lives are impacting their personal lives. MassMutual says it is encouraging agents to present these seminars in their communities to raise awareness of financial preparedness, especially when it comes to breast cancer and other unexpected life events. An estimated 200 to 250 agents, representing MassMutual’s more than 80 agencies, are expected to participate. “We’re on the hook for about $250,000,” says Susan Sweetser, second vice president of MassMutual’s Specialized Markets division. In addition, the firm sponsored the Danskin Women’s Triathlon, which donates 10% of entry fees to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In conjunction with that sponsorship, MassMutual made donations to the Foundation on behalf of triathlon participants who attended MassMutual’s “Pearls of Wisdom” seminar. On another front, an industry executive has established “Mutual Funds Against Cancer" or MFAC. MFAC is an advocate in the fight against cancer within New England’s mutual fund and financial industry that hosts several events throughout the year. The organization’s mission is to proactively find a cure for cancer by raising funds and awareness through event-based programs and charitable donations. For instance, in November it will hold its Third Annual Expect Miracles Wine & Spirit Extravaganza in Boston. Founded in 1995 as a grassroots family-and-friends group, MFAC has raised $1.2 million to date. What started with a golf tournament has since expanded to include the Wine Extravaganza as well as the First Annual State Street 5K Challenge at the Nicsa Technology Summit next month. Proceeds raised by the organization benefit The Jimmy Fund, the fund-raising arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dana-Farber provides care to children and adults with cancer while advancing the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of cancer and related diseases. As a former CFO and treasurer of The CGM Funds, founder and chairman Frank Strauss says he "felt in a position to rally some industry folks around me and get something going, and I never dreamed it would grow [to this point].” Strauss is now principal of the Beacon Consulting Group.

MFAC’s board consists of approximately 25 executives from State Street, Investors Bank & Trust and JPMorgan Chase. Last month, customer relationship management, or CRM, software company SalesPage Technologies made a more indirect contribution to the cause: It donated software and support to MFAC. MFAC will implement the SalesPage CRM offering to streamline fundraising and awareness efforts as well as to leverage its growing list of data and contacts. Michael Pessetti, vice president of sales and marketing for SalesPage, says SalesPage is providing the hardware, software and infrastructure in order to help MFAC keep track of donors and sponsors as well as planning and communication around events such as marketing to potential participants. “We recognize they’re a virtual organization and they don’t have a lot of staff or even a physical office location,” Pessetti says. “We felt we could do something effective.” For its part, American Century has struck up a partnership with a celebrity spokesman and launched a new brand and advertising campaign to raise awareness and support for cancer. Via a campaign featuring Lance Armstrong and the catchphrase, "Put Your Lance Face On," the firm is encouraging investors to tackle investment decisions with determination and focus. Company spokesman Chris Doyle says the firm rebranded target-date funds and asset allocation funds under the “Livestrong” moniker. In addition, American Century has “made a financial commitment” to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which is devoted to raising cancer awareness. Doyle says there is a minimum level of commitment and that if the funds prove to be more popular, the amount of commitment can go up. Like Armstrong, American Century’s founder, Jim Stowers, Jr., is a cancer survivor. Also like Armstrong, Stowers is using his position to help fight the disease. He has created a biomedical research facility, The Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

John Hancock Helps Boost MFAC Benefit

Aug. 23, 2006

With support from John Hancock, the recent annual Mutual Funds Against Cancer (MFAC) benefit broke records with more than $265,000 raised to fight cancer, a 30 percent increase from last year. Bruce Speca, EVP, Investment Management Services, received the “Expect Miracles Award” for his efforts to secure sponsors from the mutual fund and financial services industries.

The 12th annual Expect Miracles Golf Classic took place at Pinehills in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Over 280 golfers from the financial community came together for a day of golf coupled with a dinner event hosted by WEEI’s John Dennis. The tournament’s proceeds and other MFAC event proceeds go to benefit The Jimmy Fund, the fund–raising arm of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, one of the leading cancer research and patient care facilities in the world. Of the more than 150 Jimmy Fund golf tournaments held each year to benefit the Jimmy Fund, MFAC is in the top five in terms of the amount raised.

"Mutual Funds Against Cancer is proud to have John Hancock as our partner in the quest to eradicated cancer," says MFAC Chairman Frank Strauss. "Bruce Speca is an extraordinary individual and Mutual Funds Against Cancer board member who sets the standard for any charitable organization. It was our honor, with heartfelt thanks, to present Bruce with our Expect Miracles Award. His commitment goes far above and beyond the norm." "Cancer is such a prevalent disease that does not discriminate," says Speca. "Donations made directly to organizations such as Dana Farber are wonderful, but it is also a great experience to share a day with your colleagues and raise money for such an important cause. The financial services industry generates great wealth and MFAC is a great vehicle to redirect some of those assets back to those who truly need it." John Hancock is also the proud supporter of Mutual Funds Against Cancer’s annual Wine & Spirits Extravaganza, an event held in November which attracts over 350 senior financial executives. These two programs are the leading financial community based charitable events in New England.

Mutual Funds Against Cancer (MFAC) is one of the leading advocates in the fight against cancer within the mutual fund and financial industries. Founded in 1995, MFAC’s mission is to proactively help find a cure for cancer by raising funds and awareness through event–based programs and charitable donations. MFAC’s most renowned events are its annual “Expect Miracles” Golf Classic and The Wine & Spirits Extravaganza. The MFAC organization “expects miracles” and believes it is this generation’s responsibility to eradicate cancer, the second leading cause of death in the United States.

Business Wire 9/20/2005 9:00:00 AM EST

WEEI'S John Dennis to receive a lifetime achievement award for his dedication and commitment to abolish cancer

Mutual Funds Against Cancer (MFAC), one of New England's largest charitable cancer organizations in the mutual funds and financial services industry, will honor WEEI's John Dennis with the first Expect Miracles lifetime achievement award for his dedication and commitment over the past 20 years in the fight to eradicate cancer. The award will be presented at MFAC's second annual "Expect Miracles" International Wine Event on November 16, 2005 at the luxurious State Room in Boston.

The evening will join together over 400 financial executives and business professionals for the industry's charity event of the year. The themed event will feature wine tasting of fine wines from around the world, a silent and live auction coupled with an art gallery showing. All proceeds benefit The Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

"We are elated to honor John Dennis with the Expect Miracles Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of support, contribution and fund raising efforts in the quest to abolish cancer. John is an inspiration to all with his devotion to fund raising in the pursuit to find a cure to this horrific disease," said MFAC Chairman Frank Strauss.

Top corporate sponsors including presenting sponsors Confluence and RR Donnelley have joined the MFAC team, and "invested in the cure". With their participation and contribution, Mutual Funds Against Cancer can "expect miracles". Additional sponsors of the event include John Hancock, Investors Bank & Trust, Loomis Sayles & Company, Computershare, Eagle Investment Systems, and Money Management Executive to name a few.

For more information please visit MFAC's site at www.MutualFundsAgainstCancer.com or contact Christina E. Thirkell at cthirkell@comcast.net and find out how you can participate in the fight against cancer.

From the June 17, 2005 print edition

Edward Mason Journal Staff Mutually beneficial

Tired of all the bad news coming out of the mutual fund industry? Every day, it seems, if it's not market timing, it's improper gift giving.

So here's something heartwarming.

The Mutual Funds Against Cancer golf tournament, held on June 2 at the Pinehills Golf Club at Plymouth, raised $210,000 for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and its Jimmy Fund Clinic.

Of that, $45,000 came from a silent auction, which included two autographed Red Sox World Series jerseys, sold for $3,000 each, and a pair of tickets to see the Rolling Stones at Fenway for $1,700.

EDWARD MASON, finance and government reporter, can be reached at emason@bizjournals.com.

BOSTON, MA. – May 10, 2005 – Mutual Funds Against Cancer, (MFAC) one of New England’s largest charitable organizations in the financial service industry announced its top sponsors with Confluence and Volvo for its annual Mutual Funds Against Cancer Golf Classic to be held June 2, 2005 at Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, MA. Through sponsorship of MFAC, corporate partners like Confluence help Mutual Funds Against Cancer to raise funds for individuals in the fight against cancer. “Confluence is honored to stand alongside the industry in our efforts to raise money for cancer research. We hope to set a record with this year's event,” said Mark Evans, President & CEO of Confluence.

“A key to our success at the Mutual Funds Against Cancer organization is that we collaborate with a variety of financial organizations to provide creative ways for people to make a difference in the fight to eradicate cancer,” said Frank Strauss, chairman and founder. “Corporate partners like Confluence and Volvo are crucial to Mutual Funds Against Cancer’s mission to abolish cancer as a life-threatening disease and we look forward to working them and other sponsors in the financial sector.” The event includes golfing with a post dinner event hosted by WEEI’s John Dennis. The event also includes entertainment, a silent and live auction, and appearances from local celebrities.

Mutual Funds Against Cancer can "Expect Miracles". Additional sponsors for the 2005 Golf Event include: Ernst & Young, JP MorganChase, Brown Brothers Harriman, Deloitte & Touche, Investors Bank & Trust and US Airways to name a few. For more information please visits MFAC’s site at www.MutualFundsAgainstCancer.com or contact Christina E. Thirkell at cthirkell@comcast.com and find out how you can participate in the fight against cancer.