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Second Annual Catalyst For a Cure Dinner and Report to Donors
January 11, 2006, San Francisco
A festive atmosphere surrounded Glaucoma Research Foundation’s 2nd Annual Report to Donors and Catalyst for a Cure (CFC) Dinner. This year’s event honored David E. I. Pyott of Allergan Inc. with the Catalyst Award.
The Catalyst Award is given annually to a Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) donor who has set an example that invigorates GRF supporters through their enduring commitment to the GRF mission, a willingness to nurture new approaches that can speed the pace of discovery, and support better ways to meet the informational needs of those already affected. With over 100 Catalyst Circle members and guests in attendance, the evening featured a public briefing on the progress of the Catalyst For a Cure, the premiere of Speeding the Cure during a gala reception, and the “by invitation” award dinner. The Mandarin Oriental in San Francisco was the hub for all activities.
Catalyst For a Cure Report to Donors
Commencing at 5 PM, the Report to Donors featured the principal investigators of the CFC: David Calkins, PhD, Vanderbilt University, Philip Horner, PhD, University of Washington, Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, and Monica Vetter, PhD, University of Utah. Sarah Caddick PhD, Executive Director of the Columbia Neuroscience Institute served as the briefing coordinator and welcomed the audience.
The CFC team reported the development of three new hypotheses for how glaucoma is initiated and where new therapeutic targets can be found. Working with a strong visual presentation, the research team employed a metaphor for ganglion cells and message delivery to the brain as “pizza delivery trucks from New York to San Francisco that need self fueling, feedback, and satisfactory delivery of the product” in order to function. The results from the first four years of research indicate that so-called “death signals” in glaucoma occur very early in the disease, perhaps even earlier than loss in vision can be detected. In the next phase, the team will work on better understanding the mechanisms of these earlier pathological changes and on genetic means to alter these mechanisms. With this information, the team will then work to identify proteins and genes that have the greatest potential as targets for intervention.
Reception features premiere of Speeding The Cure video
From the lecture hall to the Library, the evening’s momentum accelerated. Spilling into the marble foyer, guests renewed friendships and discussed the CFC report. Strongly represented were longtime organizational donors the Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation: Steve & Michele Kirsch, Kathi Gwynn and May van Scherrenburg. Delta Gamma Foundation, itself a unique donor, was represented by members of the Diablo Valley chapter, Linda Linck, Margaret Gamble, Judy Oliphant, Nancy Green and Cheryl Handel who also served as hostesses. Conchita Miller and Nafchi Abdolmohsen represented web sponsor Union Bank of California.
Newly elected GRF Board member Bill Stewart and wife Dorris received congratulations from members of GRF’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Glaucoma Awareness Initiative Michael L. Penn Sr., Cleopatra Vaughns, C. Diane Howell PhD, Marcus Penn MD, and John & Katranker Thompson.
Promptly at 6:30 PM, GRF Board Member Deirdre Porter took the microphone to acknowledge the CFC scientists and the CFC Scientific Advisory Board for their considerable progress. Porter also welcomed representatives from Prevent Blindness, Northern California; Barbara Cox, Lin Shan MD and Shiu Kwok MD PhD, and Mark Mannis MD, University of California at Davis, Chair, Ophthalmology Department.
Passing the microphone to GRF President and CEO Thomas Brunner, Catalyst Circle members received praise for funding innovative scientific research and essential education materials. Brunner made special note of individual donors Bud & Joan Coleman, Jim & Mary Helen Pidgeon, and Emmett & Ann Skinner among the over 100 Catalyst Circle members funding the work of GRF. Also receiving praise were Steve & Michele Kirsch for the vision and commitment that brought the CFC to life in 2001.
Highlighting the reception was the premier of Speeding the Cure, a new video produced by Nelson Singleton, and generously funded by Dennis & Charlot Singleton. The video features the “Faces of Glaucoma”, including The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn, GRF Honorary National Spokesperson, honorary co-chairs Michele McMillan, Melissa Baker and Anabella Denisoff, as well as the CFC principal investigators at work in their respective labs. Brunner reminded Catalyst Circle members that the DVD will be available to them, to use in advocacy while engaging friends and family in the CFC campaign.
Catalyst Award presented at Annual Dinner
Invitees were seated in the Embassy Room for the Second Annual Catalyst For a Cure Dinner. Banquet tables were hosted by GRF Board members Dennis Singleton, Thomas Brunner, Deirdre Porter, Andrew Iwach MD, Jack Hetherington MD, H. Dunbar Hoskins MD, Michael L. Penn Sr., George Thomas, J. Bronwyn Bateman MD, and June Behrendt. GRF guests were abuzz with reactions to the progress of the CFC research as reported in the public briefing and depicted in the video.
GRF Board Chairman Dennis Singleton took the podium amidst the excitement. Brought into focus was the collaborative and innovative thinking that has infused GRF since its founding in 1978. Singleton introduced the background of the Catalyst Award, citing the groundbreaking commitment of Steve and Michele Kirsch as an inspiration for the CFC. He acknowledged Allergan guests which in addition to David E. I. Pyott included Scott Whitcup and Salma Jutt. With that, Steve Kirsch was welcomed to the podium to present the award to Pyott.
Kirsch opened with poignant remarks complimenting the CFC team for their progress to date, and how proud he was to have been part of the initiation of the research. “The whole point of giving is to make a difference in the area you are focused on. We could give out grants willy-nilly to worthy organizations that are working on some aspect of the problem. But to really solve the problem, you need to pick a credible path, and align the resources behind the plan. Then you have everyone rowing in the same direction with the same goals”.
Kirsch proceeded to cite Allergan Inc.’s commitment to GRF. Allergan made its first donation to GRF in 1985 with $10,000 to underwrite the printing costs for GRF’s Understanding and Living with Glaucoma. Every year Allergan has made a significant contribution. Across 20 years contributions total $821,000. The booklet Understanding and Living with Glaucoma has emerged as one of the definitive reference manuals for newly diagnosed patients across the country. Thanks to Allergan’s uninterrupted dedication, the booklet has been through 14 printings, with more than 500,000 copies in circulation.
Steve Kirsch invited David E. I. Pyott to the podium to accept the Catalyst Award. The current and past honorees of the award were given a standing ovation. “Allergan is proud to support the important work of the Glaucoma Research Foundation in its commitment to preserve the sight and independence of people with glaucoma through research and education,” Pyott said. “In collaboration with the Glaucoma Research Foundation and scientists worldwide, our efforts will continue to be focused on developing the innovative new technologies that hold promise for preventing and treating glaucoma – and, ultimately, finding a cure.” Pyott received an enthusiastic and warm round of applause as he left the podium.
As the evening’s festivities wound down, Dennis Singleton closed the program. Inviting guests to enjoy dessert and continue engaging conversations, he also reminded the group, “Please, as you think of your giving in the coming three years, make GRF and the Catalyst For a Cure your priority.”