Important Update Regarding Marcus Foundation Golf Tournament

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, we have decided to postpone the 30th (and final) Marcus Foundation Golf Tournament for one year. The tournament will now be held on Monday, September 13, 2021.

It was a very difficult decision, but, under the circumstances, we believe it was the correct one, as the health and safety of our many supporters and volunteers is our primary concern.

At this point, merely a few months from the scheduled event, it would not be realistic or responsible to hold the tournament this year, at least the way we want to hold our final event, and the way our supporters are accustomed.

We want our final tournament to be memorable, a special event which will afford us the opportunity to thank you all for your tremendous support over the many years. As such, it is imperative that all our supporters and volunteers feel comfortable in attending. It unfortunately appears unlikely that we will have the necessary comfort margin by September. Hence, postponing the event for a year seems to be the most prudent choice. We trust that you will understand, and we hope to see you all on Monday, September 13, 2021.

That all said, in an effort to maintain some degree of continuity, Franklin Country Club has generously extended an invitation to all Marcus Foundation supporters to play the course on our scheduled date. If you are interested in playing on Monday, September 14, 2020, you should contact Christine Clancy at events@franklincc.com to schedule a tee time. The cost is $75 per golfer without cart, and walking is preferred. The price also includes a $15 credit in the pro shop. With cart, the cost is $100. A box lunch will also be available for an additional $25. Note that the one person per cart rule may still be in effect, so plan accordingly, as carts may be limited.

If you have any questions, please contact the Foundation at (508) 634-3148. Thank you again, stay safe, and we hope to see you all on Monday, September 13, 2021.

Sincerely,

THE MARCUS FOUNDATION

Mark S. Niziak

Grant to MGH

In December 2019, the Marcus Foundation provided an $18,000 grant to the Massachusetts General Hospital to support both the Marcus Family Fund and the work of Doctor William Curry, Director of Neurosurgical Oncology, who is studying the use of immunotherapy in the treatment of brain tumors.

Marcus J. Niziak (Marcus) Fund for Families Overview

Overview on the Marcus J. Niziak (Marcus) Fund for Families

Since 2012, the Marcus Fund for Families has continued to provide vital support to pediatric neurology patients and their families who seek care at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The top priority of our Pediatric Neurology Faculty is ensuring that each patient who comes to Mass General receives the best possible care, and the Marcus Foundation allows us to help relieve the financial burden that families face when receiving treatment. Several of our families share with us that not having to worry about additional expenses associated with their visit has a huge positive impact during an otherwise difficult time. For those who received funding, it was often used to pay for parking during their six weeks of radiation treatment and meal tickets for patients and their families during inpatient and outpatient appointments. Additional flexible spending for the department also helps to support some patients outside the Mass General perimeter; assisting patients with accessibility at home or at school and with solutions that may ease their daily routine.

“The families who are helped are so grateful to support from The Marcus Foundation during their trying times. I think of what a darling boy Marcus was when I met him in the ED the first afternoon when I help these families during their ordeals. My sincerest thanks to the generosity of the Niziaks.” – Dr. Elizabeth Dooling

Dr. William Curry's 2018 Update for the Marcus Foundation

2018 Update for the Marcus Foundation

From Dr. William Curry

We are excited about progress that is being made in understanding and manipulating the immune system’s response to brain tumors. Amazing and successful results using immunotherapy are being reported in patients with advanced cancer; however, these therapies have not yet translated into significantly better outcomes for patients with brain tumors.

We are of the firm belief that success in treating brain tumors with immunotherapy is within reach; however, it will require more detailed understanding of how the immune system responds to brain tumors in their natural state, as well specifically targeted immune interventions – using combinations of immunotherapies, either simultaneously or in sequence.

Over the past year, support from the Marcus Foundation has allowed us to continue studying combination immunotherapies in brain tumor models in mice. We recently published a study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29016879) showing that combining a personalized and subcutaneously delivered brain-tumor vaccine with simultaneous delivery of therapeutic antibodies first activates immune cells again the tumor and then further stimulates these cells and makes the brain tumor environment more fertile for immune-based killing. The two arms of therapy work via different mechanisms, have only modest impact as single therapies, and clearly synergize when given together. We have built upon these studies by adding a third arm, intended to specifically stimulate proliferation of a particular type of activated immune cell. Early results show dramatic impacts on the survival of these tumor-bearing mice – curing essentially all of them.

This type of work serves as the foundation upon which clinical trials can be built, and seed funding from the Marcus Foundation and groups like it is essential to moving the needle against brain cancer.

Overview on the Marcus J. Niziak (Marcus) Fund for Families

The Marcus Fund for Families provides vital support to pediatric neurology patients and their families at Massachusetts General Hospital. 

This funding provided by the Niziak family is making a meaningful difference in the lives of these children and families, providing access to funds to subsidize meals, parking and other associated costs.

Many of these patients receive care over a prolonged period, placing a considerable financial burden on their families. Time away from home, other children, leave from work and the stress of illness weigh heavily on these families. The Marcus Fund for Families allows us to alleviate some of the small financial stressors that come with hospital stays. Several of our families share with us that not having to worry about small expenses that add up, such as parking, meals and other incidentals, helps make their stay more comfortable and has a huge impact during an otherwise difficult time.

We have also had instances where the Marcus Fund for Families has allowed us to significantly impact our patients day-to-day lives by supporting custom communication solutions, accessibility modifications at home or educational solutions to ease their return to school.

Having funds available to help our neediest families in this way is truly a blessing.