Marcus Foundation Supports Dr. Will Curry in Groundbreaking Research

Thank you to all who contributed to the Marcus Foundation. Your donations were able to support Dr. Will Curry’s research and provides assitance for those facing financial difficulties. Please see the letter we received from Massachusetts General Hospital:

Dear Mr. Niziak,

Thank you and the Marcus Foundation for your ongoing commitment to Massachusetts General Hospital. We are proud to help honor the memory of your beloved son.

With your generous investment, Dr. Will Curry can further his groundbreaking research, leading to improved clinical outcomes. Your partnership also provides assistance to the families of our youngest patients, ensuring that financial restrictions do not limit access to world-class care.

Mass General is truly fortunate to have partners like you dedicated to building a healthier future for all. Thank you again for your gift and many years of support.

Sincerely,

Michael McNally

Marcus Foundation Contributions Continue

A few weeks ago, we would normally just be completing another Marcus Foundation Golf Tournament in perfect weather. It is an experience we have all shared for the past 30 years. 

However, as you should all know by now, last year's tournament was the final one. It was a very difficult decision, but the right one for a myriad of reasons, some very personal. Although the tournament itself has ended, the causes for which we have gathered these many years remain. Accordingly, the Foundation will continue to support both brain tumor research being conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital (“MGH”) and the Marcus Fund for Families, which was established by the Foundation to help defray the cost to families with children being treated at MGH for brain tumors and other neurological diseases.

Below are updates from MGH to highlight the progress made due to the support of the Marcus Foundation:

On the brain tumor research side:

 The year’s support has advanced the work of Dr. Bryan Choi, whom some of you may remember from our 2021 tournament. Dr. Choi is an attending neurosurgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery at Mass General and specializes in surgical care for patients with benign and malignant brain tumors. Dr. Choi leads a research laboratory with the goal of developing the next generation of cell therapies (e.g., Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells or CAR T cells), and translating these into new clinical trials for patients with brain tumors at MGH. Dr. Choi also has a special focus on investigating mechanisms of resistance to immune therapy for solid tumors like glioblastoma, such as antigen heterogeneity and the harsh associated immune-suppressive environment associated with these tumors. A recent feature of his work can be found here: https://advances.massgeneral.org/neuro/article.aspx?id=1486

On the Fund for Families:

 The fund continues to provide critical support to families in need facing a brain tumor diagnosis and navigating the complexities of treatment. With the forthcoming retirement of Dr. Elizabeth Dooling, Marcus’ primary doctor more than 30 years ago, we are happy to share that Dr. Amy Armstrong-Javors will be assuming oversight of the Fund for Families. After graduating from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Dr. Armstrong-Javors completed her Pediatric Neurology Residency at Mass General, where she was recruited to remain on staff. Dr. Armstrong-Javors is now a specialist in Pediatric Neurology, serving as an Instructor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School, the Attending Physician of the Inpatient Pediatric Neurology Service and also as the Creator/Director of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Pediatric Rehabilitation Elective. In 2015, she ran the Boston Marathon for the Mass General Hospital Pediatric Cancer Team, raising critical funds for Mass General’s youngest cancer patients. Dr. Armstrong-Javors extends her sincere gratitude for the Marcus Foundation’s commitment to easing the financial burden of pediatric brain tumor patient’s families, which continues to make a positive impact in the lives of those receiving care at MGH.

I think you would agree that it's truly gratifying to see what your support has accomplished. However, the battle continues and so we are reaching out to you today to ask that you continue to support the Foundation so we can continue our efforts to provide these much needed grants.

You can make a contribution to the Foundation online at our recently redesigned website (www.marcus.foundation) or by check mailed to:
Marcus Foundation
c/o Mark Niziak
7 Cutler Street
Hopedale Ma 01747

While a contribution in any amount would be greatly appreciated, as an incentive, if you contribute a minimum of $100, you will receive a newly-designed Marcus Foundation golf hat and also be entered to win a foursome at the Franklin Country Club. Moreover, if you contribute more than $100, for each $100 increment, you will receive an additional chance to return to play at Franklin Country Club. The winner of the drawing will be announced on January 15, 2023 via email and on our Facebook page. If you are currently not receiving email updates from the Foundation, please go to our website and click on Join Our Mailing List at the footer of the website. You'll also want to be sure to follow our recently launched Marcus Foundation Facebook page, also accessible from the footer of our website. If you are on Facebook, we ask that you visit the page and both “like” and “share” it.

Click Here to Contribute & a Chance to Win a Foursome at Franklin Country Club

Thank you for your past support and hopefully you will be able to once again assist us in continuing the battle that Marcus so valiantly fought.

Sincerely,

Mark S. Niziak Sr.

President, The Marcus Foundation

Thank You from Mass General

​Dear Mr. Niziak,

Please accept my gratitude to you and the Marcus Foundation for your gift supporting brain tumor research and the Marcus Fund for Families at Massachusetts General Hospital. In these extraordinary times, your philanthropy plays an integral role in our institution’s ability to adapt and thrive.


Your contribution provides important resources for Dr. William Curry’s research into therapies for brain tumors in the Translational Brain Tumor Immunology Lab, accelerating the pace of discovery, moving us closer to improved medicine for all. Your kindness in assisting families of children receiving cancer or other treatments at Mass General, to defray costs, is especially appreciated by all those who benefit. I understand this was the 30th Marcus Foundation Golf Tournament, an incredible milestone and a wonderful tribute to your son. We look forward to our continued partnership as the foundation explores a new direction in the coming years. Thank you for your generosity through the years.

Sincerely,

Michael McNally
Vice President for Development

Mass General Development Office

Final Marcus Foundation Golf Tournament

Following the 2021 Golf Tournament, the Foundation provided a $30,000 grant to the Massachusetts General  Hospital (MGH), supporting both brain tumor research being conducted there as well as The Marcus Fund for Families.

To our golf tournament participants and sponsors over the years, words cannot possibly convey how truly grateful I am for the manner by which you have honored my son over the past 30 years.

Although we have held our last golf tournament, at least for awhile, the foundation will continue to annually support both the Marcus Family Fund (established to help defray the cost to families with children being treated at MGH and ongoing brain tumor research being conducted at MGH). To assist us with these endeavors, we may be announcing some fund raising events in the future. In the interim, we ask for your continued support. So if you are contemplating making a charitable contribution in the future, we ask that you consider the Marcus Foundation.

Thank you

Mark S. Niziak Sr.