Update: Marcus Fund for Families

As we reported earlier,  The Marcus Fund for Families (the "Fund")  is now under the auspices of Dr. Armstrong - Javors . The Fund is designed to help families with children being treated at the Massachusetts General  Hospital for brain tumors and other neurological diseases to offset certain incidental  expenses associated with their care. Dr. Armstrong-Javors has recently provided me with three Marcus Fund vignettes which I am pleased to share below:

• G, an 11 year old boy who loves to swim, recently experienced recurrence of his tumor years after completion of chemotherapy. He is now undergoing another round of chemotherapy and his tumor has left him blind and with cognitive difficulties. G lives with his young single mother and has limited resources, so she was so happy to learn that we would be able to provide meal tickets and gas money for their weekly trips to the clinic through the Marcus Fund.

• B, a 3 year old boy who loves action heroes, was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and has undergone surgery, radiation therapy, and now chemotherapy. His hair is finally growing back and he is starting to talk more. B is a feisty kid and full of energy who lives with his grandmother far from the hospital. Through the Marcus Fund, we were able to provide gas cards and parking passes to the MGH garage.  

• M, a 10 year old boy who recently emigrated to America, was diagnosed with a brain tumor which has worsened despite treatment. M has trouble talking and walking but loves going to school and especially loves soccer. He is always smiling. The Marcus Fund was able to provide meal tickets and parking passes to help his family with weekly expenses around his care.

I am  sure that you will  agree that it is truly gratifying to hear such stories. While the Marcus Fund has been able to assist many such families , there are so many others needing our assistance. Accordingly, we ask that you continue to support the Marcus  Foundation so that we are able to continue the battle that Marcus so valiantly fought. 

Look for the announcement concerning our Fall Raffle in early September which we hope that you will  share with friends and family. As always, any donations are greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Mark Niziak
President, The Marcus Fund 

Massachusetts General Hospital Grants Update & Future Support

On June 2nd, Marcus Foundation Board Members, Frank Bailey, Drew Niziak and Mark Niziak met with representatives from the Massachusetts General Hospital ( "MGH") to discuss the recent grants extended by the Foundation and the plans for future such support . 

There are two main initiatives of the Foundation: namely, (i) the support of brain tumor research being conducted at MGH, and (ii) the Marcus Fund for Families, which was established by the Foundation to help defray the incidental costs to families with children being treated at MGH for brain tumors and other neurological diseases. 

With respect to brain tumor research, we were honored to meet with William T. Curry, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Massachusetts General Hospital and MGPO, Director, Neurological Oncology, Department of Neurosurgery, MGH, Adeline Rose Wydotis Professor of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, as well as Bryan Choi, MD, PHD, Associate Director, Center for Brain Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology. Participants in the Marcus Foundation Golf Tournament may recall hearing from both Dr. Curry and Dr. Choi at past events. At that meeting, we were encouraged to hear that amazing progress is being made in the treatment of brain tumors and that Dr. Curry will be preparing a video update later this year for supporters of the Marcus Foundation.

We also had the pleasure to meet Dr. Amy Armstrong-Javors, Pediatric Neurologist, Mass General for Children, Instructor, Department of Neurology, who recently assumed auspices of the Marcus Fund for Families. It was truly gratifying to hear how the Fund for Families has impacted the lives of so many children being treated at MGH and their families. Dr. Armstrong-Javors also provided us with several Marcus Fund vignettes which we will be sharing in the near future. Like Dr. Curry, she will be preparing a video update to be used in conjunction with our Fall Fund Raising Event/Raffle. Details to be announced via email and on our website in September.   

Dr. Curry

Dr. Choi

Dr. Armstrong-Javors

In the effort to replicate our past golf tournaments,  we also hope to provide video updates from Dan Shaughnessy and/or Jackie MacMullan as part of our Fall fundraising event.

We hope that we can count on your support later this year, as our goal is to increase the amount of our annual grant to MGH, as we were truly inspired to learn of the magnitude of the impact that the Marcus Foundation has had. In the interim, if you have any questions, or wish to make a donation, please click below:

Thank you,

Mark Niziak 
President, the Marcus Foundation

34th Annual Tony C Open

On May 25th, the Cellucci Family held the 34th Annual Tony C Open at the Easton Country Club. The  tournament  is  held in memory of their father. Once again, the Marcus Foundation was honored to be the designated beneficiary. We are truly grateful  to the Cellucci Family for their continued support.

Pictured is Mark Niziak and the Cellucci Brothers

Compelling Brain Tumor Facts

COMPELLING BRAIN TUMOR FACTS*

Approximately 5.7% of all primary brain tumors occur in children and adolescents, ages 0-19 years

Brain tumors are the most common cancer in children and adolescents

Infants less than one year of age have the highest incidence of brain tumors of all children and adolescents

An estimated 5,230 new cases of primary brain tumors in children and adolescents  will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2023

Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related  death among children  and adolescents

It was estimated in 2009, that a total of 47,631.5 years of  potential life were lost  due to  brain tumors in children and adolescents in the U.S.

* From the National Brain Tumor Society