Norris News
Hatfield Gift Annuity Benefits Research
Howard and Virginia
Hatfield recently completed their seventh gift annuity, which will provide
a guaranteed income for their lives and benefit cancer research. Howard Hatfield,
a cancer survivor, and his wife, Virginia, began donating to USC/Norris in
1996 because, he said, they “had many family members and friends who
were—and are—affected by the disease.”
The Hatfields chose to create a gift annuity because of the multiple benefits, such as these:
• A guaranteed income for life
• Tax-free income, a charitable tax deduction and lower estate taxes
• A philanthropic opportunity to support medical research
• Safety, knowing that annuity agreements are backed by the full faith and credit of USC
• Flexibility, in that an annuity may be created with cash, securities or real estate
If you have any questions about this or any other type of planned gift, call (323) 442-1346.
Mesothelioma Research Foundation
Parkash Gill, M.D., and his colleagues updated members and guests of the Mesothelioma Research Foundation at the foundation’s second annual meeting. Gill reported that he and his research staff have tracked down two new target genes in the fight against mesothelioma, both of which are linked to blood-vessel growth. These genes produce a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF. Gill provided the first-ever evidence that VEGF, produced by a wide variety of tumor types, not only promotes the growth of blood vessels at the tumor site, but promotes growth of the tumor cells themselves. Currently USC/Norris physicians are conducting a Phase I clinical trial using the drug Veglin against a variety of tumors that have been shown to produce VEGF.
The Mesothelioma Research Foundation was established through the combined efforts of attorney Jerry Neil Paul; his wife Elizabeth; Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 230 officer and executive director of the foundation, Steve Vealey; his wife, Becky Mann, a board member and U.A. International representative of the Pipefitters for the California Pipe Trades; and board member Jim Kellogg. The 45,000 members of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Union are the largest single group of individuals who develop this disease.
Mesothelioma is tied almost exclusively to the mineral asbestos. Of the 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma reported in the United States each year, 70 to 80 percent can be traced to tiny, airborne shards of asbestos, which in the past was used in the production of construction materials ranging from cement to shingles to siding, as well as in insulation. Family members also are exposed to these carcinogens through laundry brought home by the workers.
Gill and his colleagues expressed appreciation to Elizabeth and Jerry Paul, who generously funded the Mesothelioma Research Laboratory.
“We are committed to a plan of annual giving at the same or larger levels to support Dr. Gill and our Mesothelioma Laboratory. We are also expanding our base of donors as families with this disease and pipe-trade unions become involved,” said Paul.
The Pauls also made a personal commitment of support of between $100,000
and $200,000 a year for the next 25 years. 
Schaeffer Family Pledges Support
Christine, Sean and Patrick Schaeffer pledged $200,000 in memory of L. Daniel Schaeffer, D.D.S. Daniel Schaeffer was a faculty member of the USC School of Dentistry for many years and was treated at USC/Norris by Jeffrey Weber, M.D., Ph.D.
In recognition of their generosity, Peter Jones, Ph.D., director of the USC/Norris, has named his office in memory of Schaeffer and in honor of Christine and her sons.
Richard Meissner, Christine Schaeffer’s father, joined the family for the plaque dedication ceremony. Jones updated the family on the progress of research at USC/Norris and expressed gratitude to the family for supporting the research taking place at USC/Norris.
“Swing Against Cancer” Golf Tournament Set for May
The first “Swing Against Cancer” golf tournament will take place Monday, May 3, 2004 at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, Calif. All funds raised will be used for cancer research as identified by Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., director of USC/Norris. Sponsors, golfers and volunteers should call Sondra Malatesta at (323) 865-0725 for more information.
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8th Annual Take-A-Hike Approximately 1,000 to 1,500 hikers joined honorary chair and actor Téa Leoni at the 8th Annual Expedition Inspiration Take-A-Hike on Oct. 11 at Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. The hike raised more than $150,000 for breast cancer research programs. This year, funds raised by the hike benefit the research of pathologist Michael Press, M.D., Ph.D., coordinator of the breast cancer research program at USC/Norris, and the Harold E. Lee Chair in Cancer Research. |
San Pedro Guild to Host “An Affaire to Remember”
The San Pedro Guild fundraiser “An Affaire to Remember,” will take place Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Long Beach Hyatt Hotel. The event includes a fashion show and several boutiques with holiday gift items for sale, such as jewelry, clothing, ornaments and accessories. And don’t miss the enormous bake sale. The event supports cancer research at USC/Norris. For more details, call Sondra Malatesta at (323) 865-0725.
Annual Giving Supports Research
The annual contributions to USC/Norris come from many generous donors who support research across the spectrum of disciplines. In fiscal year 2003, USC/Norris received more than $800,000 in unrestricted funds earmarked for cancer research from more than 23,000-plus donors who participated in a direct-mail program.
The Cancer Research Associates (CRA) again made a tremendous impact on cancer
research at USC/Norris, raising almost $200,000. This exceptional group of
USC/Norris friends has a vital mission to save lives by providing seed money
to help USC/Norris advance its understanding of cancer through research, diagnosis
and treatment. They also support the physicians and scientists who provide
cancer care. 
Decade Mark for Parker Golf Classic
The 10th Annual Scott Parker Golf Classic took place on Aug. 25 at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. This year, funds raised from the long-standing golf tournament go toward prostate cancer research. Since the tournament began, it has raised more than $1.2 million for cancer research. Special thanks were given to Ashworth Inc. for their continued support and to Callaway Golf for donating Big Bertha II Drivers for all of the players.
Scott Parker, a USC student, died in December 1990 after a two-year battle with cancer. The William D. Walsh family founded the Scott D. Parker Cancer Research Laboratory at USC/Norris as a memorial to him.
$1 Million Gift Funds Beckman Center for Immune Monitoring
USC/Norris Cancer Center was recently awarded a $1 million gift from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation to establish the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Immune Monitoring. Jeffrey Weber, M.D., Ph.D., the Berle and Lucy Adams Chair in Cancer Research and Keck School associate professor of medicine and microbiology and immunology, will head the new center.
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Immune Monitoring will establish a core facility for the preservation and archiving of peripheral blood and tumor samples from patients on cancer vaccine trials, creating well-defined standardized methods for measuring immune responses in vaccinated patients, and the development of new tests that will expand the ability to determine the impact of cancer vaccines.
The Beckman Center will strengthen the performance of existing trials of immune therapy for cancer, promote the dissemination of immunologic techniques to vaccine trials university-wide, and provide standardized, reproducible and reliable tests for the detection of specific immune responses in vaccinated cancer patients.
Angels West Dedicated to Cancer Fight
During the past year, Angels West members raised $100,000 for cancer research at USC/Norris. The group’s fundraising efforts for USC/Norris began in 1993, and they have contributed more than $2 million since then. The Angels West Research Suite on the sixth floor of the Topping Tower bears witness to the group’s dedication to fighting cancer. The Angels West Wall of Honor recognizes those members who made important contributions to USC/Norris.
Angels West Wall of Honor