New Brunswick, N.J.– The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) Foundation has announced this year’s honorees for its 15th Annual Award of Hope Gala, which will recognize pillars of New Jersey’s cancer community this fall. The October 2 event at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick will honor a number of individuals, including two teenagers, for their significant contributions to CINJ. CINJ is New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Since its inception, the Award of Hope Gala has raised millions to benefit CINJ. “The Award of Hope Gala provides a great opportunity to raise awareness about CINJ research, patient care and outreach and educational programs and to recognize those who are making a difference in the fight against cancer,” said Subha V. Barry, chair of the CINJ Foundation Board of Trustees. “This year’s honorees exemplify the great accomplishments that can be achieved when we work together as a larger community with a common purpose.”
Every year at the Award of Hope Gala, the CINJ Foundation celebrates the enormous contributions of distinguished corporations, foundations and private citizens whose generosity and thoughtful leadership have helped to advance the mission of CINJ. This year’s honorees include:
Award of Hope for Leadership in Research and Patient Care
Isaac Yi Kim, MD, PhD
When viewed through the lens of the extraordinary work ethic put forth by Isaac Yi Kim, MD, PhD, hope -- and its promise for a brighter future -- come into very sharp focus. Tireless dedication to patients and groundbreaking laboratory research combine in the work of this committed healthcare professional, who serves as chief of the Section of Urologic Oncology at CINJ and an associate professor of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. This highly-skilled surgeon has a specialty interest in robotic- and minimally-invasive surgery and performs a high volume of these procedures on prostate cancer patients each year. On any given day, Dr. Kim, who is also executive director of the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center, moves between the operating room, his clinic, and his laboratory, where he engages in research in tumor immunology focusing on immunosuppressive factors produced by prostate cancer cells. His work embodies the ideal of the physician-scientist and captures the essence of the Foundation’s Award of Hope for Leadership in Research and Patient Care.
Award of Hope for Corporate Leadership
C.R. Bard, Inc.
A shared commitment to innovative methods that will better meet the needs of healthcare professionals and patients is what brought CINJ and C.R. Bard, Inc. together. Through Bard’s generosity, a partnership has been forged that has also markedly advanced CINJ’s educational programs. This philanthropic leadership has provided research training and career development opportunities that are fundamental to advancing the fight against cancer. Since 2005, Bard has partnered with CINJ to establish the C.R. Bard Scholars Program to attract first- and second-year medical students to the field of urologic oncology. A paid internship supports urologic oncology training in basic, clinical and translational research and direct experience in moving basic research from the laboratory to the clinic. Each participant is mentored by a multi-disciplinary team of physicians and scientists. The experience has proven very beneficial, as the majority of participants have chosen to specialize in either urology or oncology. Oncology nursing education also has been funded by C. R. Bard, filling a critical need at CINJ and its Network of hospitals.
Award of Hope for Philanthropic Leadership
The J. Seward Johnson, Sr. 1963 Charitable Trust
Since 1995, the philanthropic leadership of The J. Seward Johnson, Sr. 1963 Charitable Trust has been a catalyst for the growth and success of CINJ. The Trust has invested more than $1 million in the construction of CINJ’s original facility and its expansion; establishment of a program in the study of diet and nutrition in cancer prevention; recruitment of new faculty; and procurement of the most sophisticated laboratory technology. Most recently, the Trust has been instrumental in developing CINJ’s Molecular Imaging Core Facility, which provides CINJ researchers the ability to conduct both anatomic and molecular imaging of tumor growth and metastasis, a necessary first step toward facilitating preclinical trials of a variety of novel treatments for cancer. This advanced imaging system will also provide the tools and information needed to develop sophisticated, imageable models of human cancers.
Young Philanthropist Honorees
Harry August and Sandy August
Brothers Harry and Sandy August, age 15 and 17 respectively, will be recognized for their efforts in raising more than seven thousand dollars over the past four years for CINJ through the annual Century for the Cure bike ride. What started off as a mitzvah – or “good deed” – project in preparation for his bar mitzvah turned into an annual tradition for Harry, who rode 35 miles in his first Century ride and last year found himself completing all 100 miles. Older brother Sandy has completed the trek along with dad David August, MD, chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at CINJ, and professor of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, for the past three years. The brothers’ drive to help others was summed up by Sandy when he described his push to finish the hundred-mile bike route last year. He told himself, “I am enduring this now for a short period of time to help out people who have to endure much more.”
Sponsorship opportunities and tickets for this year’s Gala can be obtained by calling CINJ Foundation Director of Major Gifts and Special Events, Leanne Kochy at 732-235-4956 or by visiting www.cinjfoundation.org.
About The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (www.cinj.org) is the state’s first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center dedicated to improving the detection, treatment and care of patients with cancer, and serving as an education resource for cancer prevention. CINJ’s physician-scientists engage in translational research, transforming their laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, quite literally bringing research to life. To make a tax-deductible gift to support CINJ, call 732-235-8614 or visit www.cinjfoundation.org. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
The CINJ Network is comprised of hospitals throughout the state and provides a mechanism to rapidly disseminate important discoveries into the community. Flagship Hospital: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Major Clinical Research Affiliate Hospitals: Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Hospital, Cooper University Hospital and Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Affiliate Hospitals: Bayshore Community Hospital, CentraState Healthcare System, JFK Medical Center, Mountainside Hospital, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton (CINJ at Hamilton), Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Somerset Medical Center, Southern Ocean County Hospital, The University Hospital/UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School*, and University Medical Center at Princeton. *Academic Affiliate