Famed New York Philanthropist Donates $7 Million to Advance Prostate Cancer Research

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New York’s flamboyant philanthropic billionaire Stewart Rahr this week gave research focused on curing prostate cancer a huge boost, donating $7 million to support the cause. $5 million of the donation will go to support a recently announced PCF-Stand Up to Cancer Dream Team with the remainder earmarked to support various Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) programs including Creativity, Challenge and Young Investigator Awards.

“His philanthropic spirit will inevitably change the treatment landscape for prostate cancer and reduce death and suffering as a result of this disease. Millions of men and their families will benefit from his humanity.”

The Dream Team supported by Rahr’s donation is a seven institution, international project that will be led by Drs. Arul Chinnaiyan at the University of Michigan and Charles Sawyers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. This unique research program will focus on developing protocols, based on genomics and informatics, pathology, bioethics, clinical genetics and clinical oncology, that will deliver precision therapies to patients within five weeks of a positive biopsy. Five other institutions working as part of this Dream Team include Broad Institute (Boston), Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Boston), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle), Institute of Cancer Research/The Royal Marsden Hospital (London) and Weill Cornell Medical College (New York).

“Stewart Rahr has been a huge supporter of the work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and we are extremely grateful for his continued generosity,” said Jonathan W. Simons, MD, president and CEO of PCF. “His philanthropic spirit will inevitably change the treatment landscape for prostate cancer and reduce death and suffering as a result of this disease. Millions of men and their families will benefit from his humanity.”

“This is a vitally important cause and I am honored to be able to help the Prostate Cancer Foundation with all of their work,” said Stewart Rahr. “I am confident that this unique program will have a positive impact.”

Stewart Rahr is listed as #298 on the Forbes 400 according to Forbes Magazine.

About the Prostate Cancer Foundation

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for accelerating the most promising research for better treatments and cures for prostate cancer. Founded in 1993, PCF has raised more than $500 million and provided funding to more than 1,600 research programs at nearly 200 cancer centers and universities in 15 countries. PCF advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more efficient investment of governmental research funds for transformational cancer research. Its efforts have helped produce a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer. More information about the PCF can be found at www.pcf.org.