March 29, 2008

Contra Costa County Sheriff Warren Rupf

Contra Costa County Sheriff Warren Rupf presented International Pipetrades Representative and Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America Board Member Jim Kellogg with a generous donation of $34,000 for mesothelioma research. This years' Contra Costa Sherriffs' Charity Ball was held at the Blackhawk Automobile Museum in Danville, CA and marked the 29th year of giving for the Contra Costa Sheriffs'. As always, 100% of the donation given to the MESORFA will go directly to the USC Comprehensive Cancer Center for Dr. Parkash Gill's mesothelioma research. This years' event was special for a couple of reasons. First and foremost this year included a 3rd beneficiary, the Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, which provides financial assistance to injured Marines and their families. During the festivities an American flag that was flown over Camp Fallujah in Iraq was auctioned off and generated an additional $10,000 for the Semper Fi Fund. This years' event also marked the second and final year that the MESORFA will be a beneficiary of the event. We wanted to extend our deepest thanks for keeping mesothelioma research in the public eye and providing the MESORFA with more than $90,000 in donations over the last 2 years. A special thank you goes to Sheriff Warren Rupf, Executive Assistant Maurine Wamosh, and International Pipetrades Representative Jim Kellogg who made it all possible.

March 10, 2008

USC Keck School of Medicine's publication of Internal Medicine Ink featured MESORFA's Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Parkash Gill for his work on a new cancer-fighting drug EphB4. The article highlights the effectiveness of EphB4 on bladder, breast and colorectal cancer calling it “a major step forward in the management of human malignancies”. In addition to these cancers EphB4 has also been shown to be effective on patients diagnosed with mesothelioma and we hope to have it submitted to the FDA this year for Phase I clinical trials. Thank you Dr. Gill for your continued dedication to making mesothelioma and other cancers thing's of the past.

See the PDF article

Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America presented with a check for $110,000

December 2, 2007

California State Building Trades President Bob Balgenorth, Chair of the Committee for the Roger Hamilton Golf Invitational, Cindy Hamilton, and Business Manager of the Alameda Heat & Frost Insulators Local 16 Steve Steele presented the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America with a check for $110,000 on behalf of the California State Building Trades. There to receive the check on behalf of the Foundation were MESORFA Board Member and U.A. International Representative Jim Kellogg, MESORFA Executive Director Elizabeth Ann Paul, and MESORFA Board Member and Founding Partner of Paul & Hanley LLP, Jerry Paul. The generous contribution was the result of the enormously successful Roger Hamilton Golf Invitational and the Aim to Cure Clay Shoot fundraisers held in 2007. The fundraisers have generated much needed funding for the mesothelioma research being conducted under Dr. Parkash Gill's leadership at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. A special thanks goes out to all of those from the California Building Trades who helped organize and participate in the Roger Hamilton Memorial Golf Invitational and Aim to Cure Sporting Clay Shoot fundraisers.

United Association of the Southern California Pipetrades District Council 16...
do it again for the consecutive 5th year!

November 6, 2007

Los Angeles, CA. - For the fifth year in a row the United Association of the Southern California Pipetrades District Council 16 presented a check to Dr. Parkash Gill to help support his mesothelioma cancer research. District Council 16 Business Manager Sid Stolper, U.A. International Representative Jim Kellogg, MRFA Executive Director Elizabeth Paul and MRFA Board Member Jerry Neil Paul presented the $100,000 check at a recent meeting held in Los Angeles. Dr. Gill and his team of researchers were overjoyed with the support and highlighted the advancements made in finding a cure for mesothelioma.

Most exciting is the identification and early development of two new drugs, EphB4 and AXL. EphB4 is an anti-angiogenesis drug that has shown great promise in laboratory studies and will be submitted for FDA Phase I clinical trials in May of 2008. EphB4 is made up of two active proteins that block blood flow to cancerous tumors preventing the tumors from growing to an uncontrollable size. A lab in San Diego, CA is now mass-producing the proteins needed to make the drug available to mesothelioma patients. The Foundation and its team of researchers have very high hopes for EphB4. The second drug AXL is a very recent discovery by researchers at the USC/Norris Cancer Center and has proved to attack the proteins outside of the tumor cells in preliminary studies. We are encouraged by these recent developments and hope to have more information on their progress in our next newsletter.

The Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America appreciates all the hard work and tireless efforts put in by the fundraisers this year. Without their dedication and support, research would not be able to progress as much as it has. Thank you!

Veglin Trial Openings

November 2007

Dr. Gill recently announced that there are openings for forty-five more patients in his clinical trials. There are fifteen spots for patients previously treated with chemotherapy and thirty for newly diagnosed patients. For these newly diagnosed patients, Veglin can be used as a first line treatment in combination with standard treatments like chemotherapy. Dr. Gill also announced that he is in negotiations to expand his trials to other facilities both in California and across the country.

GREAT NEWS!!
Committee Unanimously Passes Bill To Ban Asbestos: Legislation Sent To Full Senate

August 2, 2007

Washington, D.C.-A bill seeking to ban all production and use of asbestos in the United States and to promote further investigation into disease resulting from exposure, as well as methods to measure and analyze the mineral, was placed on the Senate calendar after unanimous passage in committee. The Committee on Environmental and Public Works passed S.742, the Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007, on August 2. The bill, which was introduced in March by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., received unanimous support from her colleagues. The bill requires the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to conduct a study investigating the science of asbestos disease, methods for measuring and analyzing asbestos and labeling practices for asbestos.

Southern California Pipetrades District Council 16
Annual Golf Invitational

July 30, 2007

For the fifth year in a row the United Association of the Southern California Pipetrades District Council 16 hosted a superb event benefiting mesothelioma cancer research. The golf invitational was held at the beautiful Alta Vista Country Club in Placentia, CA with over a 150 people attending. Representing the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America out on the course was Board Member and Paul Hanley & Harley Partner Jerry Neil Paul, Board Member and U.A. International Representative Jim Kellogg, and Assistant Executive Director Shane Rucker. The event was a huge success generating over $65,000 for mesothelioma cancer research.

After a great day out on the course the golfers and supporters came together with raffle tickets in hand for a bite to eat and a chance to win great prizes. The festivities also included an impromptu birthday celebration for Director of Organizing Charlie Hazard. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE! Speakers Jerry and Elizabeth Paul thanked everyone in attendance and expressed how grateful the Foundation is for being associated with such a supportive group of people. International Pipetrades Representative Jim Kellogg and District Council 16 Business Manager Sid Stolper also spoke. They thanked everyone in attendance, Dr. Gill, and the Foundation for its work in helping their brothers in the U.A. Locals. Dr. Gill then spoke about the progress being made as a result of the donation money received, such as the development of a new drug that will be in Phase I of FDA approval next year.

The Foundation would like to personally thank all of those who attended. Tournament Directors Jim Kellogg, Sid Stolper, and John Ferruccio worked tirelessly to make the event possible and were helped by Committee members Jerry and Elizabeth Paul, Jack Ferrara and David Harper. Thank you all!!

See the PDF poster

Roger Hamilton Memorial Golf Invitational

June 4th, 2007

Once again the "Roger Hamilton Memorial Golf Invitational" was a huge success, taking in over $120,000 for mesothelioma research! The event, held on June 4th, 2007 at the pristine Napa Valley Country Club, was the 6th annual golf invitational designed to promote a No Smoking atmosphere in the California State Building Trades. The event was established through the hard work and dedication of U.A. International Representative of the Pipetrades in California and Hawaii Jim Kellogg, California Building Trades President Bob Balgenorth, and then California Building Trades Vice President Roger Hamilton, who came together in 2001 to brainstorm ideas for a fundraiser. Roger was the first Chair of the Tobacco Free-Off Golf Tournament Committee and it was his idea to support research into a cure for Mesothelioma while promoting less tobacco use in the building trades. Although, Roger had been diagnosed with cancer several months before the first tournament, Roger was determined to make the first event in 2002 a success while having a great time out on the course. To accomplish this goal he called over a hundred people to participate. Cindy Hamilton has since been Chair of the Committee for the annual event and has done a magnificent job, dedicating many hours of hard work to the event to bring friends and supporters together to lead the charge for a cancer cure.

After a beautiful round of golf Bob Balgenorth, Jim Kellogg, Cindy Hamilton, and Debra Chaplan all spoke of the great support everyone has shown each year for funding progressive treatments and an eventual a cure for mesothelioma thru The Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America. Jim Kellogg announced that the California State Assembly and Senate had passed a" Cure Mesothelioma Cancer Week" as an annual awareness week beginning in the first week of June, the first in California history! Dr. Parkash Gill, Board Certified Oncologist and Hematologist at USC/ Norris Comprehensive Cancer Hospital in Los Angeles, then spoke of his progress with Veglin and B4 in FDA Phase II trials. Elizabeth Paul, Executive Director, thanked everyone for their support and highlighted how it has not only ensured progress will be moving forward on mesothelioma but that it provided Dr. Gill with the funding needed to be the first to use an Anti-Angio Genesis treatment for mesothelioma patients at USC/Norris. Jerry Paul then spoke of how Dr. Gill's work has spawned other clinical trials around the country, which are now using drugs similar to Veglin for meso patients.

The Committe Members included: Roger Hamilton, Chair in Memoriam, Bob Balgenorth as Honorary Co-Chair, Attorney and Distinguished Course Sponsor Robert Arns, Mesothelioma Research Foundation Board Member and Partner at Paul, Hanley & Harley Jerry Neil Paul, Board Member and Executive Director of the Mesothelioma Research Foundation Elizabeth Ann Paul. From the California Building & Trades Council Debra Chaplan, Mike Cooper, Paul Doolittle, U.A. International Representative Jim Kellogg, Russ O'Brien, Executive Director of the California State Pipe Trades Ted Reed, and Business Manager of the Alameda Heat & Frost Insulators Local 16 Steve Steele. Steve always a loyal and good friend to the Hamilton's, as well as having a heartfelt desire to help his members find a cure for mesothelioma, was a very active Committee Member and host at the event. Thanks to all the State Building and Construction Trades Council staff for their efforts to plan this event and carry it out so successfully for the last six years.

 

Golfing together at the 2007 Roger Hamilton Memorial Golf Invitational from left to right is Paul, Hanley & Harley attorney Rohit Kodical, Regional Director of the California State Building Trades Eddie Barnes, Mesothelioma Research Foundation Board Member and Partner of Paul, Hanley & Harley Jerry Neil Paul, and Mesothelioma Research Foundation Assistant Executive Director Shane Rucker.

 

Aim to Cure

Southern California's "Aim to Cure Sporting Clay Shoot" April 23, 2007

The event was organized by our very own Jim Kellogg, Foundation Board Member, U. A. International Representative of California and Hawaii, Vice-President of the California Building Trades and also California Fish and Game Commissioner. The event was planned and promoted by Southern California Pipetrades District Council 16 under the strong and heartfelt leadership of Southern California Pipetrades Business Manager and U.A. Executive Vice President Sid Stolper. The event was held at The Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall, California and brought 150 folks together who graciously support finding a cure for mesothelioma and enjoy a good time together. Representing the Foundation at the shoot was Dr. Parkash Gill, Board Member Jim Kellogg, Board Member and Partner of Paul, Hanley & Harley LLP Jerry Neil Paul, and Assistant Executive Director, and sharpshooter, Shane Rucker. Also in attendance was the President of the California Building Trades Bob Balgenorth, U.A. Assistant President and #2 man of the entire Pipetrades Steve Kelley, U.A. San Diego Local 230 Business Manager Nico Ferraro, U.A. Colton Local 364 Business Manager Richard Edwards and Business Agent Frank Trainor, U.A. Pomona Local 398 Business Manager Ray Levangie, U.A. Bakersfield Local 460 Business Manager Tom O'Mahoney and Business Agent Henry Avila, Special Representative of California Bob Lamb, and District Council 16's Charlie Hazard and John Ferruccio. California Pipetrades President Ted Reed, whose office graciously helped as liaison for the Northern California Shoot, was also there to support the Foundation. There were many others not named and we apologize for not mentioning them here but we appreciate your support of funding research to cure mesothelioma. Special thanks to John Ferruccio and Charlie Hazard of District Council 16 for their diligent footwork that made this event a success and to Darla Pratt, Grace Fortunato and Shane Rucker for co-coordinating with John and Charlie. Also thank you to Chris Frigard, and her assistant Debbie, for their part in hosting this great event.

Northern California's "Aim to Cure Sporting Clay Shoot" June 1, 2007.

As with the Southern California "Aim to Cure" event Jim Kellogg, Foundation Board Member, Vice-President of the California Building Trades, International Representative, and California Fish & Game Commissioner was instrumental in making the shoot a success. The shooters came together at the Birdslanding Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clay facility near Concord, California to raise donations for mesothelioma cancer research. Representing the Foundation were Board Members Jim Kellogg and Jerry Paul, Dr. Parkash Gill, and Assistant Executive Director Shane Rucker. The usual cast of shooters included President of the California Building Trades Bob Balgenorth, California Pipetrades President Ted Reed, whose office graciously helped as a liaison for the event, U.A. Concord Local 342 Business Agent Steve Mikich, U.A. Fresno Local 246 Business Manager Bob Jennings, U.A. Concord Local 342 member Ken Pastega, U.A. Vallejo Local 343 Business Manager Rod Cameron, retired California Pipetrades President Joe Winstead, U.A. Yuba City Local 228 Business Manager Robert Carr, U.A. Modesto Local 442 Business Manager Bill Taylor, Chris Frigard and Robert Nunn, District Council 16 Business Manager and Executive Vice President Sid Stolper, Bill Haley from U.A. Sacramento Local 447, retired Business Manager of U.A. Martinez Local 159 and sharpshooter Kelly Anschultz, Special Representative of California Bob Lamb, OPIEU Local 277 Chief Steward of the Western United States Mark S. Gagliardi, and the Director of Organizing for District Council 16 and outstanding marksmen Charlie Hazard. There were many, many more who contributed and we apologize for running out of space for recognition.

Together the Southern and Northern California "Aim to Cure" fundraisers generated over $100,000 for the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America. 100% of it will go to mesothelioma cancer research with any administrative costs paid for by Jerry & Elizabeth Paul. With these sizable donations we can be assured that Dr. Gill's mesothelioma cancer research at USC/ Norris Comprehensive Medical Center will be moving in the right direction.

Thank you to all who participated and made the shoots a success.

28th Annual Sheriff's Charity Ball Raises
Over $60,000 !

March 31, 2007

Sheriff Rupf and the Sheriffs department of Contra Costa County in Northern California had a benefit Saturday, March 31st that included the Mesothelioma Research Foundation as its top benefactor this year, contributing more than $60,000. As always 100% of the money raised will be donated to mesothelioma cancer research.

The BlackHawk Car Museum near Walnut Creek was the setting of this hugely successful dinner/dancing event with the most extensive car collection in California all around the guests. Supporting this event as a Gold Sponsor was U.A. Pipefitters Local 342 under the leadership of Business Manager Jay Williams. Jay provided for 342 Business Agents Mike Hernandez, Steve Mikich and George Kykes to come and support the event along with 342 retired Business Manager Larry Blevins and Executive Board member Mike Mikich. Also supporting the event as a gold sponsor was the law firm of Paul, Hanley and Harley. A special thanks to Assistant Executive Director Shane Rucker who along with Stefanie Franklin, donated their time helping to register and direct the over 300 guests.

Founding Board Members, Jerry Neil Paul and James W. Kellogg, were very honored and proud to be presented with the check for the foundation from Sheriff Rupf.

We want to offer our sincere thanks to the brave men and women of the Sheriffs department for their wonderful contribution.

Remembering John Hall:

On February 19th, 2007 Founding Board Member Jerry Neil Paul, Assistant Executive Director, Shane Rucker and Volunteers of the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America presented and supported (on behalf of the Paul, Hanley & Harley law firm) a Southern California golf event at the Alta Vista Placentia golf course, providing ALL donations to Katrina - the young daughter of the highly respected, recently deceased Business Manager, John Hall.

John had many many friends who treasured his many accomplishments helping his fellow Union Brothers, the Masons, and Big Brothers to mention but a few. The event was conducted by the Plumbers Local 78 and the District Council 16 Southern California Pipefitters. Present among many were 78 Business Manager Gary Cook - Southern California Pipetrades Business Manager and U.A. Regional Vice President Sid Stolper; and Local Business Manager of San Diego Nico Ferraro who spoke of John Hall to all 144 golfers. Also present and golfing with Jerry and Shane were retired Steamfitters Local 494 retired Business Manager Red Kirkconnell, and 494 President, and Bob Mitchell. Pipefitters Business Manager. George Vasquez was also there along with his Business Agent, Terry Martin greeting guests. While it is impossible to list everyone, among the many friends of John and daughter Katrina attending the event were: John Ferruccio, Charlie Hazard - Bus.Mgr.398, Ray Levangie - Bus.Mgr. 582, Glen Nolte, Bus. Agent Bob Modica, U.A. Special Representative Bob Lamb and local 250 Bus. Agent Joe Scavo.

Asbestos Awareness Week

April 1, 2007 through April 7, 2007

The United States Senate unanimously passed S. Res. 108 declaring the week of April 1 - 7 as National Asbestos Awareness Week and urged the Surgeon General to warn and educate Americans that asbestos exposure may be hazardous to their health. We applaud the Senate for their leadership and commitment to asbestos awareness, education and prevention.

Read the entire text here:

AAD_Resolution_2007.pdf

 

 

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