A Face Behind the Foundation:
PBP is pleased to present Stan Adler, Chairman of Melanoma Research Foundation's (MRF's) seventh annual fundraising gala Wings of Hope for Melanoma.
My favorite memory of working with MRF has been developing a deeper relationship with the people involved with the organization, and helping it become a recognized force within the melanoma community.
In March 2005, I was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic melanoma and underwent treatment at New-York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center under Dr. Howard Kaufman. After I finished my treatment, I stumbled across the Melanoma Patients' Information Page bulletin board with the MRF as its sponsor. My involvement started with my answering people's questions on the board and over the phone and has grown over time.
Being involved has given me the opportunity to give back to people who are in the same place I was three years ago. Having gone through the experience, and come out the other side intact, for the moment, I'm glad to have an outlet for the things I have leaned and the forum to help others in the process.
I have spoken at a Melanoma Symposium to 200 patients and doctors about my decision-making process with respect to my treatment. I have been on the benefit committee for the past three years, including co-chairing this year's gala. My firm has redesigned the MRF's logo, produced invitations for their events and created advertising and educational materials. I expect to keep doing what I'm doing. By helping the MRF represent itself in various media as a professional organization, we hope to contribute to its success. That will hopefully translate into dollars raised and that, in turn, will take us on a path to a cure.
On a personal note, I studied architecture at the City College School of Architecture and the Technion Institute of Technology in Israel. I have a marketing communications firm in NYC unimaginatively called Stan Adler Associates. My hobbies include furniture making, gardening, golf, tennis, travel, classical piano and more. |
