In June of 2007, the Plotkin family heard the devastating words that over 43 sets of parents are told every day in the U.S.
“I am sorry to tell you this, but your son has cancer.”
On the eve of his fourth birthday, Max was playing baseball and had fallen while running around the bases, hurting his arm. Although there appeared to be no evidence of major injury, Max was crying out in pain. That night, Max was diagnosed with a rare form of Stage IV B Cell Lymphoma.
In June 2007, following Max’s diagnosis, the Plotkin family formed the Max Cure Fund at Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center (MSK) to underwrite an Immune Cell Therapy Laboratory that would treat children and young adults that did not respond to standard chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In December 2008, the Plotkin family formed the Max Cure Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Research Funded
To date, MCF has funded over $1.6 million for childhood cancer research, including donating over $75,000 to the Children’s Joy Fund at MSK and in general over $32,000 to other research at MSK (the Max Cure Fund at MSK has received over $1,000,000 which included the seed monies that funded the development of T-Cells for therapeutic use laying the basis for the exciting advances tested in several clinical trials). In addition, over $110,000 in matching funds has been contributed to MSK from MCF’s donations…
Roar Beyond Barriers
Since its formation in 2009, Max Cure Foundation has contributed over $770,000 to families battling cancers in their children and young adults, including in excess of $550,000 through its Roar Beyond Barriers program.
Through the program MCF has, since November 2011, assisted over 200 families at countless hospitals in multiple states where children are in active treatment for their cancers. The families are given gift cards for necessities such as food and clothing…
Advocacy
MCF’s Vice-Chair, Richard Plotkin, has translated the advocacy skills he developed over a 40-year career as a litigation lawyer to assist those advocating for children with cancer. Over the last few years, Richard was credited with being a major factor in the passage in July 2012, of the Creating Hope Act, which incentivizes pharmaceutical companies to invest funds in drugs for rare children’s diseases, including cancer. In early 2014, Richard was told that he was solely responsible for obtaining from the FDA the first ever Compassionate Use Waiver…
Environmental Directions
Our Executive Director, Jonathan Agin, recently spoke with Nancy Pearlman of Environmental Directions radio show, to talk about how the Max Cure Foundation is leading the conversation towards prevention. By focusing on
Junior Board Member | Ritisha Sharma
My name is Ritisha Sharma, and I am a sophomore at Tulane University studying Neuroscience and Chemistry on the pre-med track. After graduation, I plan on going to medical school
Junior Board Member | Brooke Rosenthal
My name is Brooke Rosenthal and I am from Chicago, Illinois. I am a junior at the University of Michigan and I am majoring in Biology, Health, and Society. I
Junior Board Member | Nivetha Kumar
My name is Nivetha Kumar and I am from San Jose, CA, but I lived in India for five years before college. I am a Tulane University student majoring in
We’re looking for high school and college students that want to make a difference in the fight against childhood cancer.
If you’re interested in becoming a Jr. Board member and helping define the future of the Max Cure Foundation, please contact us today. Thank you.