COCOA BEACH, Fla. (September 29, 2008) -- The official expansion of the World Skin Cancer Foundation (WSCF) to the Western United States will be formally announced and celebrated in a special reception this Wednesday, October 1 at the Carl Nolet Senior Hospitality Center in Aliso Viejo, Calif., where WSCF officials will join with their new partners in the Golden State in introducing the Foundation to the West Coast.
The World Skin Cancer Foundation began in Cocoa Beach on Florida's East Coast less than four years ago, but interest in building awareness for the causes and prevention of skin cancer nationally has created the need for Foundation operations on the West Coast as well. The expansion was made possible due to the efforts of several prominent West Coast business leaders from the sports and health care industries and the Foundation's Florida-based Board of Directors.
"Skin cancer is one of the fastest growing types of cancers in the United States so it is critical that the World Skin Cancer Foundation expands to meet the challenge of educating people on the causes and prevention of this disease," said World Skin Cancer Foundation President Drew Filliben. "We have seen incredible growth in the Foundation in the short time we have been in operation, but becoming a truly national operation will now make our efforts that much more impactful."
Filliben will be in attendance Wednesday night along with fellow World Skin Cancer Foundation principal Sean Slater, founder of the Sean Slater Invitational Surf Contest, November 7 – 9, which will be part of the Foundation's annual Fall Classic series of fund-raising sports events in Florida
The World Skin Cancer Foundation West Coast Advisory Board includes Vicki Dallas (Partner, Rutan & Tucker LLP), John Chamberlin (Director, Deutsche Bank), Mark Jurczynski (President, Blue Bear Medical Ventures, LLC), Frank Kaufman (Partner, Moss Adams LLP), John Moody (Financial Services, the Busch Firm), Scott Pantel (President, Life Science Intelligence), Carol Stewart (Vice President, Wells Fargo Commercial Bank), Sean Walker (Senior Vice President, RSM Capital Markets, LLC), Jennifer Armstrong (John A Burns School of Medicine) and Filliben.
"When I learned of the World Skin Cancer Foundation after a trip to Florida, I was immediately struck by the special nature of the organization and immediately realized an expansion was needed to the West Coast, and Southern California, in particular," Dallas said. "We have very similar active outdoor lifestyles in California like our friends in Florida, but that brings with it the need to deliver the message about sun safe precautions and awareness. We are honored to now be in a position to help the World Skin Cancer Foundation continue its mission of awareness and prevention, here in California and throughout the West Coast."
Wedneday's reception, which is scheduled from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Nolet center is being sponsored by Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Moss Adams LLP, Life Science Intelligence, Wells Fargo Commercial Bank, RSM Capital Markets LLC, Blue Bear Medical Ventures, LLC, Deutsche Bank and The Busch Firm. Ketel One Vodka is sponsoring the venue and beverages, and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
Media interested in attending and covering the event for the purposes of a story on the reception or the World Skin Cancer Foundation may contact Adam Saal (SaalGood) at (321) 890-2848. An RSVP to khoffmann@rutan.com is also required.
Over one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year and over 10,000 people die from skin cancer annually. The most important benefit of supporting the World Skin Cancer Foundation and one of its many events is helping the organization's efforts to raise awareness for skin cancer through education, prevention, detection and informational public signage while supporting sun-safe outdoor recreation. Learn more at www.worldskincancerfoundation.com