LUNGevity Foundation Announces Additions to Board of Directors

Contributing Valuable Experience to Support LUNGevity's Strategic Growth

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- LUNGevity Foundation, the nation's largest lung cancer-focused organization, is pleased to announce additions to its Board of Directors to guide and assist its continued growth and expansion.

Peter Babej is Global Co-Head of the Financial Institutions Group at Citi. Previously, Peter served as Co-Head of Financial Institutions – Americas at Deutsche Bank and as a Managing Director at Lazard. Over the course of his career, Peter has advised many leading companies across the financial and public sectors worldwide with respect to both mergers and acquisitions and financing.

Grace Bender comes to LUNGevity with extensive experience in public relations, government relations, management, and community volunteer work. She has been active in many non-profit organizations, both as a board and committee member, contributing to program development, fundraising, financial management, and special events. Her company infinisity, inc. produces healthcare aids such as mymedmanager™, a personal healthcare and medication organizer.

Dr. Pierre Massion is Chairman of LUNGevity Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board and Director of the Thoracic Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee.  Dr. Massion is pursuing innovative methods to deepen the knowledge of tumorigenesis as well as developing molecular strategies for the early detection of lung cancer.

Chris Olivier is an entrepreneur with extensive consumer marketing and general management experience, working in operating roles in both private equity and non-profit arenas.  Currently, Chris is a principal in Craft Catalyst, a beverage brand accelerator helping emerging brands manage their growth.   Chris served as an active board member of Take Aim At Cancer, a non-profit focused on raising funds and awareness for targeted cancer therapy. LUNGevity is delighted that Take Aim at Cancer has joined with LUNGevity to help accelerate the funding of as much impactful research as possible. 

"I am honored and thrilled that Grace, Chris, Peter, and Pierre have agreed to serve on our board," said Andrea Stern Ferris, President and Chairman of the Board of LUNGevity. "Each contributes valuable experience and the type of vision we rely upon as we continue to grow LUNGevity's impact on behalf of our lung cancer community."

About LUNGevity Foundation

The mission of LUNGevity Foundation is to have a meaningful impact on improving lung cancer survival rates, ensure a higher quality of life for lung cancer patients and provide a community for those impacted by lung cancer. We do so by supporting critical research into the early detection and successful treatment of lung cancer, as well as by providing information, resources and a support community to patients and caregivers.

LUNGevity seeks to inspire the nation to commit to ending lung cancer.

About Lung Cancer

• 1 in 14 Americans is diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, regardless of gender or ethnicity
• Lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer and almost three times as many men as prostate cancer
• About 55% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers
• Only 16% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if the cancer is caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves dramatically

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation