Feb 8, 2008 -- Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz, longtime benefactors of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, are donating $7 million to start a major new research program within the medical college’s Cancer Center. The gift from the couple was announced February 5 at the “Thinking Pink Day: Supporting the Fight Against Breast Cancer” luncheon held in Palm Beach, Florida. Mrs. Katz was honored along with The Honorable Nancy G. Brinker, who launched the global breast cancer movement in 1987 when she founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure to honor her sister, who died of the disease. Mrs. Katz was recognized as founding chairperson of the Einstein Cancer Center’s Cancer Research Advisory Board, as well as for her many contributions as chair over the past ten years, fostering the Cancer Center’s research programs. The $7 million gift will create the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Program that will bring together Einstein scientists to design new methods for promoting the health of Bronx residents. It will include population studies to identify lifestyle and environmental factors that cause cancer, as well as cancer prevention initiatives focusing on smoking cessation, exercise, healthy nutrition, and preventing obesity. “This very generous gift from Marilyn and Stanley Katz is of enormous importance to the college, the Cancer Center, and the people of the Bronx,” said Dr. I. David Goldman, director of the Cancer Center and the Susan Resnick Fisher Professor of Brain Cancer Research at Einstein. “The program created by their gift will expand the scope of population-based research at the center and will lead to new approaches to the prevention and early detection of cancer. This program will benefit not just our community but will contribute to cancer control efforts throughout the United States.” Dr. Allen Spiegel, the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein, also expressed his appreciation. “I am enormously grateful to Marilyn and Stanley Katz for their visionary gift,” Dr. Spiegel said. “Einstein has great strengths in behavioral and social sciences as applied to diabetes and AIDS. The Katz’s generous gift will allow us to extend this important approach to cancer research so that Einstein can address the full range of serious diseases and health disparities.” In her remarks at the luncheon announcing her gift, Mrs. Katz noted that she, like Ms. Brinker, had a sister named Susan who died from cancer. “I’ve dedicated my life to honoring the memory of someone I loved dearly by doing all I can to help find a cure,” Mrs. Katz said. “Stan and I have such wonderful memories of growing up in the Bronx, so it’s especially gratifying to be able to give back to the community in this way. I know that our involvement in this vitally important program would make my parents very proud.”