At the heart of Global’s corporate charitable efforts is the CFMS Fund. Global’s support for cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis research comes from the Slifka family’s personal connection to those diseases.
Recently Global directed the CFMS Fund to donate $250,000 to two New England area non-profits to further support Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research.
“We are committed to striking out these two devastating diseases,” said Andrew Slifka, Chairman of the Board for the CFMS Fund and Executive Vice President of Global Partners. “We are very pleased to give these much needed funds to support ongoing research projects, and we are inspired by their commitment and focus,” added Slifka.
These funds will be allocated to the following two groups:
- $125,000 to The National Multiple Sclerosis Study, Greater New England Chapter. The funds will support the final fellowship year for Dr. Dimitry Ofengeim, PhD. Under the mentorship of experienced researches, Dr. Ofengeim and team at the Harvard Medical School are investigating a molecule called RIP1 kinase. This molecule has been suggested to be harmful in MS, and Dr. Ofengeim is further investigating this idea. Blocking RIP1 kinase may be therapeutic strategy in MS that could be developed to stop MS progression and restore lost function.
- $125,000 to Boston Children’s Hospital. The donation will support the Cystic Fibrosis Stem Cell Consortium, comprised of three leading research laboratories. Under the direction of stellar scientists, Drs. George Daley, Carla Kim and Ruby Wang, the funds will help their teams pursue new therapies for CF patients whose mutations are not responsive to current medications.
“We continue to be honored by the Slifka family’s dedication to helping us eradicate Multiple Sclerosis,” said Lori Espino, Chapter President of the Greater New England Chapter of the National MS Society. “Their ongoing support is so vital to our cause and it impacts the lives of so many living with this disease that can be so debilitating for some. This gift is so needed now!”
“The CFMS Fund, Global Partners and the Slifka family have played an enormous role in funding our exceptional team of dedicated scientists who are advancing novel research to discover new therapies and ultimately a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. They have developed a complex, multi-faceted platform using genomics, stem cells and genome-editing to study this disease. ” said Joan Romanition, Director at the Children’s Hospital Trust. Our scientists and hospital leadership are incredibly grateful to the CFMS Fund and the Slifka family and we all extend our deepest appreciation!”
The CF & MS Fund Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis and Multiple Sclerosis. Global manages and leads the CFMS Fund. Since 2009, the fund has donated almost 3 million dollars to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. These two nationally recognized organizations, over a century old combined, are ranked among the top non-profits in the United States. The CFMS Fund is proud to support them. Together we are improving and extending the lives of those living with CF and MS.