2021 ANNUAL REPORT MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends and Cherished Supporters, Progress in cancer research is accelerating faster than ever, saving more lives and giving cancer patients new hope. Your generous support of the Concern Foundation for cancer research has helped make this happen. Our strategic investments in basic laboratory science, researcher salary support and young scientists “seed money” since 1968 has made a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Immunotherapy has emerged as the most significant breakthrough in cancer treatment in decades. Advances in cell biology, genetics, and tumor immunology have given us the foundation for today’s therapies. New technologies allow us to delve more deeply into individual patient responses to immunotherapy, with the goal of improving outcomes for all patients. For the second year, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt many aspects of our lives, but we cannot allow scientific progress in the fight against cancer to slow. Our focus on the immune system means your support not only helps us to overcome cancer’s defenses, but also will make continue to make inroads against infectious diseases including COVID-19. Thanks to our driven board, tremendous volunteers and dedicated supporters, we again pivoted our traditional in-person Block Party to a successful virtual format, fulfilled every single grant commitment while taking on several new research projects and ran our day to day operations remotely never missing a beat. I hope that as you read this Annual Report you will be as proud as I am of the dedication of our board & donors, professionalism of our staff and adaptability of our organization and community partners that enabled us to continue to touch the lives of so many patients and families dealing with cancer. We will continue to grow our commitment to research and conquer cancer for every human being once and for all. On behalf of our board and especially the researchers we are funding, thank you. Sincerely, Derek Alpert President CONCERN WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS Eden Alpert Anastasio and Brian Anastasio - “For Brian and I, it’s about giving more than money. It’s really about sitting on a Board like The Concern Foundation and helping in as many ways as we can.” Latimer Lorenz – “I’m Lad Lorenz and I recently became part of the Concern Foundation Board. I joined the Board because of a long history supporting friends who are involved with Concern and a passion for seeing cancer eradicated through research.” Jerry Otelsberg – “I’ve been involved with Concern Foundation for over 35 years. In that time I’ve seen my wife, mother, several relatives and too many friends die of or battle cancer. My hope is that in some small way, my involvement with Concern Foundation will help find a cure for this dreaded disease.” Jaclyn Clifford - I came across Concern Foundation about 10 years ago while looking for organizations to partner with while working my former job at Beauty Bus Foundation. I immediately respected Concern’s mission, adored the people involved in the work and knew it was a place I wanted to offer my time and talent. I am honored to be on the Board of Concern helping further the mission and I look forward to the day we don’t have to exist. Lori Rubin – “I decided to get involved with Concern because I want to give back to the community and to the people I know and love. Being on the Board allows me a chance to expand my horizons, think creatively and give of myself for such a good cause. It is an honor to be a part of the mission that Concern paves the way for and it gives me a great sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Hopefully, my effort of serving the cause of the common goal will make a difference.” Susan Hirsch Wohl and Matt Hirsch – “It’s all about the journey, and giving back. We are very proud to be associated with Concern because of its total devotion to cancer research and not any other platform or expenditures. Once we met with Derek, we signed up immediately!” RAISING FUNDS & AWARENESS FOR CANCER RESEARCH Team Concern Raises Over $230,000 at the 2021 LA Marathon! On Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7, more than 105 Team Concern runners and walkers completed the LA BIG 5K and the LA Marathon & Charity Challenge. Thanks to the dedication of our team members, organization partners, and continuing support from our donors, Team Concern raised almost $233,000! Concern Foundation once again teamed up with Beauty Bus Foundation, The Kevin Cordasco Foundation: Something Yellow, Cedars-Sinai’s Wellness, Resilience, and Survivorship Program, and AYA@USC. We also had two new partners this year – The Men’s Cancer Network and Sharsheret. Together, this group of marathon and 5K participants committed to raising funds and awareness to conquer cancer. We are so proud of Team Concern and all of the athletes who tirelessly trained and fundraised on our behalf. What a fantastic weekend with inspiring people to help us “Conquer Cancer, One Mile at a Time.” Donors and supporters from across America and around the world joined Concern Foundation’s “53 Years of Concern: A Celebration in Music to Conquer Cancer” virtual event on Saturday, October 16, 2021. The event was hosted by comedienne Wendy Liebman and included musical performances by Peter Frampton, Melissa Etheridge, Don Most Orchestra, Sheila E., Herb Alpert featuring Lani Hall, Jim Messina, Dave Koz and Friends, Three Dog Night, Rob Morrow, Playing for Change, Taylor Dayne, Steve Tyrell, Vicki Peterson & The Action Skulls plus a special song performed by Richard M. Sherman of the Sherman Brothers featuring Sarah Elizabeth Combs. Thanks to the support of dedicated board members, sponsors and donors, over $1.3 million was raised for cancer research. For those who did not get to watch the virtual event and would like to, go to: https://youtu.be/YS_23y7SDt4 Congratulations to the Concern Foundation 2020-2022 Conquer Cancer Now Grant Recipients Elena Piskounova: Weill Cornell Medicine: Melanoma Julia Maxson: Oregon University: Myeloid Leukemia Stephano Spano Mello: University of Rochester: Pancreatic Cancer Christian Badr: Mass General/Harvard: Glioblastoma/Brain Tumors Stavroula Hatzios: Yale University: Cancer Cell Signaling Irfan Asangani: University of Pennsylvania: Prostate Cancer Rui Lu: University of Alabama: Myeloid Leukemia/Stem Cells Remi Buisson: UC Irvine: Tumor Cell Mutations Taran Gujral: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: Pancreatic Cancer Chao Lu: Columbia University: Squamous Cell Carcinoma Marjan Rafat: Vanderbuilt University: Triple Negative Breast Cancer Vu Ngo: City of Hope: Lymphoma Kyoung Eun Lee: University of Michigan: Pancreatic Evanthia Roussos Torres: University of Southern California: Breast Cancer 2021 SPECIAL GRANTS AWARDED BY CONCERN FOUNDATION BREAST CANCER Evanthia Roussos Torres, MD, PhD and Daniel Flores University of Southern California The effects of race on the composition of the breast tumor immune microenvironment – personalizing novel therapies for women of African American decent. This project was funded in association with the Rudolph Family and the Minnie Riperton Fund. ONCOLOGY RESEARCH Children’s Hospital Los Angeles/University of Southern California Funding of four medical students for the Summer Oncology Research Fellowship Program at Children’s Hospital and University of Southern California. PEDIATRIC CANCER – BRAIN TUMOR Anat Epstein, MD, PhD Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Novel Molecular Model of P1D1 Function in Pediatric Brain Tumors. POPULATION SCIENCES Julie Wolfson, MD, MSHS et al. University of Alabama at Birmingham Pediatric Oncology COVID Cancer Case Report – a national registry of children with cancer PATIENT SERVICES FOR CANCER COMMUNITY The Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at USC which addresses the needs of young adults with cancer navigate through their cancer journey and seek peer support and psycho-social services, such as the onco-nutrition series, outside the walls series, the AYA@USC emergency fund, and the family zoo day. Beauty Bus Foundation pop-up salons where cancer patients, caregivers, and hospital staff receive a variety of complimentary beauty and grooming services to offer dignity, hope and respite to families when they need it most. Cedars-Sinai Wellness, Resilience, and Survivorship Program, part of the Cedars-Sinai Cancer Patient and Family Support Program, maintains a mission of improving the physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing of cancer patients and their families through providing educational services and activities. Hope for Henry Super Rewards for Super Kids launching at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The program improves the lives and recoveries of hospitalized children with the help of a patient incentive program. Sharsheret quality of life kits for women in treatment for breast or ovarian cancer or increased hereditary risk which guide moms with young children as they parent through cancer and wellness kits which help women navigate their survivorship journey. MESSAGES FROM CONCERN FOUNDATION RESEARCHERS Thank you both very much for this opportunity to continue my research with Dr. Evanthia Torres. When I was first told about the Concern Foundation’s grant, I felt nothing but gratitude. Cancer research has been such a meaningful experience of mine as an undergraduate, but as I venture into graduation, I was unsure as to how I would be able to continue my passion for research. The Concern Foundation grant has graciously offered me that reassurance. I’d like to mention why cancer research is such a meaningful experience to me – I believe it aligns well with the legacy of Minnie. I was a sophomore in high school when my mother was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Amidst the chaos that was her treatment, I never fully understood the gravity of her condition. I don’t think she did either. Nine months after her diagnosis, she passed away. Frankly, I was unsure of how to carry on without her, or how to reconcile with such a horrendous disease. For two years, I carried on afraid of ever confronting cancer again, that is, until I entered USC. I found that through research, I was ale to find the answers I was looking for. I was able to find peace in the ongoing research of cancer. Being an active participant in this process has been life changing. In the future, I am looking forward to continuing my cancer research as an aspiring oncologist. The Minnie Riperton Legacy Fund has helped tremendously in helping my dream become a reality. Again, I am looking forward to helping advance the understanding of breast cancer in African American patients, in efforts to better personalize our research efforts. I am ever more grateful to Mr. Rudolph and the Rudolph family as well as the Concern Foundation for this help. I look forward to meeting you all soon! With Thanks, Daniel Flores First, I would like to thank you for your unwavering dedication to cancer research and providing the necessary funds for young investigators to make their mark in their respective fields. I would like to take this time to update you androy McEachron, PhD the Concern Foundation board regarding my research program. I am incredibly thankful to you and the Concern Foundation for deciding to continually fund my laboratory over the past several years. During this time, these funds have been used to investigate how osteosarcoma cells manipulate their local tissue environments to promote disease progression in both primary (bone) and metastatic (lung) disease settings. We have discovered that the bone environment is markedly different than the lung environment and that these differences may in fact help to explain the clinical observations that patients with metastatic osteosarcoma do not respond to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Moreover, having presented this work at national meetings and having discussed the findings with my clinical colleagues, these data have helped to provide rationale for an upcoming phase 2 clinical trial that will investigate the efficacy of a combination immunotherapy for patients with metastatic osteosarcoma. Additionally, given the work that we have published relating to this topic, my laboratory has been solicited to conduct a portion of the correlative biology studies. I can say, without hesitation, that this was made possible by Concern Foundation funding. In addition to our work on osteosarcoma, your support has indirectly enabled our research efforts in desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCT). DSRCT is an incredibly rare soft-tissue sarcoma that occurs primarily in adolescent/young adults. This tumor is intrinsically resistant to multi-agent chemotherapy and has a median survival of 2.5 years. By providing the funds to pursue our osteosarcoma work, you have enabled my laboratory to reallocate existing funds and join a collaborative multi institutional team of investigators to study this horrible disease. In doing so, we have identified potential therapeutic targets for which drugs are currently available. This goes to show that the return on your investment reaches beyond its initial intent Please continue to work tirelessly in finding ways to fund investigators as I continue to work tirelessly to find ways to improve the outcome for patients and their families. With genuine appreciation and gratitude, Troy McEachron, PhD Head, Integrated Solid Tumor Biology Section Pediatric Oncology Branch Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute FINANCIALS: YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2021 Concern Foundation Statement of Financial Position December 31, 2021 (With Comparative Totals as of December 31, 2020) 7 2021 20 20 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 375,794 $ 428,927 Pledges receivable 918,234 840,488 Investments 7,440,106 6,795,357 Beneficial interest in charitable remainder trusts 217,954 260,158 Prepaid expenses and other assets 39,974 44,107 Property and Equipment, net 1,728 3,243 T otal Assets $ 8,993,790 $ 8,372,280 Liabilities and Net Assets Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 74,940 $ 66,816 Grants payable 1,040,000 732,500 Deferred revenue 853,076 887,585 Total Liabilities 1,968,016 1,686,901 Net Assets Without donor restrictions Undesignated 3,494,300 3,064,267 Board designated 1,040,000 1,140,000 Total net assets without donor restrictions 4,534,300 4,204,267 With donor restrictions 2,491,474 2,481,112 Total Net Assets 7,025,774 6,685,379 T otal Liabilities and Net Assets $ 8,993,790 $ 8,372,280 Concern Foundation Statement of Activities Year Ended December 31, 2021 (With Comparative Totals for the Year Ended December 31, 2020) 8 2021 2020 Without Donor Restrictions With Donor Restrictions Total Total Revenue and Support: Special event income, net $ 1,457,949 $ ‐ $ 1,457,949 $ 1,687,728 Contributions 46,429 101,984 148,413 228,417 Investment income 501,071 142,916 643,987 567,071 Change in value of CRTs ‐ (26,141 ) (26,141 ) 7,238 PPP loan forgiveness recorded 72,500 ‐ 72,500 58,500 Net assets released from restrictions 208,397 (208,397 ) ‐ ‐ Total Revenue and Support 2,286,346 10,362 2,296,708 2,548,954 Expenses: Program services 1,383,623 ‐ 1,383,623 1,309,565 Management and general 135,196 ‐ 135,196 162,279 Fundraising 437,494 ‐ 437,494 404,493 Total Expenses 1,956,313 ‐ 1,956,313 1,876,337 Change in Net Assets 330,033 10,362 340,395 672,617 Net Assets, beginning of year 4,204,267 2,481,112 6,685,379 6,012,762 Net Assets, end of year $ 4,534,300 $ 2,491,474 $ 7,025,774 $ 6,685,379 2021 CONCERN FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE BOARD Lorene Goldman, Chair Derek Alpert, President Ilyse Teller, Vice Chair Michael Firestein, Secretary/Legal Counsel Marc Lauter, Chief Financial Officer Eden Alpert Anastasio Brian Anastasio Anne Barnett Bill Barnett Harvey Beesen Shelby Blecker Nancy Blecker Barry Brucker Sue Brucker John Carroll Lexy Carroll Jaclyn Clifford Nancy Eisenstadt David Entin Steve Fortner Lynne Fox Steve Freed Jim Freedman Robert Goldman Aliza Goldsmith Jackie Gottlieb Caroline Hanasab Farhad Hanasab Matt Hirsch Ivan Kallick Allie Lehrman Max Liszt Latimer Lorenz Eric Massi Michelle Massi Ian Metrose Lauri Metrose Frank Mottek Jessica Nicastro Wendy Schneider Nogradi Jerry Otelsberg Joyce Powell Rick Powell Debbie Powell Laurie Resch Lori Rubin Dana Schwartz Courtney Teller Steve Teller Bettina Tendler O’Mara Steve Ullman Briana Vickers Scott Vickers Susan Hirsch Wohl Myrna Zimmerman GET INVOLVED WITH CONCERN FOUNDATION Concern Foundation has raised over $70 Million to fund cancer research through donations from individuals like yourself! Help us CONquer canCER Now. • Make a monetary donation today. • Become an Annual Sponsor and enjoy sponsorship benefits • Send a tribute in honor or in memory of someone special • Be a part of our signature Block Party fund raising event • Start your own fundraiser • Be a part of Team Concern by participating in the LA marathon or another athletic event or activity of your choice • Take steps to create a planned gift • Donate your time and expertise by volunteering • Get your place of business involved and become a community partner or corporate sponsor • Help spread the word about Concern Foundation Each year, 14 million men, women, and children worldwide are diagnosed with some type of cancer. Continued research to find better, smarter, more effective treatments is urgently needed. Only with your help can we continue to fund innovative research and bring breakthrough treatments and “cures” to more cancer patients. CONCERN FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH 11111 West Olympic Blvd. Suite 214 Los Angeles, CA 90064 tel: 310.360.6100 fax: 310.473.8300 info@concernfoundation.org www.concernfoundation.org Please consider Concern Foundation in your estate plan.