History of the Foundation Board of Directors Advisory Board Contact Information

HISTORY Cancer 411.org is the result of the combined efforts of two organizations, The Rory Foundation, and The Joyce Foundation. The mission of Cancer 411 is to put cancer patients, their families and doctors in touch with the critical information they need as quickly as possible. The Rory Foundation was formed in honor of Rory Leifer, who fought courageously against cancer for 19 years of her life - finally succumbing to it in 1996, after undergoing and trying chemotherapy and surgery, as well as alternative treatments. During her life, both Rory and her husband, Alfred B. Leifer, had an extremely difficult time finding comprehensive and easily-understandable statistical evaluations for various cancer treatments whether they be conventional, alternative or complementary methods. Thus, it was Rory's determined, caring and hopeful vision that planted the seed to create for the public a non-profit foundation, which would provide much-needed information and resources to those with cancer and their families, as well as doctors and healthcare practitioners. Thereby, Al joined together with Marcia B. Leventhal, Ph.D. to form the Rory Foundation. The Joyce Foundation was established in the memory of a truly remarkable woman - Joyce Kramer - whose fight with cancer ended in December of 1996. During the course of her illness, she - like virtually all cancer sufferers - put her faith and trust in her oncologists. Unfortunately, medical doctors must spend countless hours treating patients, and simply cannot be expected to be aware of every drug, every clinical trial, every form of treatment available everywhere in the world. As Joyce's condition worsened, and the treatments she received continued to fail, her doctors were asked if there were any other possibilities, such as new drugs or clinical trials she could try. They were all outstanding doctors, and made an attempt to help us, but they were unaware of anything that might work. The frustrating and ultimately unsuccessful search for alternative treatments that followed became the impetus for The Joyce Foundation. Together, our goal is to see to it that cancer patients no longer have to suffer and die due only to the lack of knowledge of help that is readily available.

Return to top BOARD OF DIRECTORS  Woody Anderson  Merle Atwood  Henry Borenstein  Sheila Dick  Michael Diener  William Hait, MD, PHD  Susan Kozberg  Gary Kramer  Mike Kramer  Alfred Leifer  Elliot Leifer  Marcia Leventhal, PHD.  Jerry Levey  Morrie Mesler, MD  Mort Morrison  Robert Myers  Charlotte Myers, MD  Seymour Myers, MD  Rhonda Myers, MD, PHD  Teresa Pierce  Barry Weinstock Return to top ADVISORY BOARD  Charley Abildgaard, M.D.  Douglas W. Brodie, M.D.  Ezra Davidson, Jr., M.D.  Issac Eliaz, M.S., L.A.C.  Norman Ellermann, M.D.  Charles Farber, M.D., PHD.  James W. Forsythe, M.D., H.M.D.  Valerie Hunt, EdD.  Maureen Kelly, R.N., M.S.  Alan H. Klein, M.D.  Maria Calleros  Morris Mesler, M.D.  Robert A. Nagourney, M.D.  Juliana Olinka, V.P., Warner Bros.  Bruce Sachais, M.D., PHD.  Murray Susser, M.D.  K. Douglas Vaughan, M.D.  Michael Leifer  Robert Resnick, PHD.  David Plotkin, M.D. - Medical Director   Return to top CONTACT INFORMATION

Cancer411.org 15303 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 info@cancer411.org Business Office: 877-CANCR411   Tax ID# 95-4605603 a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization