July 10, 2023 • 16 mins
Aired July 9, 2023: Lisa Foxx talks to Derek Alpert, the President of the Concern Foundation. They provide critical funding to post-doctoral cancer researchers focused primarily on cancer genetics, cell biology and immunology for all forms of cancer prevention and treatment. Started in 1968, by fifteen Los Angeles couples who didn't want to see their dear friend Beverly Wolman die of breast cancer at age 35.
The Concern Foundation depends on a local, national and international network of donors. There are countless individuals, local businesses and corporations who provide generous support each year. With an administrative overhead of less than 10%, Concern has been able to grant millions of dollars to research projects throughout the cancer research community locally, nationally, and abroad. Thanks to a strong and ever-growing core of multi-generational volunteers, Concern continues to thrive as an independent source of funding cancer research. Additionally, biennial meetings of a peer-to-peer Scientific Review Committee ensures that only the strongest and most promising research is funded. Concern Foundation’s mission is clear, to ensure that every dollar raised is used to identify the cause of and eventual cure for this devastating disease.
To get involved and be a part of their great work, click here: concernfoundation.org
The Concern Foundation depends on a local, national and international network of donors. There are countless individuals, local businesses and corporations who provide generous support each year. With an administrative overhead of less than 10%, Concern has been able to grant millions of dollars to research projects throughout the cancer research community locally, nationally, and abroad. Thanks to a strong and ever-growing core of multi-generational volunteers, Concern continues to thrive as an independent source of funding cancer research. Additionally, biennial meetings of a peer-to-peer Scientific Review Committee ensures that only the strongest and most promising research is funded. Concern Foundation’s mission is clear, to ensure that every dollar raised is used to identify the cause of and eventual cure for this devastating disease.
To get involved and be a part of their great work, click here: concernfoundation.org
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Lisa Fox here, Thanks so muchfor having us on. This is the
iHeart So Cal Show. All right, there's an incredible organization making some serious
headway in the fight against the dreadedSeaward Yes cancer. They have their huge
block party fundraiser last night, andI'm still on a high from all the
energy at this event and people sopumped up to continue. They're great work.
(00:21):
I wanted to share it with youso that we can be a part
of this continued success story, thestrides that are being made in the fight
against cancer. So very happy tohave them on. The president of the
Concern Foundation on with us. Hi, Derek Alpert, Hello, Lisa,
how are you doing? You know, I'm doing fantastic. It was quite
the party last night. You know, you always pulled together the most amazing
(00:42):
people behind this organization, honoring wonderfulpeople, honoring wonderful doctors and the scientists,
and you know, it's a plethoraof people who donate so much of
their time and their money and theirhard work to have an impact on cancer.
You know, such an impact thatone day the goal would be to
(01:03):
be talking about cancer and the pasttense, oh to eradicate this world of
cancer, wouldn't that be something wellwe should hope so, you know,
and in a lot of cases,we're getting a lot closer. You know,
children that are diagnosed with leukemias areyou eighty five to nine cured for
the rest of their lives, whichis incredible. Breast cancer is manageable and
(01:26):
treatable. They're making some headway onbrain tumors. There's some new therapies out
there for um pancreatic cancer. Sowe're really making some great, you know,
strides in helping people that are diagnosedwith cancer manage their cancer and live
a normal, healthy life with cancer. And that's really what the goal is.
(01:49):
Well, and I want you totalk about how the Concern Foundation,
you know, is different. Obviously, there's a lot of wonderful organizations that
do everything in their power to raisemoney and bring people together to fight cancer.
But what you do is so specificwith the science and funding these programs
and working kind of directly with scientistson so many different fronts and so many
(02:09):
different realms of cancer, like youjust mentioned, pancreatic, pediatric, prostate,
bone and blood cancers, breast cancer, leukemia, and foma. I
mean, you run the gamut ofthe ones that you fund talk about how
the Concern Foundation is so very differentand specifically works directly with the science behind
the cancer to kind of conquer it. Well, I think the key is,
(02:31):
you know, when Concern was foundin nineteen sixty eight, there was
a focus on an emerging new technologycalled immunology research, which was the study
of the body's immune system and howdo we help the body repair itself.
If it can break down, therehas to be a way to get it
to repair itself. So immunology innineteen sixty eight was like science fiction.
(02:53):
Well today it's really become science fact. We are helping the body repair itself
and through less invasive drugs, lessinvasive protocols. I mean, today one
third of all cancer patients are eligiblefor treatment and immunotherapy and re energizing their
body's natural immune system to fight thecancer. I mean, that's an incredible
(03:15):
statistic when you think about in sucha short fifty five year period of time,
and we've been at the forefront ofthat. We fund young investigators,
we give them their start in thecancer research community. We're funding locally,
nationally, internationally, and it doesn'treally matter to us where that cure quote
unquote for cancer comes from you know, we want to help support other organizations
(03:38):
that are also in this fight withus, and so we look to the
next generation of cancer researchers to comeup with that novel, novel idea that's
going to help move us forward tomanaging cancer and you know, maybe a
fresh pair of eyes, a differentperspective, right, you know, we
(03:58):
need to do that. You know, the whole world needs fresh pair of
eyes. They need to take alook at where we are today and what
we need to do into the futureto make the advances that are necessary.
I mean, there's still technology.Everything is moving so quickly today, you
know, but you've got to you'vegot to invest in the young people with
the novel ideas that have some adifferent approach to the same question that we've
(04:21):
been asking for so many years.And I think that's why we're starting to
see more and more progress in peoplesurviving their cancer. I believe there's somewhere
between fifteen and eighteen million people thathave survived their cancer today, which is
an unprecedented number considering what the numberswere fifteen twenty years ago. Sure sure,
(04:42):
well, and you mentioned, youknow how the Concern Foundation works with
you know, you work on aglobal level, international level, nationwide level,
and local level. Is there afocus of certain cancers and different parts
of the world and here locally orare we all trying to just stay on
track with just eradicate all cancers anyway in anywhere that we can. We
(05:03):
want to get it wherever we can. You know, our money and some
places around the world goes further withsalary support. Here in the United States
are some amazing projects that are happening, and especially in brain tumors and lung
cancer and in breast cancer. Butin other parts of the world, they're
looking at, you know, cancersin the underserved communities and why women in
(05:26):
the African American community, why whyare they presenting with higher incidences of breast
cancer. We have to look atthe whole picture. It doesn't really matter
to us where that answer comes from. We want to be there to help
support these researchers to help get usto that answer, because I think everyone's
just sort of tired of hearing thesame thing. You've got cancer, ye,
(05:46):
and unfortunately, Lisa as it's theone disease that every single person in
the world their life will be touchedby cancer. It will either be them,
a loved one, a friend,somebody they know, we'll be touched
by cancer in their lifetime. We'vegot to stop that. We got to
slow that down. We do becauseyou know, like everyone that was at
(06:08):
the block party, thousands of peoplethere last night on the Paramount Studios a
backlot for quite the fundraiser. Butagain people they're sure they're there for the
amazing restaurants and the food and thewine, but but also because they have
been personally touched by cancer and theywant to do something about it. And
the way that you you know,kind of bring people together to fight cancer
(06:30):
from the science side of it,and the way that the your organization,
the Concern Foundation, does you know, you're so into the research and I
think it's fascinating. What's what's beingdone that we may not know about.
Is there a particular study that youfunded recently where there was a big breakthrough
or maybe mentioned a few because Isee so many listed at Concern foundation dot
org. You're very transparent about allthat's going on, and it's so exciting
(06:55):
to see the breakthroughs on the scienceside of cancer. And we're your your
money on behalf of the foundation.I'm really fascinated by all the advances that
they're making so many different types ofcancer, how much how much more we
understand today than we did ten yearsago, and how much quicker we're starting
to understand. You can't defeat adisease until you understand the mechanism of the
(07:17):
disease. And one of the scarieststatistics that I've ever heard is that everybody
has cancer in your body right now. Everyone has cancer. So what's causing
that inactive cancer to mutate, becomeactive and aggressive? And so how do
we put that active cancer back intoits dormant state? You know? But
(07:38):
to see, like I say,children that are at eighty five to ninety
percent surviving their cancer today, it'san incredible number. Sure, there's ten
percent more that we haven't got thereyet, but I'll take ninety percent as
a huge victory because when I startedas a volunteer with Concern in nineteen nineteen
seventy nine, but about fifty percentof children were surviving their cancer. So
(08:01):
to me, that's a huge victory. You know that geneticscell biology, molecular
biology understanding, You know that somegenerations of families are passing down a gene
that is causing cancer to become activeand aggressive. And there's just so many
areas. I mean, my sonin law's stepfather was diagnosed three years ago
(08:26):
with pancreatic cancer. His diagnosis.If this were a dozen years ago,
he probably would have survived maybe fouror five months. He lived for over
three years. And that's part ofthe advancements that are happening through cancer research.
It's basic laboratory science is really what'sgoing to take us to the next
level before we can get to clinicaltrials, before we can get it to
(08:48):
application, before we can get itinto the marketplace, and we have to
invest in that, and families wantmore time and to buy a few more
years is everything. I'll take it. If it's not the quote unquote cure,
I'll take three more years with mydad or my mom. Absolutely,
it's it's absolutely everything. And likeI say, families are experiencing the joys
(09:09):
of being able to survive that initialdiagnosis of cancer longer. But they're some
of the drug therapies that are outthere today are less stabilitating than they were
years ago. Researchers understand that youdon't just bomb the body with chemotherapy and
radiation and you know, kill allyour organs and all the cells and hope
that they'll regenerate themselves. You know, there's targeted therapies today. You can
(09:31):
actually put chemotherapy into the tumor andand targeted radiation so that you're not you
know, debilitating the patient while they'rewhile they're fighting that cancer. And it's
you know, it's it's it's it'sit's remarkable. It really is remarkable.
What's also remarkable, Derek, isthat you know, you mentioned this and
(09:52):
you you are you downplayed it,but it's a very big deal that you've
been a volunteer since the seventies andare now the president the Concern Foundation.
What was it about this organization thatbecame now you like your life's mission,
you know, because you had avery successful career in the music business.
I mean, you could be retiredby now, relaxing on a beach in
Hawaii's sipping on a little something something, but you are fighting the good fight,
(10:16):
helping on the forefront to fight cancer. Talk about your passion for the
Concern Foundation and while you're still inthe fight. My passion really started in
nineteen seventy nine when I was invitedto go to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and
meet with a researcher and hear aboutcancer and the advancements that they were making
at that time. But then Igot an opportunity to go up to the
(10:37):
fourth floor, which was the cancerfloor. And so the first time in
my life, in my early twenties, I saw all these children without hair
going through chemotherapy, having radiation inthe ICU units, and I started crying.
And I knew at that point thatas long as there's a breath left
in me, I'm going to doeverything I can so that no other child
(11:01):
in particular gets this diagnosis. Andthat it was really that was really what
it was all about. And tothis day, I'm still very focused on
fighting childhood cancer. I mean,I'm a volunteer at Children's Hospital. I'm
actually they're Santa Clause at Christmas andChristmas in July because you know, well,
I want to see the patients.I want to It re energizes my
(11:24):
my body to understand why we're whywe're working so hard to raise the money
that we are to support cancer researchers. You know, there's nothing worse than
to go on Christmas Eve and seeyou know that the cancer floor and Children's
hospital filled with patients that aren't hometo be there with their families and be
around the Christmas tree and have theyou know, a normal childhood experience.
(11:48):
So that's really what keeps me going. And then we've gotten our organization.
Aside from funding research, we're involvedin some of the psychosocial programs that are
happening around the Los Angeles area.You know, there's the Adolescent and Young
Adult Program at USC. There's anorganization called the Beauty Bus Foundation that brings
haircuts and nail you know, managersand facials to patients and their caregivers who
(12:15):
people forget about the caregivers. Theyforget about mom and dad who are sitting
there at the bedside who don't havetime to get their nails done or get
their hair cut, or fathers toget a shave. And what about the
brothers and sisters. While mom anddad are with the sick child, who
is helping the brothers and sisters withtheir homework, taking them to little league
games and soccer games and giving themthat experience. You have to look at
(12:37):
the whole family. Cancer doesn't justaffect the patient. It affects the entire
family, and you have to payattention to that and that, you know,
that's that's really what this is allabout. It's really about paying it
forward and doing something that's bigger thanyourself. And an easy way to do
that I employ you to lug onand learn more about the Concern Foundation at
Concern foundation dot org because there's someoneways that we can get involved with the
(13:01):
fundraisers that you're already doing, thatyou already have coming up. Even just
to be introduced to what you're allabout, we could just kind of pop
on the website and find out what'sgoing on. Start, start slowly,
you know, it's as simple asrolling up the sleeve becoming a volunteer.
We do a big toy drive inDecember and we have a holiday party for
one and twenty families, about fivehundred people and paramounts shoes and every every
(13:26):
family member gets toys and gifts andthe parents, the grandparents, the siblings.
So we do a toy drive.You know, we're the moneys that
we raise. We're giving ninety fivecents of every single dollar that we raise
is going to research and going tohelp support the cancer community. So the
more volunteers that roll up their sleevesand help get involved, the better.
(13:48):
If you want to support cancer research, tend a dollar. It's as simple
as sending a dollar and those peoplethat you know, you don't have to
write the big check in order tohave an impact, especially when you're dealing
with an oranization that is as efficientwith how the moneys are spent as I
think we are. And you knowthat's that's our main mission. Yeah,
because you have a very low overheadfive percent administrative overhead. I mean after
(14:13):
fifty five years, at fifty fiveyears being in the cancer community and raising
money, that's what our that's whatour administrative overhead is. And it's really
simple. It's it's people like youthat help expose what we're doing. We
don't buy bus benches and billboards andtake out advertisements. It's grassroots. It's
it's friends telling friends. It's it'scommunity members and businesses that come together.
(14:39):
I mean we got last night.We had fantastic donation from Yamava Resort and
Casino. The Zakudo group count andcountry event rentals are in Paramount Studios.
Gives us an amazing deal to beit there to be on their a lot
to be able to hold our party. And you know nine most of that
is donated. All of the fluidshave five food vendors and restaurants and caterers
(15:03):
and liquor providers one hundred percent donator. So we raised two million dollars last
night, and we're going to beable to fund more research this year than
we raised last year. Look atthat. Oh God, bless you.
Because the community gets It's because thecommunity gets together, they understand what they
do, They appreciate what we do, and they appreciate how we do it.
(15:26):
And my advice to all of yourlisteners is to give somewhere. Be
as somebody, as I've always toldmy children and now I tell my grandchildren,
be as somebody, not in everybody. Find something that you're passionate about
that is doing good work in thecommunity, whether it's kit and rescue or
the environment, or cancer research orAlzheimer's. Find something, roll up your
(15:48):
sleeves and be as somebody for thoseorganizations because we all need everybody's help today.
Yes we do. Amen. DerekAlbert, thank you so much as
always for your very inspired words andyour hard work, your dedication and being
on that the cancer forefront and doingthe great work that the Concern Foundation does
on a day to day basis.I implore, as Derek does, I
implore you to look into it more. If you're able to volunteer for their
(16:11):
upcoming events, do your own fundraiser, or just be a part of all
that's happening. To make any kindof donation, big or small. You
can find out more and even justget on their email list and find out
about you know, stay in theknow about what's going on with them.
Find out more at Concern Foundation dotorg. It's a Concern Foundation dot org.
Derek, thank you so much.I appreciate you, Lisa, thank
(16:33):
you. I appreciate you and yourlisteners, and you know the sport that
you've given our organization for so manyyears and being a part of our organization
and coming out last night and justcelebrating with us another great year of making
some major strides in conquering cancer.Ooh yes,
Lisa Fox here, Thanks so muchfor having us on. This is the
iHeart So Cal Show. All right, there's an incredible organization making some serious
headway in the fight against the dreadedSeaward Yes cancer. They have their huge
block party fundraiser last night, andI'm still on a high from all the
energy at this event and people sopumped up to continue. They're great work.
(00:21):
I wanted to share it with youso that we can be a part
of this continued success story, thestrides that are being made in the fight
against cancer. So very happy tohave them on. The president of the
Concern Foundation on with us. Hi, Derek Alpert, Hello, Lisa,
how are you doing? You know, I'm doing fantastic. It was quite
the party last night. You know, you always pulled together the most amazing
(00:42):
people behind this organization, honoring wonderfulpeople, honoring wonderful doctors and the scientists,
and you know, it's a plethoraof people who donate so much of
their time and their money and theirhard work to have an impact on cancer.
You know, such an impact thatone day the goal would be to
(01:03):
be talking about cancer and the pasttense, oh to eradicate this world of
cancer, wouldn't that be something wellwe should hope so, you know,
and in a lot of cases,we're getting a lot closer. You know,
children that are diagnosed with leukemias areyou eighty five to nine cured for
the rest of their lives, whichis incredible. Breast cancer is manageable and
(01:26):
treatable. They're making some headway onbrain tumors. There's some new therapies out
there for um pancreatic cancer. Sowe're really making some great, you know,
strides in helping people that are diagnosedwith cancer manage their cancer and live
a normal, healthy life with cancer. And that's really what the goal is.
(01:49):
Well, and I want you totalk about how the Concern Foundation,
you know, is different. Obviously, there's a lot of wonderful organizations that
do everything in their power to raisemoney and bring people together to fight cancer.
But what you do is so specificwith the science and funding these programs
and working kind of directly with scientistson so many different fronts and so many
(02:09):
different realms of cancer, like youjust mentioned, pancreatic, pediatric, prostate,
bone and blood cancers, breast cancer, leukemia, and foma. I
mean, you run the gamut ofthe ones that you fund talk about how
the Concern Foundation is so very differentand specifically works directly with the science behind
the cancer to kind of conquer it. Well, I think the key is,
(02:31):
you know, when Concern was foundin nineteen sixty eight, there was
a focus on an emerging new technologycalled immunology research, which was the study
of the body's immune system and howdo we help the body repair itself.
If it can break down, therehas to be a way to get it
to repair itself. So immunology innineteen sixty eight was like science fiction.
(02:53):
Well today it's really become science fact. We are helping the body repair itself
and through less invasive drugs, lessinvasive protocols. I mean, today one
third of all cancer patients are eligiblefor treatment and immunotherapy and re energizing their
body's natural immune system to fight thecancer. I mean, that's an incredible
(03:15):
statistic when you think about in sucha short fifty five year period of time,
and we've been at the forefront ofthat. We fund young investigators,
we give them their start in thecancer research community. We're funding locally,
nationally, internationally, and it doesn'treally matter to us where that cure quote
unquote for cancer comes from you know, we want to help support other organizations
(03:38):
that are also in this fight withus, and so we look to the
next generation of cancer researchers to comeup with that novel, novel idea that's
going to help move us forward tomanaging cancer and you know, maybe a
fresh pair of eyes, a differentperspective, right, you know, we
(03:58):
need to do that. You know, the whole world needs fresh pair of
eyes. They need to take alook at where we are today and what
we need to do into the futureto make the advances that are necessary.
I mean, there's still technology.Everything is moving so quickly today, you
know, but you've got to you'vegot to invest in the young people with
the novel ideas that have some adifferent approach to the same question that we've
(04:21):
been asking for so many years.And I think that's why we're starting to
see more and more progress in peoplesurviving their cancer. I believe there's somewhere
between fifteen and eighteen million people thathave survived their cancer today, which is
an unprecedented number considering what the numberswere fifteen twenty years ago. Sure sure,
(04:42):
well, and you mentioned, youknow how the Concern Foundation works with
you know, you work on aglobal level, international level, nationwide level,
and local level. Is there afocus of certain cancers and different parts
of the world and here locally orare we all trying to just stay on
track with just eradicate all cancers anyway in anywhere that we can. We
(05:03):
want to get it wherever we can. You know, our money and some
places around the world goes further withsalary support. Here in the United States
are some amazing projects that are happening, and especially in brain tumors and lung
cancer and in breast cancer. Butin other parts of the world, they're
looking at, you know, cancersin the underserved communities and why women in
(05:26):
the African American community, why whyare they presenting with higher incidences of breast
cancer. We have to look atthe whole picture. It doesn't really matter
to us where that answer comes from. We want to be there to help
support these researchers to help get usto that answer, because I think everyone's
just sort of tired of hearing thesame thing. You've got cancer, ye,
(05:46):
and unfortunately, Lisa as it's theone disease that every single person in
the world their life will be touchedby cancer. It will either be them,
a loved one, a friend,somebody they know, we'll be touched
by cancer in their lifetime. We'vegot to stop that. We got to
slow that down. We do becauseyou know, like everyone that was at
(06:08):
the block party, thousands of peoplethere last night on the Paramount Studios a
backlot for quite the fundraiser. Butagain people they're sure they're there for the
amazing restaurants and the food and thewine, but but also because they have
been personally touched by cancer and theywant to do something about it. And
the way that you you know,kind of bring people together to fight cancer
(06:30):
from the science side of it,and the way that the your organization,
the Concern Foundation, does you know, you're so into the research and I
think it's fascinating. What's what's beingdone that we may not know about.
Is there a particular study that youfunded recently where there was a big breakthrough
or maybe mentioned a few because Isee so many listed at Concern foundation dot
org. You're very transparent about allthat's going on, and it's so exciting
(06:55):
to see the breakthroughs on the scienceside of cancer. And we're your your
money on behalf of the foundation.I'm really fascinated by all the advances that
they're making so many different types ofcancer, how much how much more we
understand today than we did ten yearsago, and how much quicker we're starting
to understand. You can't defeat adisease until you understand the mechanism of the
(07:17):
disease. And one of the scarieststatistics that I've ever heard is that everybody
has cancer in your body right now. Everyone has cancer. So what's causing
that inactive cancer to mutate, becomeactive and aggressive? And so how do
we put that active cancer back intoits dormant state? You know? But
(07:38):
to see, like I say,children that are at eighty five to ninety
percent surviving their cancer today, it'san incredible number. Sure, there's ten
percent more that we haven't got thereyet, but I'll take ninety percent as
a huge victory because when I startedas a volunteer with Concern in nineteen nineteen
seventy nine, but about fifty percentof children were surviving their cancer. So
(08:01):
to me, that's a huge victory. You know that geneticscell biology, molecular
biology understanding, You know that somegenerations of families are passing down a gene
that is causing cancer to become activeand aggressive. And there's just so many
areas. I mean, my sonin law's stepfather was diagnosed three years ago
(08:26):
with pancreatic cancer. His diagnosis.If this were a dozen years ago,
he probably would have survived maybe fouror five months. He lived for over
three years. And that's part ofthe advancements that are happening through cancer research.
It's basic laboratory science is really what'sgoing to take us to the next
level before we can get to clinicaltrials, before we can get it to
(08:48):
application, before we can get itinto the marketplace, and we have to
invest in that, and families wantmore time and to buy a few more
years is everything. I'll take it. If it's not the quote unquote cure,
I'll take three more years with mydad or my mom. Absolutely,
it's it's absolutely everything. And likeI say, families are experiencing the joys
(09:09):
of being able to survive that initialdiagnosis of cancer longer. But they're some
of the drug therapies that are outthere today are less stabilitating than they were
years ago. Researchers understand that youdon't just bomb the body with chemotherapy and
radiation and you know, kill allyour organs and all the cells and hope
that they'll regenerate themselves. You know, there's targeted therapies today. You can
(09:31):
actually put chemotherapy into the tumor andand targeted radiation so that you're not you
know, debilitating the patient while they'rewhile they're fighting that cancer. And it's
you know, it's it's it's it'sit's remarkable. It really is remarkable.
What's also remarkable, Derek, isthat you know, you mentioned this and
(09:52):
you you are you downplayed it,but it's a very big deal that you've
been a volunteer since the seventies andare now the president the Concern Foundation.
What was it about this organization thatbecame now you like your life's mission,
you know, because you had avery successful career in the music business.
I mean, you could be retiredby now, relaxing on a beach in
Hawaii's sipping on a little something something, but you are fighting the good fight,
(10:16):
helping on the forefront to fight cancer. Talk about your passion for the
Concern Foundation and while you're still inthe fight. My passion really started in
nineteen seventy nine when I was invitedto go to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and
meet with a researcher and hear aboutcancer and the advancements that they were making
at that time. But then Igot an opportunity to go up to the
(10:37):
fourth floor, which was the cancerfloor. And so the first time in
my life, in my early twenties, I saw all these children without hair
going through chemotherapy, having radiation inthe ICU units, and I started crying.
And I knew at that point thatas long as there's a breath left
in me, I'm going to doeverything I can so that no other child
(11:01):
in particular gets this diagnosis. Andthat it was really that was really what
it was all about. And tothis day, I'm still very focused on
fighting childhood cancer. I mean,I'm a volunteer at Children's Hospital. I'm
actually they're Santa Clause at Christmas andChristmas in July because you know, well,
I want to see the patients.I want to It re energizes my
(11:24):
my body to understand why we're whywe're working so hard to raise the money
that we are to support cancer researchers. You know, there's nothing worse than
to go on Christmas Eve and seeyou know that the cancer floor and Children's
hospital filled with patients that aren't hometo be there with their families and be
around the Christmas tree and have theyou know, a normal childhood experience.
(11:48):
So that's really what keeps me going. And then we've gotten our organization.
Aside from funding research, we're involvedin some of the psychosocial programs that are
happening around the Los Angeles area.You know, there's the Adolescent and Young
Adult Program at USC. There's anorganization called the Beauty Bus Foundation that brings
haircuts and nail you know, managersand facials to patients and their caregivers who
(12:15):
people forget about the caregivers. Theyforget about mom and dad who are sitting
there at the bedside who don't havetime to get their nails done or get
their hair cut, or fathers toget a shave. And what about the
brothers and sisters. While mom anddad are with the sick child, who
is helping the brothers and sisters withtheir homework, taking them to little league
games and soccer games and giving themthat experience. You have to look at
(12:37):
the whole family. Cancer doesn't justaffect the patient. It affects the entire
family, and you have to payattention to that and that, you know,
that's that's really what this is allabout. It's really about paying it
forward and doing something that's bigger thanyourself. And an easy way to do
that I employ you to lug onand learn more about the Concern Foundation at
Concern foundation dot org because there's someoneways that we can get involved with the
(13:01):
fundraisers that you're already doing, thatyou already have coming up. Even just
to be introduced to what you're allabout, we could just kind of pop
on the website and find out what'sgoing on. Start, start slowly,
you know, it's as simple asrolling up the sleeve becoming a volunteer.
We do a big toy drive inDecember and we have a holiday party for
one and twenty families, about fivehundred people and paramounts shoes and every every
(13:26):
family member gets toys and gifts andthe parents, the grandparents, the siblings.
So we do a toy drive.You know, we're the moneys that
we raise. We're giving ninety fivecents of every single dollar that we raise
is going to research and going tohelp support the cancer community. So the
more volunteers that roll up their sleevesand help get involved, the better.
(13:48):
If you want to support cancer research, tend a dollar. It's as simple
as sending a dollar and those peoplethat you know, you don't have to
write the big check in order tohave an impact, especially when you're dealing
with an oranization that is as efficientwith how the moneys are spent as I
think we are. And you knowthat's that's our main mission. Yeah,
because you have a very low overheadfive percent administrative overhead. I mean after
(14:13):
fifty five years, at fifty fiveyears being in the cancer community and raising
money, that's what our that's whatour administrative overhead is. And it's really
simple. It's it's people like youthat help expose what we're doing. We
don't buy bus benches and billboards andtake out advertisements. It's grassroots. It's
it's friends telling friends. It's it'scommunity members and businesses that come together.
(14:39):
I mean we got last night.We had fantastic donation from Yamava Resort and
Casino. The Zakudo group count andcountry event rentals are in Paramount Studios.
Gives us an amazing deal to beit there to be on their a lot
to be able to hold our party. And you know nine most of that
is donated. All of the fluidshave five food vendors and restaurants and caterers
(15:03):
and liquor providers one hundred percent donator. So we raised two million dollars last
night, and we're going to beable to fund more research this year than
we raised last year. Look atthat. Oh God, bless you.
Because the community gets It's because thecommunity gets together, they understand what they
do, They appreciate what we do, and they appreciate how we do it.
(15:26):
And my advice to all of yourlisteners is to give somewhere. Be
as somebody, as I've always toldmy children and now I tell my grandchildren,
be as somebody, not in everybody. Find something that you're passionate about
that is doing good work in thecommunity, whether it's kit and rescue or
the environment, or cancer research orAlzheimer's. Find something, roll up your
(15:48):
sleeves and be as somebody for thoseorganizations because we all need everybody's help today.
Yes we do. Amen. DerekAlbert, thank you so much as
always for your very inspired words andyour hard work, your dedication and being
on that the cancer forefront and doingthe great work that the Concern Foundation does
on a day to day basis.I implore, as Derek does, I
implore you to look into it more. If you're able to volunteer for their
(16:11):
upcoming events, do your own fundraiser, or just be a part of all
that's happening. To make any kindof donation, big or small. You
can find out more and even justget on their email list and find out
about you know, stay in theknow about what's going on with them.
Find out more at Concern Foundation dotorg. It's a Concern Foundation dot org.
Derek, thank you so much.I appreciate you, Lisa, thank
(16:33):
you. I appreciate you and yourlisteners, and you know the sport that
you've given our organization for so manyyears and being a part of our organization
and coming out last night and justcelebrating with us another great year of making
some major strides in conquering cancer.Ooh yes,
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