NEW YORK, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The leveraged finance and private equity communities came together on June 14, 2023, for the 12th annual Leveraged Finance Fights Melanoma (LFFM) benefit and cocktail party at the Museum of Modern Art. The benefit was attended by over 1,000 people representing approximately 100 firms and raised a record $3.1 million dollars to support innovative and promising melanoma research. "I believe our industry understands the significant impact our support of cutting edge research, leading to groundbreaking advancements in immunotherapies that has changed the way cancer is treated," said Jeff Rowbottom, co-founder of the event. "Events like LFFM give everyone impacted by cancer – patients, survivors, and loved ones alike – hope that researchers will have the resources they need to continue to accelerate lifesaving research." All proceeds from LFFM support the Melanoma Research Alliance, the largest and highest rated non-profit funder of melanoma research worldwide. MRA funded researchers have been behind every major advancement in melanoma research since 2007. Treatments first pioneered in melanoma are now being used to treat patients with over 30 other cancer types. LFFM was founded in 2011 by Brendan Dillon (Veritas Capital) and Jeff Rowbottom (General Atlantic Credit), both who have had melanoma. Since then, it has raised more than $23 million to support lifesaving melanoma research. The event was co-chaired by Clare Bailhé (MidCap Financial), Brendan Dillon (Veritas Capital), Kerry Dolan (Brinley Partners), Lee Grinberg (Elliott Management), Matt Manin (Apollo), Erwin Mock (Thoma Bravo), George Mueller (KKR), Geoff Oltmans (Silver Lake), Kevin Pluff (HPS Investment Partners), Jeff Rowbottom (General Atlantic Credit), Ian Schuman (Latham & Watkins), Cade Thompson (KKR), Trevor Watt (Hellman & Friedman), and Eric Wedel (Kirkland & Ellis). Presenting Sponsors include Fitch Ratings, Goldman Sachs, and White & Case. A full listing of LFFM sponsors is included below. "With the help of the leveraged finance and private equity communities, we are making unprecedented progress in ending suffering and death due to melanoma," says MRA Chief Executive Officer Marc Hurlbert, PhD. "We still have a long way to go, but with the support of LFFM and our other donors we are making significant progress that gives patients and families more time and more hope." Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Network Financial Printing
New Mountain Finance Corporation
Oaktree Capital Management
Lee Grinberg and Jennifer Corwin
American Industrial Partners
Brookfield Asset Management
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
Madison Dearborn Partners
Oak Hill Capital Management
Perella Weinberg Partners
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
GoldenTree Asset Management
Shenkman Capital Management Inc.
Additional support was provided by L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty, SpotMyUV and Phaidon.
The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) stands as the largest non-profit funder of melanoma research. Founded in 2007 by Debra and Leon Black, MRA's mission is to end suffering and death due to melanoma by advancing the world's most promising science and research. MRA provides critical funding for melanoma cancer research that propels advances in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, metastasis, and survivorship. MRA-funded researchers have been behind every major melanoma research breakthrough. Since MRA's inception, more than 15 new therapeutic approaches for melanoma have earned FDA approval. MRA is recognized as one of the most fiscally efficient non-profits in the country. Because the Black Family generously underwrites 100% of MRA's administrative and operating costs, every dollar donated is invested directly into MRA's scientific and research program. For more information, please visit: www.CureMelanoma.org. Cody R. Barnett, MRA Senior Director of Communications
SOURCE Melanoma Research Alliance