St. Baldrick’s Foundation Appoints Charles M. Chamness as Board of Directors Chairman

Lauded Co-Founder John Bender Completes Term as Chairman after Guiding the Foundation Since 2010

LOS ANGELES (June 27, 2013) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven and donor-centered charity dedicated to funding childhood cancer research, announced Charles (Chuck) M. Chamness as its new chairman of the board of directors. As a longtime board member and the father of a childhood cancer survivor, Chamness will officially begin his tenure as chairman on July 1, 2013.

“When we started this Foundation, we engaged our colleagues, but it was also our goal for St. Baldrick’s to grow beyond three men and one industry – we knew expansive growth was the only way to achieve the broad-based financial support needed to conquer childhood cancers,” said John R. Bender, a founder of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “I am very excited about Chuck’s election as chairman. I believe he is the right man to take the chair as we continue to make investments in the Foundation that will be critical in realizing St. Baldrick’s ultimate goals.”

Bender, who served as chairman since 2010, has distinguished himself as the St. Baldrick’s “Iron Man,” being the only person in the Foundation’s history to have been shorn at least once every year since the organization’s inaugural signature head-shaving fundraising event in 2000. He was instrumental in helping St. Baldrick’s claim several milestones, including funding more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government, more than $25 million in 2012 and raising more than $30 million in the first six months of 2013 – impressive fundraising amidst uncertain financial times. Bender will remain active as a member on the St. Baldrick’s Foundation board of directors.

Under Bender’s leadership, the Foundation also launched a new program, called Hero Funds, which allows volunteers to raise money in honor of a child or loved one, without the red tape, labor and expense of setting up their own foundation. Already a success among families of children with cancer, this program is expected to materially improve the amount and quality of childhood cancer research supported today.

“We are grateful for John’s passionate leadership throughout the years. As a result of his willingness to do everything he asks of others, the Foundation continues to fund cutting-edge childhood cancer research to help save the lives of kids around the world,” said Kathleen Ruddy, chief executive officer of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “We are eager to further benefit from Chuck’s personal experience as a parent of a childhood cancer survivor and to solidify the Foundation as the leader in the childhood cancer research community. It is St. Baldrick’s commitment to families like Chuck’s and our track record of supporting only the best research that makes us confident we will deliver cures and better treatments with less harsh side effects and long-term complications for our kids.”

Chamness is the president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies in Indianapolis, Ind. Prior to joining NAMICO in 1995, he worked for 10 years in Washington, D.C., serving in the first Bush administration as deputy assistant secretary of public affairs under HUD Secretary Jack Kemp as well as a press secretary on Capitol Hill and in other public- and private-sector positions.

Chamness serves as chairman of the board of NAMICO, a $50 million asset “A” rated professional liability insurance company owned by the association and its members. He has served as a member of the board of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety since 2004 and is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Association Committee of 100.

Chamness lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Briget, and their four children, all of whom, like dad, have been St. Baldrick’s shaveesSM. He became committed to the Foundation as a shavee and volunteer event organizer in 2005 when his son Joey was being treated for osteosarcoma. Today, Joey is a healthy and active 16-year-old.

“John’s commitment to answer the call to give back to the community with fellow co-founders Tim Kenny and Enda McDonnell has turned into the largest volunteer-driven, non-governmental funder of childhood cancer research, and he is to be commended for his vision and leadership,” Chamness said. “I look forward to working with John and our entire board to build on the successes as we, as a Foundation, continue to work to meet the needs of the childhood cancer community and take the Foundation to the next level.”

“St. Baldrick’s is about the kids, their families, the research we support and all the volunteers who make it possible,” Chamness continued. “We are committed to helping kids with cancer survive and lead the healthy lives we wish for them.”

Since 2005, the Foundation has awarded more than 530 grants totaling more than $103 million to support the most promising research that will find cures and give survivors long and healthy lives – made possible by the commitment, hard work and creative fundraising of each St. Baldrick’s volunteer.

Want to become a St. Baldrick’s volunteer? To locate or organize an event in your community, sign-up to shave, donate or volunteer, visit www.StBaldricks.org. Also become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit the Foundation’s YouTube and Vimeo channels.

You can also do your part to help kids with cancer through the St. Baldrick’s advocacy program, Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer!

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. The Foundation coordinates its signature head-shaving events worldwide where volunteers get bald to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and raise money to support research. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $103 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials. For more information about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

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