T.J. Martell Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Fundraising Push

Pictured (L-R): Dave Rothfeld, Floyd Glinert, Clive Davis, Dick Asher, Sheila Asher, Tony Martell and Dr. Jim Holland. Photo: Getty Images

The T.J. Martell Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a special Top 40-themed Honors Gala and a series of inventive marketing programs and research initiatives to help boost its fundraising to support the foundation’s research and medical treatments for leukemia, cancer and AIDs.

Slated for October 15, the 40th Anniversary T.J. Martell Foundation Annual Honors Gala will be hosted this year by MTV original VJs Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Nina Blackwood, and once again brings together music industry and entertainment execs and celebs to honor those who have helped support the foundation and its vision. In recognition of research and medical treatment advancements, the foundation will also announce the newly-created Clive Davis Research Fellow Award this year, an annual grant awarded to a person who has made innovative strides and research in cancer or AIDS. The event will be held in New York City at Cipriani on Wall Street.

Among the special 40th anniversary programs the organization is planning is “Music to Beat Cancer,” led by Brian Kaplan, an entertainment attorney diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 52. Now in full remission, Kaplan wants to help cancer patients cope through music and has created a special compilation CD of songs written by artists to instill hope and inspiration for those battling cancer.

The foundation has also commissioned London-based visual artist Tim Wakefield to create Soundwaves art works to be auctioned off. Soundwaves art is made using the actual digital sound waves of a song transferred to canvas and autographed by the musician.

CharityBuzz has also teamed up with T.J. Martell to offer a special 40th Anniversary online auction of items and unique music experiences that are one-of-a-kind opportunities. From luxury items to exotic trips, it will be the biggest single online auction the Foundation has ever offered.

The “Candles for Cancer” campaign will celebrate survivors of cancers and illuminate their inspirational stories. The program will be announced on national TV and survivors will be invited to light a virtual flame on the T.J. Martell Foundation website and donate in the name of another survivor or patient. Inspiring stories of survivors around the country will also be included in a national series of videos and a new PSA campaign that will launch later this year.

In November 2015 the foundation will also host a Celebrity Purse Auction as part of Julien’s Auctions annual Hollywood Legends auction, that will include purses used and autographed by celebrities. Over 100 purses have been collected to help raise funds for further research.

Since its formation in 1975, T.J. Martell has raised and provided over $270 million for innovative medical research in fighting cancer and AIDS and has made amazing strides in treatments for gastric cancer, sarcoma cancer, prostate cancer, neuroblastoma in children, leukemia, AIDs, breast cancer, HIV-related cancers, lung cancer and others.