Researcher Studies Grandson’s Rare Genetic Mutation
Mass General’s Marian DiFiglia, PhD, is working to advance research on the rare genetic mutation that affects her grandson.
View Donor Honor Roll
Welcome to the Massachusetts General Hospital Donor Report for 2019. We are so grateful for the many generous gifts that help strengthen patient care, advance critical research, educate medical trailblazers and help save lives in our local community and around the world. Here are just a few of the many inspiring stories of donors who supported our work in 2019.
These gifts and the stories behind them have helped Mass General continue to advance our mission of excellence and serve as a beacon of hope and a temple of healing for our neighbors, near and far. Thank you to each and every donor who has made a difference, including all who have supported the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic by giving to our Emergency Response Fund. We are humbled and honored to consider you important members of our Mass General family.
Donor Impact Stories
People who support patient care and research at Mass General find inspiration in their own lives and the lives of those around them. Their gifts impact the future of medicine, global health and the quality of care for countless patients. We gratefully present their stories here.
Donor Volunteers to Help Patients in Stressful Times
An MGH Fund donor and hospital volunteer spends many of his hours just being there for patients and offering encouragement.
Mass General Receives $200 Million for Ragon Institute
Largest gift in Mass General history will bolster the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard as it strives to advance research into complex diseases.
Couple’s Life Experiences Shaped Their Bequest
A significant bequest from Celia Bertin Reich and her husband, Jerome Reich, continues to be transformative and inspirational for three Mass General programs.
Arielle’s Legacy Supports Research on Psychedelics
To help others suffering from intractable depression, Arielle’s family created a memorial fund to honor her and advance psychedelic research.
Getting to the Heart of the Matter
Grateful patient Lori Ankerud, and her husband, Eric, created the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation to help others with congenital heart disease.
Uncovering the Impact of COVID-19 on the Brain
Leadership gift from the Severino family, launches study on the effect of COVID-19 on the brain health of patients and families.
Youth Scholars Find Classes, Caring Online
Many high school students found support from Mass General’s Youth Scholars Program during COVID-19.
Why We Give | SBLI
SBLI donated $25,000 to help Mass General purchase PPE to protect frontline workers and support efforts made to continue to care for our community.
Why We Give | Analog Devices Foundation
Margaret Seif, ADI Chief People Officer and Analog Devices Foundation Board Member, shares why they chose to support Mass General’s work.
Vaccine Partnership Drives Hope
A promising new vaccine under development at Massachusetts General Hospital is raising hope in the urgent search for protection against COVID-19.
Why We Give | Fundación MAPFRE
Alfredo Castelo, President & CEO, MAPFRE USA and Chief Representative of Fundación MAPFRE in the U.S. shares why the company chose to support Mass General.
Why We Give: Dropkick Murphys
Ken Casey, frontman and songwriter for Celtic punk rockers, Dropkick Murphys, shares why the band chose to support Mass General in the fight against COVID-19.
Contact Tracing Relies on Individual Trust to Advance the Public Good
Contact tracing is important for breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission. A gift from Dan and Marjorie Sullivan and the Sullivan Family Foundation is supporting efforts to understand how to protect privacy and use technology to improve this public health strategy.
Riding Around the Clock to Raise Funds
A Mass General volunteer rides his indoor air bike for 24 hours to support Mass General’s COVID-19 response.
Why We Give | UniFirst Corporation
Steven Sintros, UniFirst President and CEO, shares why his company chose to support Mass General’s efforts to find a COVID-19 vaccine.
Stop & Shop Shows Gratitude to Mass General Workers
Stop & Stop is supporting Mass General health care workers in several ways, including donating groceries and gift cards.
COVID-19: The Vincent Club Delivers Vital Supplies
The Vincent Club, a longtime supporter of Mass General Obstetrics and Gynecology, answers the call with much-needed COVID-19 equipment and supplies.
Mass General Donors Double Down to Fund COVID-19 Response
Philanthropists Pam and Alan Trefler donated $500,000 to aid the Mass General Emergency Department’s COVID-19 pandemic response.
Why We Give | Arthur, Sandra and Sarah Irving
Longtime supporters of Mass General, Arthur, Sandra and Sarah Irving share the impetus behind their most recent gift to the Emergency Response Fund.
Donor Matches Contributions to #GivingTuesdayNow Campaign
Philanthropist and entrepreneur Donald Sussman will match donations up to $1 million in support of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Emergency Response Fund.
COVID-19: Clinical Researchers Respond
Under the leadership of Keith Flaherty, MD, clinical researchers at Mass General are teaming up to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19: Businesses and Charities Support Mass General
As the COVID-19 epidemic spreads, regional companies and charitable organizations are providing critical support to caregivers on the front lines.
COVID-19: Donors Put Their Trust in Mass General
Scott Nathan and Laura DeBonis hope to inspire others with their $250,000 gift to Mass General’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
COVID-19: Teen’s SAT Prep Sessions Help Fight Virus
Tina Gong, a high school senior who aced the SAT with a perfect score, is raising money for Mass General’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund by sharing her test-taking strategy tips online.
Obstacle Course Race Bolsters Type 1 Diabetes Research
Since 2012, the Renegade Run Obstacle Course Race has raised $88,000 for type 1 diabetes research at Mass General’s Faustman Lab.
Ugly Sweater Event Aids Corrigan Minehan Heart Center
Bar crawlers in ugly Christmas sweaters gather to honor a loved one and support Mass General’s Corrigan Minehan Heart Center.
Mass General Cancer Center Hosts CenterStage Gala
The 2019 CenterStage gala raises $2.5 million for groundbreaking research taking place at the Mass General Cancer Center.
Philanthropist Helps Improve Access to Psychiatric Care
Arthur Epstein’s generous support of the North Shore Medical Center improves access to psychiatric care and provides a safe place for families in crisis.
New Endowment Supports Cancer Research
Lily Haseotes Bentas and her husband, Efthemios J. Bentas, are creating a lasting endowment for cancer research with a focus on women scientists.
Award Program Supports Novel ADHD Research
With help from the Gerstner Family Foundation, early-career clinician-scientists are working to improve the lives of people living with ADHD.
Mass General Cancer Center Benefit Raises $255,000
The Friends of the Mass General Cancer Center host fall fashion show to fund supportive care services for patients and families.
Dermatologist Gives Back to Hospital Where He Trained
Harold Lancer, MD, has created the Lancer Endowed Chair in Dermatology at Mass General, with Richard Rox Anderson, MD, to be first incumbent.
Healey Center’s Bold Trial Accelerates ALS Research
The Sean M. Healey & AMG Center is launching an innovative ALS research effort that will involve testing several promising therapies at once.
Patient Navigator Helps Patients and Families
The patient navigator program helps patients with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities and their families manage complex medical care.
A Mother Turns Personal Loss into Journals of Hope
Volunteer Faith Wilcox spends time each week helping young patients and their families seek relief through the “Journals of Hope” program.
Early Cancer Detection Inspires Patient’s Giving
Feeling fortunate that his own lung cancer was detected early, a veteran yachtsman supports the innovative work of Mass General’s Center for Innovation in Early Cancer Detection.
Mass General Hosts Rappaport Foundation Gathering
The Rappaport Foundation event included an e-poster session and a “science slam” featuring foundation-supported researchers from Mass General and other area health care institutions.
Mass General Board Transitions Are Announced
Jonathan Kraft will succeed Cathy Minehan as chair of the Mass General Board of Trustees, and Carl Martignetti and Diane Patrick are elected vice chairs.
Healthy Families Are Focus for Community Leaders
Mass General and partners help Chelsea, Massachusetts families celebrate summer with a focus on healthy eating, movement and community education.
Run to Home Base Celebrates 10th Anniversary
At the 2019 Run to Home Base, participants raised $2.3 million to help Home Base heal the invisible wounds of war for veterans and their families.
Ragon Institute Gift Provides Support and Flexibility
A $5 million gift to the Ragon Institute from lawyer Ursula Brunner will establish the Brunner Fund for Medical Discovery, Education and Social Good to support the institute’s FRESH Program and capitalize on evolving opportunities.
Caring For A Cure Enriches Lives. Period.
Caring For A Cure, a Mass General nurses’ initiative, leaves a lasting impression on the minds and hearts of patients and families.
Teenager Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Research
North Andover’s Benjamin Metsch put on a basketball tournament at a local community center to fund breast cancer research at Mass General.
A Hair-Raising Attempt to Support Patients with Cancer
Having experienced scalp cooling firsthand, Athi Myint-U wants to make hair retention an option for patients receiving chemotherapy.
Hugs Help Advance Research of Mitochondrial Diseases
Suffering from mitochondrial disorders, Michael Goldberg is helping a Mass General clinician’s effort to better understand the mysterious group of diseases.
Donor Volunteers to Help Patients in Stressful Times
An MGH Fund donor and hospital volunteer spends many of his hours just being there for patients and offering encouragement.
Donor Helps Bring Mind-Body Medicine to Homeless
The Watts Scholarship supports the Benson-Henry Institute’s efforts to bring mind-body medicine and resiliency skills to underserved communities.
Challenge and Opportunity
Diagnosed with ALS, successful business executive Sean Healey has joined forces with Mass General to focus on finding a cure.
Ragon Institute: Harnessing the Power of Human Immunity
As the Ragon Institute enters its second decade, a transformative gift from philanthropists Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon adds fresh momentum to its remarkable fight against HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.
Art Turns Grey Days to Color for Patients with Cancer
Amanda Baudanza and Jonathan Zuker make art to brighten the lives of Mass General patients and honor their loved ones who have passed.
Mass General Celebrates BeCause Fundraising Community
Annual Toast to Our Fundraising Community brings local fundraisers together to be recognized as members of Mass General’s dedicated BeCause community.
Committed Donors Advocate for Celiac Disease Solution
A long alliance with a Mass General researcher inspires the McCormick family to boost its support for transformational research on celiac disease.
Ragon Institute Study Helps Advance Work on HIV Vaccine
Ragon Institute study identifies viral targets critical to natural HIV control, a major step toward the development of an HIV vaccine.
A Thank You From the President
“Mass General was founded on the principle that ‘when in distress, every man becomes our neighbor.’ In 2020, thanks to your generosity, Mass General serves as a beacon of hope and a temple of healing for our neighbors around the world.”
READ FULL LETTER
Peter L. Slavin, MD
President, Massachusetts General Hospital