Dr Jay Calvert

 

Dr. Jay Calvert & Kris Calvert Named Honorees for Concern Foundation’s 44^th Annual Block Party Celebrating “Cancer Crusaders”

 

Concern Foundation (www.concernfoundation.org) for cancer research will host its 44th Annual Block Party on the back lot of Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood on Saturday July 14th 2018. The annual event will feature multiple stages of live entertainment, casino style games, live and silent auctions, and food, desserts and beverages from over 70 of Los Angeles’ best restaurants and caterers.

This year marks Concern’s 50th year and since inception, the organization has awarded over $60 million in salary support to over 750 cancer researchers.  While cancer is still one of the leading causes of death in the world, major strides have been made and there are more people surviving their cancer than ever before thanks to such valuable research.

The annual block party brings together for one evening each summer, vendors, restaurants, individual donors and sponsors from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and surrounding neighborhoods. The anticipated 4,000 supporters will be filling the streets of the iconic New York back lot at Paramount Pictures Studios, and this year will celebrate “50 Years of Super Heroes: Researchers, Donors and Volunteers.”

This year’s event hopes to reach an additional milestone by exceeding the 2018 goal to raise $2 million to financially support research focused on immunology-based methods to treating cancer, exceeding last year’s total of $1.7 million.

In addition to hosting the various vendors and sponsors, Concern Foundation each year honors members of the community who have provided a significant change towards the fight against cancer. This year, the foundation will honor Dr. Jay and Kris Calvert and their family as “Cancer Crusaders” for their participation in helping to conquer cancer through research.

Dr. Jay Calvert has been named one of Los Angeles Magazine’s “Super Doctors” consecutively in 2014, 2015, and 2016.  He has appeared on multiple hit television programs including CBS’ “The Doctors” and OWN’s “Dr. Phil.” Alongside his wife Kris, Dr. Calvert has openly shared the couple’s personal experience with cancer, having had prostate cancer affect the lives of both of their fathers. The Calvert’s 10-year-old son Ace was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at age four and while he has beaten his cancer today, ALL can always return and thus, he is never truly cured.  This is the main reason he and his family feel so strongly about raising money to help find a permanent cure.

“It’s truly an honor for Concern Foundation to recognize the Calvert family as this year’s Cancer Crusader honorees for their commitment to helping provide salary support for cancer researchers and for sharing their personal story,” comments Derek Alpert, president, Concern Foundation.

For 50 years, Concern Foundation has pioneered the advancement of cancer immunology, the study of the relationship between the immune system and cancer, a field that is now widely acknowledged to hold the most potential for discovering treatments and prevention for cancer.

With 90-95% of net proceeds going directly to research, Concern Foundation has made significant strides toward bridging a major gap in research funding by focusing its grants on young, innovative researchers with breakthrough ideas.