History

Sarcoma Foundation of America Founders
Dr. John Brooks, Mrs. Patricia Thornton, and Dr. Mark Thornton
Sarcoma Foundation of America Active Founding Members
Addie and Gary Tomei

The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) was founded by Dr. Mark Thornton, Mrs. Patricia Thornton, and Dr. John Brooks, and incorporated in Maryland in 2000.  The SFA received 501(c)(3) designation from the United States Internal Revenue Service on June 18, 2001. This designation allows all contributions to SFA to be tax deductible.

On July 4, 2001, there was a “Call for Founders.” The period from July 4, 2001, until July 3, 2002, was the Founding Period for the Foundation, and members joining during this period were considered Founding Members.  Current active Founding Members of the SFA are Gary and Addie Tomei of New York City.   In 2003, the Tomeis also began the tradition of the Annual SFA Gala, which is the SFA’s largest yearly fundraiser.

Since these humble origins, the SFA has attracted thousands of members in all 50 states. With your dedicated support the SFA has supported 115 sarcoma research grants since 2003, along with two large American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Foundation Clinical Research grants worth $450,000. The SFA has also funded six ASCO Young Investigator Awards and has started a large research based initiative called the Sarcoma Patient Registry, designed to increase research performed on sarcoma and to facilitate clinical trials.

Please join us by becoming a Member. Membership is free. Register online or write to: Sarcoma Foundation of America, 9899 Main Street Suite 204, Damascus, Maryland 20872.

The Sarcoma Foundation of America is a national organization. Because the primary purpose of the SFA is to increase the focus and attention on sarcoma research, there is an emphasis on fundraising for research grants and advocacy activities.

SFA is managed by a Board of Directors who are elected for a two–year term. Additional Board Members can be added at any time following a nomination and a vote from the membership. SFA is also advised by a stellar group of medical professionals who serve on our Medical Advisory Board. The Medical Advisory Board reviews and approves all recipients of SFA research grants.