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Dana Dornsife

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Dana Dornsife
Born (1961-09-21) September 21, 1961 (age 63)
Poughkeepsie, New York
EducationDrexel University, John F. Kennedy University & Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
Known forFounder and CEO, Lazarex Cancer Foundation
SpouseDavid H. Dornsife

Dana Dornsife (born September 21, 1961, née L'Archevesque) is an American entrepreneur, patient-advocate and philanthropist in the areas of health care, education, the environment and social justice. She is the Founder and Chief Mission and Strategy Officer of Lazarex Cancer Foundation, a nationwide non-profit organization that helps advanced-stage cancer patients find and access treatment through Food and Drug Administration clinical trials.[1] Dornsife and her husband, American businessman David H. Dornsife, are philanthropists who have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable causes and were named among the nation’s Top 50 most generous donors in 2016 by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.[2] The couple made the list of America's Top 50 Donors of 2020 as well according to Philanthropy 50,[3] an annual ranking compiled by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. They ranked #27 for giving $59 million.[4]

The couple are the world’s top investors in clean water projects in Africa.[5][6] Their 2009 gift of $200 million US dollars to the University of Southern California (USC) was the largest single gift to the school in its history.[7] They are the largest benefactor to Drexel University in that school’s history having donated more than $70 million US dollars, including $45 million in 2015 to the Drexel School of Public Health, which was named after them and $9 million in 2020 to help launch a Center on Racism and Health.[8] Their 2020 gift of $10 million US dollars to Whitworth University was the single largest gift in that school's history.[9]

Early life

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Dornsife was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. She received her bachelor’s degree in business from Drexel University, an Interior Design Certification from John F. Kennedy University and her Lighting Design Certification through the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.[10]

Career

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Dornsife in 2018

In 1991, Dornsife co-founded Axiom Design, Inc., a lighting design and architectural electronics consulting firm.[10] In 2002 she founded Adorn, a lighting and interior design company.[10] In 2006 she founded Lazarex Cancer Foundation after her brother-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[11] The nationwide non-profit organization reimburses patients for travel costs associated with FDA clinical trial participation and helps advanced stage cancer patients and the medically underserved find clinical trial options.[12][13][14] As Founder, Chief Mission and Strategy Officer of Lazarex, Dana was involved in getting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to publish new guidance language ‘giving the green light to reimburse patients for travel expenses to clinical trial sites’ [15] and she advocates at the state level for laws that reinforce the FDA guidance [16] clarifying that patients can be reimbursed for travel expenses related to clinical trial participation.[17] Dornsife currently serves as a board member of the University of Southern California (USC) Brain and Creativity Institute,[18] Chair of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Cancer Leadership Council [19] and is a member of the Massachusetts General Hospital Presidents Council.[20]

Philanthropy

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In 2009, Dornsife and her husband David H. Dornsife donated US $200 million to his alma mater, the University of Southern California. It was the largest single gift to the University in its history[21] and the school’s College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences was re-named the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.[10] The donation provided support for the construction of a Brain and Creativity Institute and building.[10] On March 23, 2011, USC gave the couple University Medallions, for major contributions to the University.[22] The couple also received the USC College Dean’s Medallion for their commitment to innovation in 2005.[23]

In 2015, the couple pledged US $45 million to the Drexel University School of Public Health at her alma mater and the school officially changed its name to the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health.[24][25] Dornsife and her husband made the US $10 million lead gift to establish the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships, a community-based resource center at Drexel University.[26] She and her husband also pledged US $2.5 million to the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business at Drexel University [27] and $1.5 million in 2015 to Whitworth University’s Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement, which was re-named the Dana and David Dornsife Center for Community Engagement.[28] In December 2020, Drexel University announced a $9 million gift from Dana and her husband to the University’s School of Public Health to help 'launch a new Center on Racism and Health, recruit and retain faculty experts on racial inequities in health and endow the deanship for public health'.[8] Also in December 2020, Whitworth University announced Dana and David Dornsife made the largest, single donation in the school's history - $10 million - to improve undergraduate and graduate offerings, campus amenities and instruction.[29]

Dornsife and her husband are ‘one of the top private contributors to the water sector' in Africa.[30] Through World Vision they supported 'microeconomic enterprise, agriculture and literacy programs in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and, in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, well-water drilling in Mali, Ghana, Niger, Ethiopia, Zambia and Malawi.[31] In 2015 Dornsife and her husband received the Water Warrior Award from World Vision for helping bring clean water, sanitation and hygiene to 20 million people [32] since 1990.[30]

She and her husband serve as Board and Council members of the Yosemite Conservancy,[33] supported the Alzheimer’s Association Cerebrospinal Fluid Quality (CSF) Control Program, launched in 2009 'that brought world laboratories together to standardize the measurement potential of Alzheimer biomarkers in CSF' [34] and they also work to expand agricultural production in Burkina Faso.[33]

Recognition

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Dornsife received honorary degrees from USC in 2012[35] and Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business in 2014.[36] In 2013 Whitworth University gave Dana and her husband honorary doctorates in humane letters ‘for their philanthropic and professional achievements’.[9] Dana was the recipient of the Ellen Stoval Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care in 2019[37] and was named an ‘Agent of Change’ by Diablo Magazine in 2019 [38] and a 2021 Threads of Hope Honoree. [39] In 2023, Dornsife received the Champion for Cures Award from the Association of American Cancer Institutes.[11]

Personal life

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Dornsife (née L'Archevesque) is married to David H. Dornsife. They have six children[10] and reside in Danville, CA.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Novel coronavirus opens the door for remote clinical trial participation". Denver ABC 7, TheDenverChannel.com. 17 April 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "50 Most Generous Donors in America" (PDF). The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  3. ^ "The Philanthropy 50". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "A list of America's top 50 donors of 2020". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Big Bet Philanthropy: How More Givers Are Spending Big And Taking Risks To Solve Society's Problems". Forbes. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  6. ^ "DANA DORNSIFE". Concordia.
  7. ^ "Couple to give record $200-million gift to USC". LA Times. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  8. ^ a b "$9 Million Gift from Philanthropists Dana and David Dornsife to Establish Center on Racism and Health at Drexel". Drexel University. December 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Whitworth Receives $10 Million Commitment from Philanthropists Dana and David Dornsife". Whitworth University. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "About Dana and David Dornsife". USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. University of Southern California.
  11. ^ a b "Lazarex Cancer Foundation Founder Receives Champion for Cures Award From Leaders of 100+ Cancer Centers". www.newswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  12. ^ "Lazarex Cancer Foundation Our Programs". Lazarex.org. Lazarex Cancer Foundation.
  13. ^ "Tri-Valley Hero: Danville's Dana Dornsife, improving access to clinical trials". Danville San Ramon News. November 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  14. ^ "Coronavirus Forces Cancer Trial Changes Patients Long Sought". Bloomberg Law. Bloomberg the company and its products. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  15. ^ "Lazarex States New FDA Guidance Issued". Pharmajournalist.com. Pharmajournalist.com/. 2 February 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  16. ^ "Our view: New legislation 'opens the door' to cancer patients to take part in trials". Kenosha News. 11 March 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "Clinical Research News". clinicalresearchnewsonline.com. Clinical Research News Online. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "Brain and Creativity Institute Board". USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. University of Southern California.
  19. ^ "Cancer Leadership Council". UCSF Hellen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Advisory Boards. UCSF.
  20. ^ "Community Heroes". Soroptimist-losangeles.org. Soroptimist Los Angeles.
  21. ^ "$200 million donation largest in USC history". Daily Trojan. 9 March 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  22. ^ "University and Presidential Medallion Holders". USC Provost.
  23. ^ "USC College Launches $400 Million Fundraising Initiative". USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. University of Southern California. Retrieved August 1, 2005.
  24. ^ "Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health". Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health. Drexel University. 31 March 2022.
  25. ^ "Drexel School of Public Health receives 'transformative' $45M gift". Philadelphia Business Journal. The Business Journals. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  26. ^ "DANA AND DAVID DORNSIFE". Drexel University Dornsife Center For Neighborhood Partnerships. Drexel University. November 2016.
  27. ^ "Drexel LeBow Announces Dana and David Dornsife Center for Experiential Business Education". Drexel University LeBow College of Business. Drexel University.
  28. ^ "Whitworth celebrates $1.5-million gift from Dana and David Dornsife on Whitworth Serves Day". Whitworth University. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  29. ^ "Couple donates $10M to Whitworth University to grow graduate health science programs". The Spokesman Review. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Dornsifes Named First Water Warriors". USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. University of Southern California. 28 July 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  31. ^ "WORLD VISION AND THE WATER INSTITUTE AT UNC: COLLABORATION". World Vision. World Vision and The Water Institute at UNC. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  32. ^ "New $40 Million Investment for World Vision's Water Program". World Vision. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Dana Dornsife". Yosemite Conservancy. 12 September 2019.
  34. ^ "University Medallion Past Recipients". USC.
  35. ^ "USC Announces Commencement Speaker, Honorary Degree Recipients". USC. 19 April 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  36. ^ "Drexel Announces 2014 Honorary Degree Recipients". Drexel University. 22 May 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  37. ^ "NCCS Announces 2019 Stovall Award Honorees, Dr. Harmar Brereton and Dana Dornsife". National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. 7 August 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  38. ^ "2019 Agents of Change". diablo magazine. 23 August 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  39. ^ "2021 Threads of Hope Honorees". Diablomag.com. Diablo Magazine. 19 November 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
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