When the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation needed a team to lead its upcoming merger, it turned to Much. Attorneys Dave Pilotto and Ursha Magajne and paralegal Jami McKenna, offered their services pro bono, successfully merging the organization with the Lynn Sage Foundation. The combination paves the way for one new entity, the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation.
Efforts to combine the two foundations began in the spring of 2019.
"We are eager to continue building upon the three-decade legacy of the former organizations, and look forward to engaging the next generation of donors to help those fighting breast cancer and ultimately eradicate this disease," said Meredith Soren Freese, co-chair of the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation.
“Over 300,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 alone, and thanks to the help of our generous legal teams, the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation can continue fighting on behalf of these women and their families.”
The Lynn Sage Foundation was represented by DLA Piper, which also provided its services pro bono.
"Much has a long history of giving back to the community and believes that every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those in need," said Dave Pilotto, co-chair of the firm's Corporate & Finance group. "The merger of these two organizations will continue to prove invaluable in the field of breast cancer research, and we are proud to have been able to play a role in its development."
Prior to the merger, both organizations raised a combined $40 million over 35 years and established the Lynn Sage Scholars program that resulted in follow-on funding more than six times the initial investment. They additionally implemented the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, an annual event for world-renowned doctors to collaborate on cutting-edge treatments, which will celebrate its 23rd anniversary this year.
"Our firm has a continued commitment to social responsibility as a core value. I was very proud to help with such a great cause," said Ursha Magajne, principal in the Corporate & Finance group. "Our team could not be more excited to witness the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation's future strides in the fight against breast cancer."
