ja_mageia

The Children’s Tumor Foundation is pleased to announce that George T. Orfanakos has been named the new president of the Foundation. Orfanakos will assume the role at the beginning of the New Year.

“George has been critical to the advances we have made in raising funds for NF research, promoting public awareness, and bettering clinical care for individuals living with NF,” said Stuart Match Suna, the Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “His focus and dedication have helped the Foundation reach a larger audience and better more lives; we expect that this new, expanded role will mean even greater things as we work to find treatments and a cure for NF.”

Current President John Risner added "George has brought not only new ideas on how to fulfill our mission, but as importantly the planning and execution to accomplish them.  I look forward to the progress he and his team will continue to make in our shared cause of ending neurofibromatosis."

Orfanakos is currently the Executive Director of the Foundation, having joined as vice president in the spring of 2006. Orfanakos has initiated numerous programs including Racing4Research, a fundraising program centered around the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and the NF Forum, the country’s first national NF symposium for patients and families affected by the disorder. 

The Foundation is the leading non-government source of funding for NF research.  Foundation-supported research lead to the discovery of the genes that cause NF and is now advancing therapies to individuals affected by the disorder.  The Foundation has founded a 43-member national NF Clinic Network to better clinical care, and hosts chapters and affiliates in nearly every state to provide local support. 

For 12 years prior to joining the Foundation, Orfanakos was a pastor in the Greek Orthodox Church serving parishes in New York and New Jersey. He holds a B.A. from Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts and an M.Div. from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Orfanakos has been highlighted in the New York Times, the Hallmark Channel and in many additional media outlets.  Orfanakos will replace John Risner, whose five-year commitment to the Foundation expires at the end of the year when he will return to an advisory role.  Orfanakos is the third president in the Foundation’s 32 year history.

For the official press release of this announcement please click here (pdf).