Cancer Research at the James to Benefit from NetJets GiftCOLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at Ohio State University today received a gift of $12.5 million from NetJets, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, to launch a grassroots biking event that is projected to raise more than $60 million during the next six years, and more than $20 million annually thereafter.
All proceeds from the annual bike-a-thon will support cancer research at Ohio State, says Dr. Michael A. Caligiuri, director of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and CEO of The James. “This extraordinary gift will serve to completely underwrite what will be the largest bike event in Ohio’s history, one whose proceeds will positively impact the lives of our citizens stricken with cancer and our future generations with a predisposition to develop cancer,” said Caligiuri. “It will be the first step in our community-corporate-university partnership to eliminate this disease, and I applaud the world class NetJets team not only for their corporate generosity, but for their interest in an innovative, non-stop approach to tackling the cancer problem in our state, our nation and our world.” NetJets Inc. will underwrite for six years a major bike-a-thon in Ohio that will attract thousands of cyclists and volunteers. The first event is scheduled for September, 2009. “NetJets has ambitious plans for our future in Ohio and we view our relationship with The Ohio State University as critical to the realization of our vision. A key component of our involvement with the university will be the support of The James Cancer Hospital, a national leader in the treatment of cancer. The James also has ambitious plans for the future and, together with our associates, we are committed to supporting this initiative that will involve thousands of people and generate millions of dollars for innovative research,” says Richard T. Santulli, Chairman and CEO, NetJets Inc. Cancer is the No. 1 one killer in Ohio. Every hour of every day, seven people in Ohio are diagnosed with cancer and three people in Ohio die from cancer. This year alone, an estimated 56,000 Ohioans will be diagnosed with cancer, and 25,000 Ohioans will die from cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. “I am grateful to our friends at NetJets for supporting our work to seek a cure for cancer,” said Ohio State’s President E. Gordon Gee. “This is a creative, collaborative approach that will make a strategic difference in our cancer program and in the lives of patients and their families.” NetJets Inc., formerly Executive Jet Aviation, was founded in 1964 as the first private business jet charter and aircraft management company. The NetJets program was created in 1986 by Richard Santulli, the Chairman and CEO of NetJets Inc. as the first fractional aircraft ownership program. In 1998, after being a NetJets customer for three years, Warren Buffett, Chairman & CEO of the Berkshire Hathaway company, acquired NetJets Inc.
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