Press Release – IRVINE, CA (January 28, 2020) – The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF), an independent, nonprofit organization, wholly dedicated to funding leading-edge pediatric cancer research nationwide, appoints Steve Giusto as Chairman of the Board of Directors and announces the addition of John Coon, Private Wealth Manager, to its Board of Directors.
Both bring expertise in fields that will support the organization’s mission to give every child a cancer-free future. Steve will lead the board to support the organization’s mission to identify and fund leading-edge research that promises the best hope for a cure to childhood cancer.
“I look forward to working with and learning from these respected professionals. Their commitment to our cause and personal desire to support research will bring a new level of expertise to PCRF. With diverse business backgrounds and leadership roles in their own company, Steve and John are a welcome addition to our already seasoned board,” shared PCRF’s Executive Director, Jeri Wilson.
Steve Giusto served on PCRF’s Board of Directors for one term before assuming the position of Chairman. His background brings executive leadership of advising CEOs and investors of public and private service companies through major strategic shifts as the result of shifting regulatory environments, competitive threats, and new growth opportunities. As a corporate executive, Giusto has been a transformational leader of consulting, staffing and education companies.
“It is my honor to serve as Chairman. I know the anguish of a pediatric cancer diagnosis and the miracles that can come from focused research that helps solve pediatric cancers”, shared Steve Giusto. “I also am a lucky and thankful example of a father who understands the miracles that research can have for kids and the families that care for them. Our daughter, diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at five, is now a sophomore in high school and considering where to go to college.”
John Coon has been a professional in the financial services industry for over ten years. John was born and raised in Newport Beach where he lives with his wife, Stephanie, and two children, Blake and Audrey. John graduated from UCLA and was on the men’s volleyball team. In his free time, John enjoys surfing, playing guitar and piano, and coaching his son’s baseball team. John also serves on the board of directors for Newport Beach Baseball Association.
“Like the Giusto family, our family was a direct beneficiary of extraordinary research. Our daughter Audrey was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, the most common type of pediatric brain cancer when she was three years old,” said John Coon. “Today she is six years old and shows no evidence of disease. We are passionate about funding cutting edge research that will improve the survival rate and quality of life for families who will one day receive the devastating news of a cancer diagnosis.”
To learn more about PCRF’s Board of Directors, please visit: https://pcrf-kids.org/meet-pcrf/
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