LIMA and Children's Brain Tumor Foundation Honor Medical and Financial Contributions Toward a Cure

October 25, 2009 | Posted by: christina

(Los Angeles, CA) October 23, 2009 – The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) and the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF) presented the first-ever Medical Visionary Award and Business Visionary Award at the annual Dreams and Promise Gala last night in Los Angeles.

The 2009 Medical Visionary Award was presented to Jonathan Finlay, M.D., director of the neural tumors program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and an internationally recognized authority on the care of children with brain tumors.

The inaugural Business Visionary Award for financial support toward a cure for pediatric cancers went to global toy and entertainment company Spin Master Ltd., maker of popular children’s consumer products, including Bakugan Battle Brawler action figures.

CBTF is the licensing trade association’s charity of choice and to date LIMA and its member companies, including Spin Master Ltd, have raised more than $2 million to fund aggressive research toward a cure for pediatric brain and spinal tumors, the leading cause of cancer death in people under the age of 20.

Support from the licensing industry has enabled CBTF to complete the planning stage of a worldwide Children’s Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium. The tissue bank, which CBTF aims to have operational in five years, will enable hospitals to collect and analyze tissue samples and share data publicly, thus speeding a cure.

“LIMA thanks Dr. Finlay for his visionary leadership as a researcher, physician and educator in the fight against children’s neural cancers, and commends Spin Master Ltd. for its exemplary commitment to giving back to children and families,” said LIMA president Charles Riotto.

LIMA has pledged to raise a total of $3 million for CBTF by 2010. For information on how to make a donation, visit http://cbtf.org/ and click on the LIMA logo or contact Christina Attardo at cattardo@licensing.org or 646-744-3741.

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