PERF'S Biggest Challenge:
Establishing a Research Chair in the Rehabilitative Sciences.
By Alvin Grancell, Vice President,
PERF Board of Directors

Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

   I learned about COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation because my wife, Mary, was one of Mary Burns’ early students. We endured together all the hard times that people with COPD and their spouses go through. When Mary died a few years later, I made up my mind to do what I could to help other patients with COPD.

   The first step was the creation of the Pulmonary Education and Research Foundation (PERF) by Mary Burns and myself. Since then, with the help of Drs. Casaburi, Petty, Tiep and a few others, including some very dedicated patients, our foundation has made some really important contributions in this field of medicine. Mary Burns is kept busy full time putting out the 2^nd Wind Newsletter and acting as an international clearinghouse for information on COPD, especially since our website was established last year.

   Now we have the opportunity to take a really big step forward in the practice of pulmonary medicine and the rehabilitative sciences. For the past several months, Rich Casaburi and I have been working toward establishing the Alvin Grancell / Mary Burns Chair in the Rehabilitative Sciences at Harbor-UCLA Research and Education Institute (REI). Since this will be their first research chair, this has been a challenging and time consuming project for both of us.

   We think the effort has been worthwhile. Establishing a research chair has the potential to greatly accelerate the progress of research. Medical research scientists usually have several masters. They often have to spend much of their days seeing patients, teaching medical trainees and performing administrative duties. These are worthwhile tasks, but leave only a small amount of time to focus on research activities. The purpose of a research chair is to provide sufficient support so that the research scientist occupying the chair is freed from other duties to pursue research full time.

   As a result of our efforts, the Harbor-UCLA REI has just completed establishing guidelines for research chairs. A minimum $200,000 donation is required to take the first step. At this point the chair can be publicly declared, but a research scientist will not be named to occupy it. When a total of $400,000 has been donated, the chair can be fully activated. REI invests the money for the benefit of the chair and, on activation, an annual income of approximately $40,000 can be used by the scientist appointed to occupy the chair to further research in the rehabilitative sciences. As more money is donated the amount available annually will increase. Once activated, only the interest on the funds is used for the purposes of the chair. This arrangement means that, once activated, the chair will continue to operate permanently.

   It is intended that Rich Casaburi will be the first occupant of the chair. His track record in performing important research in pulmonary rehabilitation makes him a good choice. Freed of other duties, he can do much more.

   I have completed arrangements to donate a leased commercial building valued at $200,000 to REI to accomplish the first step. The REI Board of Directors has accepted this offer. When the title is formally transferred to REI, the chair will be publicly declared.

   My entire estate has been willed to PERF with the understanding that a minimum of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) will be dedicated to additional support of this Chair. However, I have no immediate plans to depart from this earth. This is where you can help. While we pride ourselves on never making more than one appeal a year for PERF, this is a special circumstance. The money would be for the Chair, not for PERF. We would like to ask your help in making this Chair operational NOW, rather than waiting for the provisions of my will to be enforced! Will you help us?

   We need another $200,000. Any sum, large or small, would be gratefully appreciated and applied to this Chair dedicated to applied research in pulmonary disease. That means research that will be applicable now, rather than twenty years from now!

   I would like to see us race by the $400,000 plateau (we are already halfway there) to fully activate the chair. I see the goal of accumulating $2,000,000 as realistic. This could be accomplished faster than you might think! For example, if six people donated homes or rental properties worth $300,000, we would be at our goal of funding the chair at $2,000,000. Some of you might have real estate worth much more than $300,000 or stock which has greatly increased in value. Your charitable contribution is based on the present value of the real estate or stock, giving you a substantial income tax deduction which can be structured to give tax deductions over a period of several years. Of course, cash, bonds or art works all work well and REI can provide annuity income to the donor if needed for living expenses. You can also provide future benefits to the chair by writing it into your will. Dr. Daniel Hollander, the President of REI is a very nice man and is easy to talk to. He has been involved in every phase of the chair project. We would be glad to have you talk with him. Please call me at (480) 981-1778 or Mary Burns at (310) 539-2295, and we will put you in touch with him.

   Think of the good work a rehabilitation research scientist like Rich Casaburi could do if he were no longer bogged down by clinical and administrative duties. Join with me! Lets work together to make this project a success. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely yours.

Alvin Grancell
Vice President, PERF