Fabrizio Family Puts Philanthropic Muscle Behind Ovarian Cancer Fight
Pittsburgh native Bill Fabrizio is a strategist and philanthropist. With an extensive work history at top corporations, he plans to focus his sharpened skills on the most worthy project of his career: supporting research to find a cure for ovarian cancer.
Bill’s wife of 36 years, Julene, succumbed to the devastating disease on October 5, 2008, at the age of 59. Her cancer had been discovered many years earlier during a routine hysterectomy, and she’d dedicated herself to ovarian cancer advocacy. Inspired by her efforts and by a tour of the Gynecologic Oncology Research Group at Magee-Womens Research Institute, the Fabrizio family decided to throw its philanthropic weight behind ovarian cancer research.
Bill and his children, Gina and Tim, have raised $30,000 toward the Julene Fabrizio Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at Magee-Womens Foundation. Julene’s longtime friend, Amy Phillips, sparked the fund’s establishment and has made numerous matching gifts through her employer, PNC.
Starting in the fall, Bill will serve on Magee’s Gynecologic Oncology Strategic Council. “I’m not a scientist by nature, so access to various people on the Council may give me a better idea of how to best utilize the money in Julene’s fund,” he says.
MWRI’s research aligns with the Fabrizio family’s hope for an early detection tool for ovarian cancer. Though early detection did not save the day in Julene’s case, it’s key to lowering the rate of ovarian cancer deaths. The Fabrizios strive each day to carry out her mission of increasing ovarian cancer awareness.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING: Julene Fabrizio Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
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