MMRF Give till it hurts

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) announced today that it has received the "Best in America" Seal of Excellence from Independent Charities of America (ICA), a nonprofit association that represents America's best charities.

The ICA Seal of Excellence is awarded to charities that upon rigorous independent review have been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness and cost effectiveness. Of the one million charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000 meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded the Seal of Excellence.

With this newest honor, the MMRF is now the only nonprofit organization that also is 4-star rated from Charity Navigator, A+ rated by the American Institute of Philanthropy, meets the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance for Charitable Accountability, and is recognized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for meeting the NCI's stringent research review guidelines for funding research grants.

"The addition of the "Best in America" Seal of Excellence from ICA truly validates the MMRF's sound stewardship of donor funds and separates us from other nonprofit organizations," said Scott Santarella, Executive Director and Chief Administration Officer of the MMRF. "The MMRF is a one-in-a-million organization and we are proud to be recognized as one of this country's very best."

About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) was established in 1998 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti, a newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patient, with the unique mission of accelerating the search for a cure for multiple myeloma. As the world's number one funder of myeloma research, the MMRF has raised more than $55 million to fund more than 130 research grants at more than 70 research institutions around the globe. Currently, the MMRF is funding more than 30 new compounds and approaches -- in pre-clinical testing and Phase I, II and III clinical trials -- that show promise in treating patients at all stages of the disease. For more information about the MMRF, please visit http://www.multiplemyeloma.org.