FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED IN MEMORY OF FORMER ACTORS’ EQUITY MEMBER GEORGE “BEST” COSTACOS IS ORGANIZING FIRST EVENT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH AND ACTORS EQUITY FOUNDATION
THE GEORGE “BEST” COSTACOS CULTURAL AND CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION is organizing its FIRST ANNUAL WALK OF HOPE to raise funds and awareness for brain cancer research and the Actors’ Equity Foundation.
The walk will be held on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010 (Rain or Shine), at beautiful CARL SCHURZ PARK AT 86TH STREET AND EAST END AVENUE in Manhattan. Registration will begin at 10:00 A.M. AND THE WALK AT 11:00 AM. . PREREGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, GO TO www.georgebestcostacosfoundation.com/events.
A recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, THE GEORGE “BEST” COSTACOS CULTURAL AND CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION was founded in 2009 to honor the memory of the late actor/singer and member of the ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, GEORGE “BEST” COSTACOS who died in November 2008 of a malignant brain tumor. The foundation’s mission is to promote, foster, and advance the professional pursuits of young performers in theater, dance or musical performance, to support research to understand the etiology of cancer and to support improvement in the management of brain tumors.
This year, the foundation will support the innovative research of the laboratory of David C. Lyden, M.D., Ph.D. A leading authority on cell biology and cardiovascular disease, Dr. Lyden holds the Stavros S. Niarchos Chair at New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center and is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Cell and Developmental Biology and an investigator in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Lyden’s pioneering work along with his longtime collaborator Dr. ShahinRafi, has published extensively in journals such as Nature, Cell and Science. Among his notable findings, Dr. Lyden has identified the gene involved in the formation of tumor blood vessels and has also identified two bone-marrow derived cells that help form new blood vessels and lymph vessels enhancing invasion during tumor growth including brain tumors. Recently, he has shown that bone-marrow derived progenitor cells migrate to future sites of metastasis known as the premetastatic niches that form a favorable site for the promotion of metastatic tumor growth. Dr. Lyden, who is also Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has received numerous distinctions and awards for his work. In 2006 he received a presidential science award from President AnAbal Cavaco Silva of Portugal. In 2009 he was chosen to be an investigator for the Champalimaud Foundation, the first center for the study and clinical care of metastatic disease in the world Dr. Lyden is co-senior author of the forthcoming book, “Cancer Metastasis: Biological Basis and Therapeutics,” by Cambridge University Press, the first ever book on metastasic research and clinical care of the metastatic patient. He serves on the advisory board of the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. Dr. Lyden received his Ph.D. from the University of Vermont and his M.D. from Brown University. He completed his residency at Duke Univeristy Medical Center and a fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
The ACTORS EQUITY FOUNDATION was created in 1962 and serves the purpose of voluntarily aiding and assisting the members of the acting profession…and to promote the theater arts.
GEORGE COSTACOS was born in Athens, Greece in 1964 and besides being an exceptional student, became an accomplished athlete, winning awards for gymnastics in the BALKAN GAMES. He also exhibited artistic talent in many areas at a very young age. An award from the FULLBRIGHT FOUNDATION gave him the opportunity to study in New York. His passion for jusic and the teather led him to receive countless kudos for diverse and prolific creativity as an actor and a writer, “carving the steady and significant course of a dynamic artists who has bewitched with his multifaceted talent, knows how to magnetize the lens of current events and puts his signature on every aspect of his work” – to quote a few of the glowing reviews in the abundant international press. With his passionate sense of drama and “boundless energy.”. George Costacos was dubbed by theatrical leaders and press alike as “an unencumbered spirit with a mission.” “An artistic chameleon,” “A particularly distinguished actor,” “A genuine child of the theater” with “a noteworthy career of quality work and talent that is necessary, if not indispensable.” Esquire Magazine called George Costacos “The most important Greek of Broadway.” Additional highlights of George Costacos’ career include an appearance at the Metropolitan Room on July 21st 2008. Performances with Steve Ross in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium, the 45th Street Theater, the National Arts Club, and Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium in the Library for the Performing Arts (the last two also with Julie Wilson). George’s critically acclaimed musical GREEK GIFTS premiered and was recorded with musical director by Seth Weinstein. It has been performed in benefit concert sponsored by the New York Foundation and a version with Choir at DiCapa Theatre under musical direction by Broadway Maestro and Music Director of the Queens Symphony Orchestra Constantine Kitsopoulos – who previously directed George in Axion Esti at Merkin Concert Hall, other appearances include City Center, Alexander Hamilton Auditorium, Hudson River Museum, Barnes and Noble, Sardi’s Don’t Tell Mama, Eighty Eight’s the Greek Cultural Center (sponsored by the New York State Council for the Arts) and landmark theatres all along the East Coast.”
George Costacos died at the age of 44 in Hanover, Germany of complications from a malignant brain tumor. The handsome singer/actor was laid to rest on November 23rd, 2008 on his beloved island of Aegina, near Athens, Greece.”
CONTACT: DORA ZIONGAS
(917) 539-982
P.O. BOX 3380
STEINWAY STATION
43-04 BROADWAY
L.I.C., NY 11103-9997
1-212-251-2181
www.georgebestcostacosfoundation.com
