Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips LLP issued the following announcement on Aug. 30.
Taylor Porter Partner Brett Furr has been appointed to the honorary position of Director Emeritus of the Board of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Furr served on the board from 2007-2019, serving as board chair from 2015-2017.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announced that Art E. Favre was elected to serve as board chair. Favre has served on the board since 2010. Other elected officers include Thomas J. Adamek, vice chair; Cordell H. Haymon, secretary-treasurer; and Bill O’Quin, immediate past chair. Board members newly elected include Vanessa O. Graham and Mawuena “Mawe” Takyi. Other board members include: John C. Boyce; Ronnie Daigle; Mark K. Dearman; Kevin Gardner; Catherine “Cathy” S. Giering; Gerald T. Goss; Alice D. Greer; J. Gerard Jolly; Matthew L. Mullins; Anthony O’Connor; Cynthia B. Peterson, PhD; H.N. “Hank” Saurage IV; John F. Smith; Todd D. Stevens; Collis B. Temple, III; and Charles G. Wood, MD.
In addition to Furr, G. Lee Griffin was recognized for his significant contributions to Mary Bird Perkins by being appointed to Director Emeritus. Griffin served on the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation board and was elected chair in 2007.
“Volunteer leadership is vital to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. The organization greatly benefits from the perspectives and areas of expertise all board members contribute to the mission,” said Todd Stevens, president and CEO of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “With their leadership and support, we are advancing the fight against cancer across the Gulf South.”
During Furr's tenure as chair, his leadership and contributions of time and talent helped the organization experience some of its most successful years to date. “The organization successfully brought the groundbreaking Gamma Knife Icon technology to the Gulf South; launched a new corporate screening program funded through philanthropy; and formed a new partnership between Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center and Woman’s Hospital for breast and GYN cancer. Throughout Brett’s tenure as board chair, he was fully dedicated to advancing Mary Bird’s mission,” Stevens said.
Stevens added: “Brett was instrumental in many of Mary Bird’s successes. He wanted to be involved and aware of everything to ensure he could provide the strongest possible leadership and help maintain the Cancer Center’s position as Louisiana’s premier cancer care organization. And his enthusiasm was infectious, inspiring his fellow board members as well as the Mary Bird team.”
Seeing more than 3,500 patients per year, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 45 years. With centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma and Gonzales, its service area encompasses 18 parishes across southeast Louisiana. In 2015, Mary Bird underwent a $25 million renovation and expansion project that included upgrades for more and enhanced patient services, including new expanded patient drop-off and pick-up areas, high-speed elevators, radiation equipment, refurbished radiation oncology and infusions areas, and an imaging center. Following those renovations, other key projects around the Center included renovated conference room space and clinical research office, relocating the palliative and supportive care clinic, and the creation of a new specialty pharmacy. The Center also houses two medical oncology practices.
At Taylor Porter, Furr engages primarily in a real estate, commercial litigation and banking practice. He is a frequent lecturer on bankruptcy, bank liability, and related matters, and he has been selected for inclusion in Chambers USA (Bankruptcy/Restructuring), Louisiana Super Lawyers (Banking) and Best Lawyers (Real Estate).
Taylor Porter’s support of Mary Bird Perkins - Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center dates back more than 25 years, as the Firm has annually participated in “Geaux Pink” fundraising activities; in the Susan G. Komen Walk; and in the Merrill Lynch Open. In 2017, Taylor Porter received a “Community Partner” Award from Mary Bird for its “Geaux Pink” fundraising efforts. In 2016, Taylor Porter committed to a multi-year pledge to further support the "Take the Fight Forward" campaign, a five-year strategic initiative centered around a comprehensive approach to cancer care and strengthening the Center's position as a destination cancer center in the Gulf South.
Original source can be found here.