With a history of making a difference in children's lives before joining CureSearch, Lehr was with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation where he led a national campaign to raise $175 million in drug discovery and development. He also worked in fundraising positions at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Children's Seashore House, the nation's first pediatric rehabilitation hospital.
Sri Lanka RPCV John Lehr has been named CEO and president of Bethesda-based CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation
John Lehr Named CEO and President of CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation
Brings 20 Years of Successful Nonprofit Healthcare
and Fundraising Experience
Bethesda, MD – Bringing years of children's healthcare experience and passion to CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation, John Lehr has been named Chief Executive Officer and President of the organization.
"Eradicating childhood cancer is a mission I feel deep in my heart," said Lehr. "All you need to do is to see a picture of a child with cancer with their family, and you just want to do everything in your power to make things better for them."
With a history of making a difference in children's lives before joining CureSearch, Lehr was with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation where he led a national campaign to raise $175 million in drug discovery and development. He also worked in fundraising positions at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Children's Seashore House, the nation's first pediatric rehabilitation hospital.
"I envision the day when a parent hears, ‘Your child has cancer,' and the parents just know to turn to CureSearch because it's the pre-eminent source of accurate, timely information on childhood cancer," Lehr continued. "With an overall 80 percent cure rate for kids with cancer, it's well within our reach to conquer childhood cancer."
Until now, advances in childhood cancer have been dramatic. While there have been remarkable breakthroughs in treatments and improvement in survival rates, one out of five children continues to die and cancer remains the #1 cause of death by disease in children. For the 40,000 children living with cancer and the 12,500 diagnosed each year, years of flat funding for childhood cancer research put children at tremendous risk.
"The Children's Oncology Group is pleased to have someone of John's caliber fill this important leadership position at CureSearch. Given John's record of success, his integrity and proven experience, we have great expectations that the gap in financial support of the research efforts of the COG, resulting from flat or decreased federal funding, will be energetically and effectively addressed through private philanthropy. The cost of research is real. Only research is responsible for the improvements in outcome for children with cancer," said Gregory H. Reaman, MD, Chairman, Children's Oncology Group.
Before starting his professional career, Lehr served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sri Lanka in the early 1990s. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from Villanova University.
