Who We Are

Leading the music community’s fight to end cancer.

Through advancements in early detection, screenings and treatments, our grants are saving lives. From pioneering medications, to advanced technologies for tumor tracking, to cutting-edge analysis of genetic and microbiome data, we have championed the trailblazing research of brilliant and hard-working scientists and doctors for close to fifty years.

“There is a cure somewhere. We just haven't found it yet, but we will.”

— Tony Martell, Founder

Our Mission

To cure cancer by bringing the music community together to fund high-risk, high-reward research that could lead to trailblazing advancements in early detection, screening, and treatments.

Our Principles

Honorable

We act honorably and honor the bond between a father’s promise to his son, between a doctor and a patient, a patient and their family, and a community and a cure.

Courageous

We fund research that is unconventional and perhaps goes unnoticed. Research that has a seed of possibility. We’re willing to fail because we know that when we succeed, the results are life-changing.

Progressive

We are not stuck in our ways but able to pivot, act and react in ways befitting the times.

Innovative

We make sure we are out in front of the research we help fund. Research that is trailblazing with regards to early detection, screenings and treatments.

Inclusive

We are better together. New ideas, thoughts, and perspectives are embraced and encouraged. We encourage new energy in our efforts and make sure all voices are heard.

Our Story

In a hospital room in 1974, music industry executive Tony Martell promised his dying son T.J. that he would raise $1 million for research so that other kids with cancer could live longer lives.

T.J. Martell had leukemia, a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. At that time, few treatments could help T.J. So he bravely decided that if he couldn't be cured, he wanted his father to make a promise to help find a cure so that others could be saved.

Tony Martell made good on his promise, and thanks to the support of the music industry, he started the T.J. Martell Foundation.

Since then, the T.J. Martell Foundation has funded leading NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States, focusing on early-stage research conducted with the brightest minds in clinical and translational cancer science. The bench-to-bedside process of funding promising research that will lead to clinical trials and drug discoveries has been the Foundation's interest since the organization's launch in 1975.

LEadership

The T.J. Martell Foundation is governed by our Board of Trustees comprised of national leaders from the music and entertainment industry dedicated to curing cancer. Each of our key areas of operations—East Coast, West Coast, and Southern Region—also has a prestigious Board of Governors. The latter serves as our lead ambassadors helping to fulfill our critical mission in each region.

Board of Trustees

The T.J. Martell Foundation is governed by our Board of Trustees comprised of national leaders from the music and entertainment industry dedicated to curing cancer.

Executive Committee

As of May 2024

John Esposito, Chairman
Scott Borchetta, Big Machine Label Group
Tom Corson, Warner Records
Steve Gawley, Republic Corps, Vice Chairman - Elect
Daniel Glass, Glassnote Entertainment Group
Jeffrey Harleston, Universal Music Group, Executive Chairman
Michael Huppe, Sound Exchange
Rich Isaacson, R I Entertainment
Michael Kushner, Warner Music Group
Dennis Lord, Attorney
Marc Reiter, Metallica
Darren Stupak, Sony Music Entertainment
Julie Swidler, Sony Music Entertainment
Andy Tavel, Raines Feldman Littrell LLP
Ron Wilcox, MD Consulting, Treasurer
Lynn-Anne Huck, the T.J. Martell Foundation, CEO

Trustees

John Amato, Modern Luxury
Brian Becker, Base Entertainment
Steve Blatter, Sirius XM
Jennifer Breithaupt, Interpublic Group
Charlie Brusco, Red Light Management
Stephen Bryan, YouTube
Barbara Cane, BMI
Michael Cohl, S2BN Entertainment
Paul Donahue, Black Squirrel Partners
Bruce Eskowitz, Red Light Management
Alison Finley
Bruce Gearhart, Honkaku Spirits
Steve Greenberg, S-Curve Records
Clint Higham, Morris Higham Management
Charlie Jones, Four Leaf Productions
Joel A. Katz
Rick Krim, Black Squirrel Partners
Paul LiCalsi, Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLC
Jay Liepis, Apple Music
Avery Lipman, Republic Corps
Carianne Marshall, Warner Chappell Music
Debbie Martell
Beth Matthews, ASCAP
Marissa Morris, iHeartMedia
Ruby Marchand, The Recording Academy
Natalia Nastaskin, Primary Wave
Jason Owen, Sandbox Entertainment
Marcus Peterzell, Passion Point Collective
Robin Quivers, The Howard Stern Show
David Satler
Joseph Schmidt, Universal Music Group
Andre Stapleton, Amazon Music
Terry Stewart, El Dorado Festivals & Events
Julie Talbott, Premiere Networks
Greg Thompson, Big Loud / Live Nation
Afo Verde, Sony Music Entertainment
Troy Vollhoffer, Premier Global Productions
Marsha Vlasic, Independent Artist Group
Russell Wallach, Live Nation
Jeff Zuchowski, The ElementGroup
Chaka Zulu, Disturbin Tha Peace

Transparency and Accountability / Financials

Our Mission

To cure cancer by bringing the music community together to fund high-risk, high-reward research that could lead to trailblazing advancements in early detection, screening, and treatments.

T.J. Martell Foundation Policies

As a charitable foundation, our commitment to transparency is key to protecting the trust of our donors and members of the wider public. To that end, the T.J. Martell Foundation has carefully crafted these policies to provide clarity and transparency into how we go about fulfilling our mission to fund innovative medical research by raising funds for cancer research.

Governance Policies

Financial Information

The T.J. Martell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization formed in 1975. We have raised more than $280 million in support of medical research grants at leading institutions across the United States. We're grateful for the support that funds some of the brightest minds and most innovative ideas.

TAX ID: 51-0180178

IRS FORM 990

Audit Reports

We’re excited to share that our organization has earned a 2024 Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid!