Washington DC - Friends of Cancer Research President, Marlene Malek, and Chairperson , Ellen Sigal, were honored with the Washingtonian Magazine's "2004 Washingtonians of the Year" Award in the January 2005 issue.

"For 33 years, the Washingtonian ("the magazine that Washington lives by") has honored people who make Washington a better place.  And each year, those who make a difference inspire others to make this a better city."  says the Washingtonian.com. 

As described on page 53,  Sigal and Malek were honored for their exemplary contributions to the cancer community.  Author Leslie Milk writes, "The two dynamos have been matchmakers for public-private partnerships to fund research and clinical trials.  They have organized policy forums to bring together researchers, federal health agencies, patients, Congress, and industry leaders to develop a strategy on funding research and fighting cancer." 

The article includes a special tribute from Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Director of the National Cancer Institute:  "The impact they have had on improving the lives of cancer patients is multiplied by their influence in the cancer research and advocacy community.  The quantity and quality of life for cancer patients is increasing, and they are at the center of the formula for success."

Following the announcement in January that Washingtonian Magazine had named Friends Chair, Dr. Ellen Sigal, and Friends President, Marlene Malek, “Washingtonians of the Year,” the Washingtonian honored the two women this past month at an awards luncheon in DC held at the Willard InterContinental Hotel. Sigal and Malek, along with fifteen notable Washingtonians, were recognized at the event for making DC a better place.  Eleanor Merrill, Publisher of The Washingtonian, welcomed the honorees and guests, and Gorden Peterson, Anchor of WJLA-TV presented the awards to honorees including Mayor Anthony Williams and Meet the Press host, Tim Russert.