Who We Are
We are a team of crusaders on a mission to increase awareness of melanoma prevention, provide information and services for skin cancer prevention, and support melanoma patients by connecting them to the latest treatments.
Jack & Maggie Biggane
After graduating college and serving two years in the U.S. Army, Jack joined IBM where he held several positions in Sales and Sales Management. After 16 years at IBM, he teamed up with the Atalla corporation, a San Jose-based encryption company, and in 1998 Jack left Atalla for Verisign, a Silicon Valley startup specializing in digital authentication services and products, where he retired as a Vice President.
After a brief career with IBM, Maggie switched fields, earning her Master’s degree at NYU and becoming a teacher of the deaf and hearing impaired. Maggie currently plays an active role with the NY State Cancer Coalition.
The Biggane Family
The Biggane Family founded The Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation in 2000. Over the past twenty-one years Mollie’s Fund has been honored by many public and private institutions. Jack and Maggie are also co-founders of MAC (Melanoma Action Coalition), made up of grassroots skin cancer organizations across the USA and Canada.
Mollie’s Fund Board Members
Cara Biggane
In addition to working as a literacy coach, Cara Biggane handles all things social media and public relations for Mollie’s Fund. She played a crucial role in the creation and launch of our Mr. Sun PSA, which debuted in all 6,500 NYC yellow cabs. Cara is also the recipient of Cosmopolitan’s Annual Practice Safe Sun Awards and has represented Mollie’s Fund on the TODAY Show, the Huckabee show, CURE Connections Video Series for National Skin Cancer, and the Dr. Katz Radio show.
Julie Biggane
Julie teaches middle school in New York City, focusing on special education and mathematics. She supports education initiatives for Mollie’s Fund, ensuring appropriate programming for younger audiences.
John G Biggane
John is a real estate salesperson with the Novus Realty group. He previously worked for 20 successful years in the finance industry, at Bank of New York Mellon, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan, in risk and regulatory related functions. He has served on the Mollie’s Fund board since its inception, focusing his time and energy towards annual events and awareness activities. John earned a BA at University of Dayton, where he met his wife, Mary.
Mary Mooney Biggane
Mary brings more than a decade of health care marketing and communications experience to Mollie’s Fund. She uses her expertise to support foundation brand initiatives, ensuring Mollie’s Fund is recognized as a leading skin cancer foundation.
Deborah C. Hussey
Deborah, a graduate of Marymount College, knew Mollie Biggane for Mollie’s entire, accomplished young life, and feels honored to have been part of the Foundation team from its inception. Deborah has dedicated the past 30 years to numerous Non-Profit Board of Director positions and Chairmanships, including: Save the Children, Mercy Hospital League, Old Westbury Gardens, and Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc. She has 5 adult children and lives in Garden City, NY.
Al Vanasco
Al Vanasco, a founding board member, brings a unique financial expertise to Mollie’s Fund. A CPA and owner of a thriving tax practice, Al specializes in large national and international corporations, high net-worth individuals, partnerships, foundations, foreign family foundations, states and trusts, and is often called to testify in court as an expert financial witness.
Al serves on numerous boards, is President of the GCAA serving over 2500 athletes, and initiated an athletic program for special needs children. He has received numerous honors for his support, including Garden City Citizen of the year and Historical Society Resident Hero, and is honored to serve on The Mollie’s Fund Board.
Dave Westerman
Throughout his nearly 40-year legal career, Dave has received numerous professional acknowledgements and is regularly named a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters. Dave is co-founder of Westermann Sheehy Keenan Samaan & Aydelott, LLP (WSKSA) in East Meadow, New York and has been a long-time supporter of local charities, including the Interfaith Nutritional Network, the Cathedral of Garden City and Youth Lacrosse, among other causes, and, of course, Mollie’s Fund. His legal expertise and professional guidance in all areas has helped take Mollie’s Fund to the next level.
George Pappas
A graduate of NYU School of Commerce, George founded MCS Advertising Ltd. For more than 40 years, MCS has helped some of America’s most sophisticated blue chip companies solve their marketing needs. George has served on the Boards of Winthrop-University Hospital and Concern Worldwide, and has been an integral part of Mollie’s Fund, offering his company’s creative services pro bono. MCS produced “The Dark Side of the Sun” and has created print ads, videos, and brochures alerting millions to the dangers of melanoma. He resides in Garden City with his wife, Marina. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.
George Pappas
A graduate of NYU School of Commerce, George founded MCS Advertising Ltd. For more than 40 years, MCS has helped some of America’s most sophisticated blue chip companies solve their marketing needs. George has served on the Boards of Winthrop-University Hospital and Concern Worldwide, and has been an integral part of Mollie’s Fund, offering his company’s creative services pro bono. MCS produced “The Dark Side of the Sun” and has created print ads, videos, and brochures alerting millions to the dangers of melanoma. He resides in Garden City with his wife, Marina. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.
Philip Glennon
Phil established the Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation as a 501C3 in November 2000. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court and U.S. Tax Court and the IRS and is a member of the Professional Advisors Council for the Fairfield County Community Foundation. Phil is married with two sons and lives in Fairfield, CT.
Medical Advisory Board Members
Jedd D. Wolchok, PHD, MD, FASCO
Dr. Wolchok is an internationally renowned scientist/physician recognized for his leadership in groundbreaking clinical therapies for melanoma. He is Chief of the Immuno-Oncology Service and holds The Lloyd J. Old Chair in Clinical Investigation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He has received numerous honors for his work including: the Alfred Taubman Prize for Excellence in Translational Medical Research, the American Association for Cancer Research Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award, the Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Chair for Clinical Investigation, the Melanoma International Foundation’s Doctor of the Year Award, the Melanoma Research Foundation – Humanitarian Award, the Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator Award. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) recognized Dr. Wolchok with their 2020 AACR Joseph Burchenal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research.
Anna Pavlick, DO, MBA
Dr. Pavlick is Professor in the Department of Medicine and Professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU. She has been a leader in clinical trials that have improved survival statistics for patients with advanced disease. Dr. Pavlick serves as Co-Director of the NYU Melanoma Program. Dr. Pavlick is well known in the melanoma community for her presentations and seminars on updated therapies. Dr. Pavlick is also the Director of High Reliability Organization Initiatives at NYU.
Victoria Siegel, RN, EdD
Victoria is a Professor of Nursing at Molloy College. She specializes in skin cancer prevention research and her articles have been published nationally and internationally. She worked with the Molloy Nursing Students to develop and pass a resolution before the National Student Nursing Association to ensure that skin cancer is taught in all nursing curricula throughout the country. Victoria has established skin cancer prevention guidelines that have been added to the EMR (electronic medical records) of Long Island hospitals with the expectation of being adapted to other hospital systems throughout the country. Victoria volunteers as a speaker for Mollie’s Fund and is also a member of the NY State Cancer Consortium and the Skin Cancer Action Team.
Dr. Kavita Mariwalla
Dr. Kavita Mariwalla is a board certified dermatologist and nationally recognized key opinion leader in dermatology and dermatologic surgery. Her expertise is in the area of skin cancer treatment. Prior to starting her own private practice, Dr. Mariwalla was the Director of Cutaneous Oncology at St. Luke’s – Roosevelt and Beth Israel Medical Centers in New York. She has written two editions of the widely used book, Primer in Dermatologic Surgery, which is highly regarded by residents and seasoned dermatologic surgeons.
In Loving Memory of Mollie
As a sophomore in college, Mollie discovered a mole on her thigh. In the following six months, she underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation was created in her memory after her tragic death at the age of twenty. Since 2001, Mollie’s Fund has worked tirelessly to help prevent such a tragedy from impacting other families.
