April 08 2022

NEW YORK, NY, April 8, 2022 – Be The Match Foundation® awarded Publicis Groupe the Be The Match Corporate Leadership Award at its New York Gala on April 7, 2022. Publicis Groupe, a multinational advertising agency, has made a significant impact on the Be The Match mission through recruitment, financial support and advocacy. Since 2015, employees have rallied to host recruitment drives across the country and have added 599 potential lifesavers to the Be The Match Registry. In addition, the organization has contributed more than $134,000 to the Be The Match Foundation to support patients they serve.

“This award exemplifies the importance of multifaceted partnerships – through their talent, leadership, volunteerism, philanthropy, and commitment to our mission – Publicis Groupe has gone above and beyond to support patients in need, and the work we do.”  said Joy King, Chief Advancement Officer of Be The Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program and Executive Director of the Be The Match Foundation. “Hundreds of employees have enthusiastically stepped up to join the Be The Match Registry and support patients battling blood cancers and other diseases like sickle cell for which a blood stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor may be their best bet or only hope for a cure. Publicis has also secured multiple sponsorships and individual gifts from employees.”

“In 2015, when my son was diagnosed with leukemia the Publicis team rallied around my family to show their support,” said Brian Berg, Chief Talent Officer at Publicis Media. “I wanted our employees to use their enthusiasm to get behind Be The Match in an effort to help so many others.  Today my son is a survivor and our employees are still committed to the Be The Match mission.” 

In 2021, Publicis was selected as the lead digital marketing agency to help drive the growth of the Be The Match Registry following a competitive bidding process. Publicis has developed world-class digital campaigns to help engage members of the always-online Generation Z. Be The Match hopes to increase the number of donors ages 18-35 on the registry because transplant physicians are more likely to request a donor from this age group 75% of the time. Studies have shown that younger donors improve outcomes for patients in need of a blood stem cell transplant.

“Publicis is as committed to Be The Match, as Be The Match is to its mission,” said David McConnaughey, Chief Executive Officer, PlowShare, A Division of Publicis Groupe.

Publicis executives accepted the award at the Be The Match Foundation’s New York Gala, an event which raised over $320,000 to support patient assistance grants, research to improve transplant outcomes and efforts to diversify the Be The Match Registry.  Last year, Be The Match Foundation provided $6.1 million in grants to 2,602 patients and their families in need of financial assistance. 

About Be The Match®:

Be The Match® is a global leader working every day to save lives through cellular therapy. For people with life-threatening blood cancers—like leukemia and lymphoma—or other blood disorders like sickle cell, a cure exists. Be The Match connects patients with a matching donor for a life-saving blood stem cell transplant. The Be The Match Registry® is the most diverse registry in the world and includes both adult donors willing to donate to a stranger in need and stored cord blood units. In addition, Be The Match provides patients and their families one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant. Be The Match is also a global leader in research through the CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®)—a collaboration with Medical College of Wisconsin, investing in and managing research studies that improve patient outcomes and advance the future of care.

Pictured from Left to Right:  Sarah Kramer – Spark Foundrey CEO, Joy King – Be The Match Chief Advancement Officer, Chris Boothe – Publicis Media Chief Operating Officer, Brian Berg – Publicis Media Chief Talent Officer, Catherine Mayone – Plowshare Chief Strategy & Client Services Officer, 
Talia Raviv -Publicis Media Exchange Global CEO, David McConnaughey – PlowShare CEO, Helen Lin, Publicis Group Global Chief Digital Officer, Amy Ronneberg – Be The Match CEO.