The Pan-Mass Challenge, the nation’s single most successful athletic fundraiser, announced that Mike Ascione, Managing Director of Berkshire Partners, has been elected Chairman of its board of directors. Ascione is no stranger to the PMC – he has been heavily involved in the community for a long time as a 19-year rider and 5-year member of its board of directors, serving as board treasurer since 2019. In his newly elevated role as Chairman, Ascione will provide strategic oversight to the organization and its fiduciary responsibilities.
Ascione brings a depth of expertise in business operations and finance to this role – he has been a member of the Boston-based investment firm, Berkshire Partners, for 23 years. The firm manages approximately $25 billion in assets and has been an active investor in private equity and public markets for over 35 years. During his tenure, Ascione has led a wide range of Berkshire’s private equity investments, served as a member of several of the firm’s governance committees, and actively participated on a number of corporate boards. Under Ascione’s leadership, Berkshire Partners fields a large, committed team of PMC riders and volunteers each year and is the proud sponsor of the ride’s Wellfleet water stop.
“We are thrilled to have Mike’s leadership as the chairman of our board of directors as we embark towards crossing the $1 billion lifetime fundraising threshold this year,” said PMC Founder & Executive Director Billy Starr. "Mike has a deep understanding of, and passion for, the PMC’s mission as a long-time PMC rider and board member. Not only Mike, but the entire Ascione family has been committed to the PMC for many years. On behalf of the entire PMC community, I want to congratulate Mike on this well-deserved recognition within our organization.”
Outside of his leadership role with Berkshire Partners and his commitment to the PMC, Ascione serves on the Board of Trustees of Boston College and of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. Ascione is also a proud Eagle alumnus having graduated from Boston College in 1993, and he received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1998.
The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as the Institute’s largest single contributor, accounting for 62 percent of its Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $972 million for cancer research and treatment, donating $72 million in 2023 alone. In 2024, the PMC is eager to reconvene its dedicated community of riders, volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors to not only raise the fundraising bar for cancer research and treatment once again, but to achieve a significant milestone together: $1 billion contributed to fighting cancer.
In his newly elevated position as board Chairman, Ascione will play an integral role in this year’s fundraising milestone and in the continued growth of the organization. To learn more about the organization, visit www.pmc.org.
