The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is pleased to announce that 19-year PMC rider and long-time board member, Mike Dee, President of Sports at Audacy, Inc., has been elected the new chairman of the organization’s board of directors. Dee is replacing Robert Smith, whose term as chairman was completed in April. Smith will remain on the PMC board of directors after helping guide the organization to new fundraising heights amidst the COVID-19 pandemic throughout his tenure as board chairman.
As the PMC’s new chairman of the board, Dee is looking forward to finding ways to grow the next generation of PMC participants and increase the organization’s fundraising potential, saying, “I am humbled to be ‘given the gavel’ and begin my term as chairman for the PMC board of directors. The last few years have been full of uncertainty, but the PMC has persevered and remained committed to its mission to provide life-saving funding for cancer research and treatment, raising an astounding $114 million through the pandemic. I am constantly inspired by the unwavering dedication and camaraderie felt throughout the PMC community and, as we look to the future, it’s imperative we foster and empower our next generation of PMC riders, volunteers, fundraisers and donors to ensure its continued success. I am excited to help lead that charge in support of and collaboration with Billy Starr, Jarrett Collins and our extraordinary PMC staff.”
PMC Founder and Executive Director Billy Starr is also looking forward to the future, saying “Robert was a strong chairman who helped successfully guide our organization to new heights during unprecedented times, and we are grateful that he will continue to play an integral role in our organization moving forward. As the PMC and its community continues to grow and we head towards a $1 billion cumulative fundraising milestone in the next few years, I am eager to see the fresh thinking and impact Mike Dee will generate as our new chairman to help us achieve that goal. Mike’s passion for the PMC and his dedication as a long-time board member and rider is inspiring – on behalf of the entire PMC family, I want to congratulate Mike on this well-deserved recognition and elevated role within our organization.”
In addition to electing Dee as chairman, the PMC added two new members to its advisory board – Mark Burak, Attorney, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., and Brenda Williams, Director of Operations at MAPFRE, a PMC sponsor and rider. The PMC advisory board is a non-voting group that serves in an advisory capacity to the PMC board of directors to help spearhead continued growth and innovation for the organization.
To see the full list of the PMC’s board of directors and advisory board members, and to learn more about the organization, visit pmc.org/our-team.
About the Pan-Mass Challenge
The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is a bike-a-thon that today raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the world. The PMC was founded in 1980 by Billy Starr, who remains the event’s executive director, an annual cyclist and a fundraiser. The PMC has since raised $831 million for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. The event donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause, generating 55 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue as Dana-Farber’s single largest contributor. The PMC has successfully melded support from committed cyclists, volunteers, corporate sponsors and individual contributors, all of which are essential to the PMC's goal and model: to attain maximum fundraising efficiency while increasing its annual gift. The PMC’s hope and aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber's doctors and researchers with the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers. For more information on the Pan-Mass Challenge, visit www.pmc.org.
