Dave Cantin, founder of the automotive mergers and acquisitions firm Dave Cantin Group, has started a not-for-profit fund called DCG Giving to support state of the art research and treatment for children with cancer in communities throughout the United States.
The 42-year-old businessman and philanthropist was diagnosed with leukemia in 2011 and was declared cancer-free after five years of chemotherapy.
He said he started the fund because more than 17,000 children ages 19 and younger are diagnosed with cancer each year. He added cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease past infancy among children in the United States.
“The automotive and financial sectors are among the most generous when it comes to charitable donations,” said Cantin.
“While pediatric cancer research and new therapies are increasing, it’s not enough. I want to do something groundbreaking and rally the automotive sector specifically, along with other industries and individuals, to channel their charitable contributions so treatments can advance and save millions of youthful lives, transforming adolescent cancer patients into thriving adults.”
Cantin has assisted in raising more than $100 million to cancer research personally and through a percentage of the proceeds from every DCG acquisition.
Cantin said that with DCG Giving it will further harness and focus the charitable spirit of the automotive industry to fund critical research for pediatric and childhood cancers.
“This is a cause very close to my heart,” said Cantin. “I believe children are the way of the future, and I won’t stop until the day when no child has to hear the words: ‘You have cancer.’”
Cantin was involved with pediatric cancer philanthropic initiatives years before he was diagnosed with leukemia.
He has chosen Dr. Michael Weiner, professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, as Chairman of the Board of DCG Giving.
Weiner said the time is long overdue to increase the amount of funding channeled to childhood and pediatric cancer research.
“He is the best of the best,” Cantin said of Dr. Weiner. “There was no better person in my mind that I wanted to lead DCG Giving than Dr. Weiner. He has dedicated his life to pediatric cancer research and treatment initiatives.”
