Philanthropic Business Leader Ken Banks has recently been appointed to the Maryland Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Board of Directors

May 8, 2014
Baltimore, Maryland- Philanthropic Business Leader Ken Banks has recently been appointed to the Maryland Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Board of Directors. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis or (CF) is a life-threatening, inherited chronic disease that obstructs the lungs and digestive

system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). Though in terms of staffing, the Maryland Chapter is one of the smallest chapters of CF Foundation, it consistently leads the nation within the CF Foundation, through active volunteer participation and substantial fund-raising successes. The Board of Directors is comprised of some of the Mid-Atlantic region’s most dynamic and influential people, who have a proven track record in leadership and fund-raising capabilities. Members of the Board of Directors not only provide leadership for implementation of the chapter’s strategic plan and an annual personal financial commitment to the foundation, but they also actively participate in fundraising events. They are tasked with providing invaluable resources, which are critical for CF Foundation to continue with its vital mission of curing and controlling CF through groundbreaking research and medical advancements.

Ken Banks is a visionary real estate developer, philanthropist, and a leader in mega-scale construction and development in the state of Maryland. As the founder and president of Banks Contracting and Banks Real Estate Development, Ken was a trendsetting developer and construction contractor on several Baltimore area mega- projects, including the University of Maryland at Baltimore Biotech Park, New Clinical Building at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel. Banks actively serves on several boards, some of which include the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Health Advisory Board; University of Maryland School of Medicine, Board of Visitors; and the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma, Board of Visitors. As a philanthropist and business leader, Ken's passion for health issues and improving the quality of life of others has compelled him to join the battle against CF. He plans to advocate for the Foundation, within his extensive network of business and medical professionals. His ability to create strategic partnerships with businesses and other philanthropic organizations will be extremely beneficial to the Foundation. Ken comments, "I'm humbled to be chosen as a member of this board of incredible business leaders and to be part of a foundation that is making groundbreaking strides in medical research to cure CF. With all of the great people in this organization, I am confident that we will find a cure for this disease very soon."

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight CF, improve the quality of life for those with CF, and ultimately to find a cure for all CF patients. Currently, the Foundations efforts have produced drug therapies that have increased the life expectancy for CF patients from 5 years of age to over 40 years of age. Much of the Foundation’s effectiveness in fighting CF can be attributed to its efficient use of charitable funding. Over 90% of every dollar raised supports CF research, patient/family care, and education programs. The Foundation's drug development success has been recognized by Harvard Business School and by publications such as Forbes, Discover magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. With the support of its Board of Directors, the Maryland Chapter of the CF Foundation alone generates an approximately net $3.5 million annually. For more information about the Maryland Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, please visit: http://www.cff.org/chapters/maryland/.