FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jo Anne Avelar
joanne.avelar@stbaldricks.org
San Francisco, CA (January 7, 2025) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest charity funder of childhood research grants, proudly announces the appointment of Grant Simon, Senior Vice President and Group Manager of the Venture Capital Group at Comerica Bank, to its Board of Directors. Simon brings a wealth of professional expertise, strategic vision, and personal passion to the Foundation’s mission to Conquer Kids’ Cancer.
In his current role at Comerica Bank, Simon leads the strategic growth of the Venture Capital Group in Northern California. He focuses on investor engagement, corporate development, and driving sales strategies that align with the region’s dynamic innovation ecosystem. His leadership has made a significant impact in advancing Comerica Bank’s presence in one of the world’s most competitive markets.
Simon’s career spans influential roles at Bridge Bank, where he spearheaded the bank’s expansion into Southern California, as well as positions at SVB Financial Group, Apple, and Lam Research. This breadth of experience reflects his versatility and ability to thrive in fast-paced and high-stakes environments.
A graduate of the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, Simon combines academic excellence with professional success to deliver impactful results.
Simon was first introduced to the Foundation at a “Cocktails for a Cure” event, where he was moved by the stories of childhood cancer survivors. With cancer having touched his own family, Simon felt a personal resonance with the Foundation’s mission. Inspired by the event, he expressed his desire to bring similar initiatives to the Bay Area, showcasing his commitment to fostering community involvement in raising funds for lifesaving research.
“Grant’s extensive leadership experience and his heartfelt passion for our cause make him an incredible addition to our Board,” said Kathleen Ruddy, CEO of St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “His vision for engaging the Bay Area community, especially inspiring the younger generation to join our mission, and his dedication to supporting childhood cancer research will help us amplify our impact in meaningful ways.”
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation looks forward to the leadership and innovative perspective Simon will bring to the Board, as it continues its mission to support groundbreaking research and find cures for all childhood cancers.
To learn more about St. Baldrick’s and its Board of Directors, visit StBaldricks.org, and connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation Board of Directors
St. Baldrick’s Foundation’ Board of Directors include: Chair of the Board, John M. McManus, Chief Legal & Administrative Officer & Secretary of MGM Resorts International; Founder & Chairman Emeritus, John Bender, President & CEO of Allied World Reinsurance; Smita Bhatia, MD, MPH, Director of Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship at University of Alabama at Birmingham; Ryan Brown, CAIA, CFP® of Goldman Sachs; Richard A. Bucher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vitaulic; Jill Cetina, Executive Professor of Finance, & Associate Director of the Commercial Banking Program, Mays Business School, Texas A & M University; Julia Glade Bender, MD, Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering; Tim Kenny, Executive Chairman of Aran Insurance Services Group; Franklin W. Nutter, Chairman Emeritus, Franklin W. Nutter, President of Reinsurance Association of America (RAA); Phil Ralston, President of American Nevada Company; Kathleen Ruddy, Chief Executive Officer of St. Baldrick’s Foundation; Shannon Rutledge, President & Chief Executive Officer at Farmer’s Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa; Grant Simon, Sr. VP & Group Manager at Comerica Bank, San Francisco, CA; Jason T. Yustein, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine & Director, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Every 2 minutes, a child somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer. In the U.S., 1 in 5 will not survive. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants, has awarded more than $354 million to researchers to Conquer Kids’ Cancer. When you give to St. Baldrick’s, you don’t just give to one hospital – you support every institution with the expertise to treat kids with cancer across the U.S. St. Baldrick’s ensures that children fighting cancer now — and those diagnosed in the future — will have access to the most cutting-edge treatment, by supporting every stage of research, from new ideas in the lab to the training of the next generation of researchers, to lifesaving clinical trials. St. Baldrick’s has played a role in virtually every advancement in the field over the past 25 years and remains essential in advancing progress and fostering innovation in childhood cancer research. Visit StBaldricks.org and help #ConquerKidsCancer.