Simmons Law Firm Donates $250,000 to Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

The Foundation's Largest Cumulative Donor Focuses on Helping Families Affected by Mesothelioma

ALTON, Ill., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Simmons firm today announced a donation of $250,000 to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation to become a "2011 Legal Partner for a Cure" diamond sponsor. The foundation is the national non-profit dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma as a life-ending disease by funding research, providing education and support for patients, and leading advocacy efforts for a national commitment to end the mesothelioma tragedy. In addition, the Simmons firm will help support the foundation's Annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma to be held June 23-25, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

"The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation works countless hours to provide hope and awareness for the mesothelioma community," said Simmons firm Managing Partner Mike Angelides. "Our firm is honored to once again make this contribution in support of the work that means so much to our own clients and to all mesothelioma patients and their families affected by the disease."

To date, the foundation has funded over $7.1 million in peer-reviewed mesothelioma research. The Simmons firm is the foundation's top cumulative donor with more than $2 million contributed to its programs.

"Funding peer-reviewed research and offering authoritative medical expertise to all mesothelioma patients and their families are the core purposes of the foundation," said Meso Foundation Executive Director Kathleen Wiedemer. "Through the Simmons law firm's leadership level of support in our 2011 Legal Partners Program, the foundation will be well-positioned to continue our efforts to help the mesothelioma community, promote awareness of this devastating disease and continue supporting medical researchers as they work toward a cure."

About the Simmons firm:

The Simmons firm, headquartered in Alton, Ill., is one of the country's leading asbestos and mesothelioma litigation firms. With offices in Illinois, Missouri and California, the firm has represented over 2,000 patients and families affected by mesothelioma in every state. The Simmons firm has pledged over $15 million to cancer research and proudly supports mesothelioma medical researchers throughout the country in order to find a cure. For more information about the Simmons firm, visit http://www.simmonsfirm.com.