Giving Back

We continue to support research to find a cure for mesothelioma and advance asbestos awareness around the globe.

Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney and Meisenkothen (ELSM) remains firmly committed to supporting prominent asbestos and mesothelioma organizations. The vast majority of ELSM clients are mesothelioma victims and/or their family members.

Through our work with these clients, we’ve seen the devastating impact of asbestos disease firsthand. This perspective has only strengthened our resolve to provide financial support for organizations that advocate for patients, educate the public, and fund critical research. Two organizations we proudly sponsor are the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

Our Work With the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (formerly known as MARF) is a nonprofit collaboration of patients, physicians, researchers and advocates dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer that affects over 3,000 people in the United States each year.

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s primary focus is to:

• Provide funding for mesothelioma research to improve treatment options
• Help mesothelioma patients gain access to top mesothelioma experts and doctors
• Advocate for government funding for research

The Foundation believes a cure for mesothelioma is possible. Given the immense suffering the disease causes, the compassion and energy of the mesothelioma community, and the broader value of mesothelioma research to cancer research as a whole, the resources needed to achieve a cure already exist and should be mobilized. The Foundation is committed to using these resources responsibly and as effectively as possible.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is funded entirely through the commitment and generosity of its supporters. These supporters include patients, their families and loved ones, Legal Partners for a Cure, pharmaceutical and other corporate supporters and foundations.

ELSM Pledges its Continued Support to the Foundation

ELSM Law is a dedicated supporter of the mission and vision of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. Through its continued financial support for the Foundation, ELSM demonstrates its continued commitment to helping find a cure for mesothelioma. Together, ELSM stands with the entire mesothelioma community in this effort.

Mesothelioma patients may not yet benefit from a cure, but those represented by ELSM Law can find reassurance in knowing their law firm actively supports the search for one. ELSM is honored to be a “Partner in a Cure for Mesothelioma” with the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

What is Happening at the Foundation now?

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is actively working to advance research and support the mesothelioma community through a range of initiatives. Learn more at www.curemeso.org.

• If you were just diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has a Nurse Practitioner on staff that can answer your questions and help you get expert advice with diagnosis and treatment options.
• The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation helps fund the highest quality and most promising mesothelioma research projects from around the world through rigorous peer-review. The Foundation has awarded over $10.5 million dollars to research programs around the globe since the inception of the program in 2000.
• The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation welcomes and encourages volunteers to take part, actively and directly, in the battle against mesothelioma.
• The foundation's website offers a blog that facilitates support and information sharing within the mesothelioma community. Recent changes have made the information even more accessible to users. Financial assistance is available for those currently diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. Patients can inquire with the foundation about obtaining assistance to cover travel expenses to consult with a mesothelioma doctor, housing costs and prescription costs.

Our Work with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is an independent nonprofit organization. It was co-founded in 2004 by Linda Reinstein and Doug Larkin after they lost family members to mesothelioma. The organization has helped asbestos victims and their families through education, advocacy, and community engagement for more than two decades.

ADAO’s vision is “an asbestos-free world where no one suffers from asbestos-related diseases.”

Guided by this vision, the organization’s primary mission is to advance asbestos awareness worldwide by educating the public about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO fulfills this mission by:

• Creating a supportive community for individuals and families affected by asbestos-related diseases
• Advocating for stronger asbestos protections and policies in Washington, D.C.
• Funding research to improve treatment options and support the search for a cure

The ADAO community is made up of people united by a shared commitment to serve as a strong, collective voice for asbestos victims. Through ongoing dedication and advocacy, ADAO members have:

• Helped influence important asbestos-related legislation
• Developed educational tools to increase public awareness
• Supported medical research for emerging treatment approaches

Just as importantly, ADAO has fostered lasting personal connections and friendships that provide critical emotional support to those affected by asbestos-related illnesses.

The ADAO will host its 21st Annual Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference in Washington, D.C. on September 25-26, 2026. This year’s theme is Asbestos: Awareness, Prevention, and the Law.

ELSM Offers Continued Support to ADAO

EELSM Law remains firmly committed to ADAO’s mission of promoting global asbestos awareness. The vast majority of our clients are mesothelioma victims and/or their family members. Their experiences continue to inspire our financial support of organizations like ADAO.

As a Silver Sponsor, ELSM is proud to support ADAO’s mission to educate, advocate, and advance initiatives focused on preventing asbestos exposure, ending asbestos-related diseases, and protecting victims’ civil rights.

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Other Causes We Support

In addition to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, ELSM is proud to support causes focused on cancer research, pediatric care, wish fulfillment, and humanitarian aid. Below is a partial list of the charities and organizations we are honored to stand behind.

• American Cancer Society: A nationwide nonprofit dedicated to ending cancer through research, advocacy, education, and patient support services. They fund lifesaving research, push for health policy changes, and assist patients and families facing cancer.
• Children’s Oncology Group Foundation: The fundraising arm of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest pediatric cancer research network. It directs donations toward breakthrough clinical trials, pediatric cancer research, and improved treatments for young patients.
• International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital: Brigham and Women's Hospital is a founding member of the IMP, the world’s largest and most comprehensive center dedicated to the treatment and study of mesothelioma. With a multidisciplinary team of over 80 specialists, the program offers cutting-edge treatments, including advanced surgeries pioneered by Dr. David Sugarbaker, alongside clinical trials, genetic research, and robust support services.
• Make‑A‑Wish Foundation: Grants life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses, providing emotional relief, renewed strength, and lasting hope. In 2024, they granted over 15,000 wishes across the United States, supported by a passionate nationwide volunteer and donor network.
• Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital: A nationally ranked pediatric acute care hospital in Manhattan, part of Mount Sinai Health System. It offers advanced, family‑centered care, clinical research, and child life programs for ages 0–21.
• Project Ukraine (Project UA): A nonprofit delivering humanitarian and medical aid to people in Ukraine. All donations go directly to providing ambulances, medical equipment, and social support amid the ongoing conflict.
• Riprap Friends: Provides in-home therapeutic and social support, like art, music, yoga, and tutoring, to children undergoing cancer treatment who are too immunocompromised for outside activities, helping them stay engaged, comforted, and emotionally connected.
• Smilow Cancer Hospital: Connecticut’s leading NCI‑designated comprehensive cancer center, affiliated with Yale University. Smilow offers personalized treatment, cutting-edge research, and integrative medicine services.

Our Sponsorship with Mesothelioma.com

ELSM is committed to providing mesothelioma patients with the ongoing support and resources they need to help them navigate through every stage of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

To that end, ELSM sponsors Mesothelioma.com, a premier informational resource that provides comprehensive information about mesothelioma. Visitors to this website will find treatment information, survivor stories that inspire hope, support resources and much more all dedicated to helping those going through a difficult time.