Evelyn and Arlindo Jorge believed in philanthropy. The couple wanted to instill in their young family a commitment to giving back. So, every year around the holidays, they asked each of their grandchildren to submit a “proposal” to support something important to them. As a young girl, Stephanie Gibbons suggested her grandparents fund graphing calculators for classrooms and meals for senior citizens. These “grant submissions” were formative experiences for Gibbons.
Now a Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Association Director, Gibbons continues her family’s tradition of community support. The loss of her mother, Nancy Jorge Torcivia, to breast cancer in 1995 sharpened Gibbons’ philanthropic focus. At the time, there was little research on links between pregnancy and cancer risk. However, thanks in large part to CSHL, a body of knowledge has emerged in recent years. That information now points to new breast cancer prevention strategies and helps women advocate for their health.
Judy Jorge and Camila dos Santos unveil a plaque outside the newly renovated breast cancer research laboratory in CSHL’s McClintock building.
The research of breast cancer specialist and CSHL Associate Professor Camila dos Santos inspired Gibbons and her family in the Arlindo and Evelyn Jorge Family Foundation to make a generous $1 million donation to support this vital work.
On November 20, dos Santos, Gibbons, and the rest of the Jorge family presided over a dedication ceremony in memory of Nancy Jorge Torcivia. CSHL’s McClintock Laboratory, named after pioneering woman scientist Barbara McClintock, was in dire need of updates. Thanks to the Jorge family, CSHL was able to completely renovate the dos Santos lab, which operates inside the building. This revitalization ensures that the lab’s crucial research efforts will continue to thrive for years to come.