SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA—December 6, 2012—Dr. Gladys Monroy and her husband Charles L. "Larry" Marks, dedicated advocates for the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, have been appointed co-chairs of its Bay Area Region. They succeed Dr. Jay A. Levy, who has served as the region's chair for 10 years. In their new roles, Dr. Monroy and Mr. Marks will spearhead efforts to develop philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute of Science. Located in Israel, the Weizmann Institute is one of the world's top-ranking centers of multidisciplinary science research and graduate study.
The couple brings to the American Committee a deep interest in science and technology, as well as extensive volunteer leadership experience. Dr. Monroy, a senior partner at the law firm Morrison and Foerster, Palo Alto, is renowned as one of the nation's leading intellectual property lawyers. Her honors include the 2012 Chambers USA Women in Law award for Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year, the most comprehensive national award for women lawyers in the U.S. Dr. Monroy regularly works with biotech companies in their infancy and during product development in the areas of patent prosecution and technology transfers. Mr. Marks is a highly accomplished California real estate agent. Previously in his career, he conducted biochemical research at Abbott Laboratories and corporate product training at Hewlett-Packard. Mr. Marks has also held leadership positions at numerous Jewish charitable organizations, including Taube-Koret Campus for Jewish Life, Menlo Park Kiwanis, and the Jewish Home of San Francisco.
Dr. Monroy and Mr. Marks, who are residents of Atherton, California, will play crucial roles in shaping the future activities of the American Committee in the Bay Area. The organization aims to increase support and awareness of the Weizmann Institute in the United States. As regional co-chairs, they will focus on cultivating Bay Area donors as part of the American Committee's overall financial resource development strategy. Their appointment reflects many years of steadfast commitment.
"We're delighted to welcome our dear friends Gladys Monroy and Larry Marks to the Bay Area Regional Board of Directors, and deeply thank Jay Levy for his decade of devoted service," said Lawrence S. Blumberg, national chairman. "The visionary leadership of these three individuals is an inspiration to the entire Weizmann family. Together, we will continue striving to advance basic research at the Institute that creates a brighter tomorrow."
