EarthLink experienced a great loss at the passing of its former CEO, Garry Betty, in January 2007.  However, this tragic moment opened a new chapter for the Internet giant and its philanthropic endeavor.  Taking a leave of absence in November 2006, Garry used his time not only to meet a demanding physical amelioration and the needs of his family, but also to focus on how he could utilize this life challenge to help others by advancing cancer research and finding cure for the disease.

His solution was to form The Gary Betty Foundation.

The Foundation’s Mission
The Garry Betty Foundation puts forward a holistic approach to fighting cancer.  The foundation aims to fund important areas of cancer research such as the initial triggers of the disease and seeks not only a treatment, but also a cure for cancer.

Recent developments in cancer research indicate that many, if not all, cancers are caused by mutations in specific genes that normally control cell growth within a given organ.  These genes are responsible for signaling pathways that regulate cell type and reproduction. The gene mutation disrupts the normal signaling, resulting in abnormal cancer cells that grow unregulated.

While most chemotherapies are effective at killing 99 percent of the cells within a tumor, current data suggests that the therapy does not target the systemic cause of the disease, the formation of the unregulated cancer cells that remain in the patient, preventing cure and allowing for recurrence.

The next critical step in cancer research is to understand how this mutation results in cancer cells and to develop treatment alternatives that address this root cause of the disease.

The Garry Betty Foundation is committed to funding these specific areas of cancer research and ultimately finding a cure for cancer.

About Garry Betty
Garry Betty served as president and CEO of EarthLink from 1996 to 2007. During his tenure, Garry transformed EarthLink from a small regional ISP with fewer than 100,000 members to a national brand with more than five million subscribers.

Garry brought a powerful blend of Southern charm and a war chest of experience that would change the very landscape of not only EarthLink, but the Internet industry itself. He was instrumental in spearheading and executing most of EarthLink's major milestones: taking the company public; forming the strategic alliance with Sprint, which unequivocally put EarthLink on the map from both an industry and financial perspective; merging the company with long-time competitor MindSpring; bringing the company to profitability; creating Helio, the joint venture with SK-Telecom; and transforming the company into a total communications provider, offering data, voice and wireless access services.

Before joining EarthLink, Garry served as president and CEO of Digital Communications Associates, Inc. (DCA), and was the youngest CEO on a New York Stock Exchange listed company. Garry also served as senior vice president of sales, marketing and international operations at Hayes Microcomputer Products, and has been credited with turning the modem into a consumer commodity. Garry's career began at IBM, where he gained experience in purchasing, materials management, corporate contracts, product management and management of subcontracted manufacturing operations. He received IBM's prestigious President's Excellence Award in 1982 for his work associated with the IBM Personal Computer.

In addition to his leadership in the Internet, financial and business worlds, Garry was an active and dedicated member of the Atlanta community. He graduated in 1979 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. In 1993, he was named the institute's Young Alumnus of the Year, was included on the "Top 40 Under 40" list in Atlanta's business community. In 1999 Garry was listed as one of Upside Magazine's "Elite 100." In 2001, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce awarded Mr. Betty the annual Technology Leadership Award. In 2004, he was named one of the Most Influential Atlantans by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. He was inducted into the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame in 2005. He also was a member of the Boards of Directors of Equifax, Global Payments, Inc., and the Carter Center Board of Councilors.

Donors
The Garry Betty Foundation has received donations from various local and foreign corporations, the biggest of which is Level 3, an international communications company, which operates one of the largest communications and Internet backbones in the world.

Other donors include SKTelecom, Time Warner, SAP, NIIT, and Duane Morris LLP amongst a long list.

The Garry Betty Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization.

Please visit thegarrybettyfoundation.org for information on how to contribute to this cause.  For more on Earthlink, log on to www.earthlink.net or call 1-800-EARTHLINK.

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