The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Announces the Beckman-Argyros Award in Vision Research

ORANGE COUNTY, CA, February 21, 2013 (Press-News.org) The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation unveiled the Beckman-Argyros Award in Vision Research during the fifth annual Beckman Initiative for Macular Research conference. The Beckman-Argyros Award was named in honor of Dr. Arnold O.

Beckman and Ambassador George L. Argyros, two extraordinary individuals who, despite their age difference, became close and trusted friends. Dr. Beckman founded the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation in 1978. Under his direction, and the tutelage of Ambassador George L. Argyros, who served as Chairman of the Board from 1990 - 2012, over $650 million has been disbursed to support innovative, basic scientific research, fulfilling the vision of Dr. Beckman. The Chairman of the Board of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, Dr. Stephen J. Ryan, revealed the complete details of the award following a private reception honoring Ambassador George L. Argyros. The Beckman-Argyros Award was created to motivate, stimulate and inspire brilliant innovators from all scientific disciplines by recognizing and rewarding extraordinary scientific advances in vision research. The annual award, totaling $500,000, will include a solid platinum medallion, representative of the purity of the friendship between Dr. Beckman and his devoted friend, Ambassador George L. Argyros and will be awarded for the first time in early 2014.

About Ambassador George L. Argyros:
The honorable George L. Argyros served as the United States Ambassador to Spain from 2001-2004. A true entrepreneur and philanthropist at heart, Ambassador Argyros has been an inspiration in the continued growth of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation through his tireless efforts in support of Dr. Beckman's legacy. Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Pasadena, California, Ambassador Argyros attended Michigan State University and graduated from Chapman University in 1959 with a degree in Business and Economics. He began his career in real estate in Orange County, California in 1962, and by 1963 had opened his own real estate brokerage office. The founder of Arnel & Affiliates, a prominent West Coast diversified investment Company, Ambassador Argyros is a noted philanthropist, donating time and money to causes that are close to his heart, including health care, education, neglected children and the arts. "The pleasure isn't so much in dwelling on past successes, but in planning new ones....if we can make a positive contribution in whatever way, that's how we derive satisfaction," said George Argyros.

In addition to serving his country, Ambassador Argyros has also given his time by serving on numerous boards, including Chapman University, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Nixon Library & Birthplace, the Orange County Boy Scouts of America, Rockwell International, and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, where he served as Chairman for over 20 years.

Amongst his numerous honors, Ambassador Argyros was the recipient of the Horatio Alger Award of Distinguished Americans, perhaps the single most coveted award given in America to non-military business individuals and was selected to receive the Norman Vincent Peale Award for his humanitarian contributions to society. He currently resides in Orange County, California with his wife of more than 50 years, Julia.

About the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation:
Founded in 1978, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation was created to support research in chemistry and the life sciences, broadly interpreted, and to foster the invention of methods, instruments, and materials that will open up new avenues of research in science. The Foundation's visionary, Dr. Arnold O. Beckman was an accomplished scientist, a bold entrepreneur, civic leader, and world-renowned philanthropist. Throughout his life, Dr. Beckman paved the way for a myriad of scientific breakthroughs. Thanks to his generosity and vision, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation continues to make significant contributions to advance basic scientific research. Dr. Beckman's life and career were devoted to discovery and invention. His efforts unleashed the power of chemical measurement, allowing scientists and engineers to advance medicine and industry, win wars, protect the environment and improve countless lives. His devotion to electronics planted the seed of Silicon Valley, an ongoing center for innovation. Many breakthroughs in science, industry, and medicine were made possible by the revolutionary electronic instruments invented by Dr. Beckman and his company, Beckman Instruments, Inc. These high tech tools extended the senses of scientists and engineers into the molecular world, increasing the scope and pace of development. Respected by peers, honored by Presidents, and admired by friends and colleagues, Dr. Beckman received many awards throughout his career, but as Dr. Beckman once said, "Perhaps the greatest reward is the knowledge that Beckman products have contributed and are contributing to the benefit of mankind." For more information on the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, please visit: www.beckman-foundation.com.

About the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Initiative for Macular Research:
The fifth annual conference of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Initiative for Macular Research (BIMR) was held January 24-26, 2013, at the Beckman Center of the National Academies of Science and Engineering, in Irvine, California. Through a generous grant to the Doheny Eye Institute from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, the Beckman Initiative for Macular Research (BIMR) brings together outstanding scientists, engineers, medical researchers, and clinicians, all focused on a common goal: developing a better understanding of atrophic macular degeneration. Building on previous years' progress, the 2013 conference format continued to emphasize a multidisciplinary approach in breakout groups. The esteemed group of invited researchers and clinicians worked in task groups to consider challenges in the disciplines of cell biology, genetics, imaging, inflammation, nanoscience, neuroprotection-cell survival, and stem cells. The world renowned industry leaders, from very different backgrounds and disciplines, were united to explore technologies, discoveries, and ideas from diverse fields. Together, the group's efforts yield a better understanding of the biology of atrophic macular degeneration, and pave the way for more accurate, quantifiable diagnostics and the prospect of effective treatments. For more information on the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Initiative for Macular Research and the annual conference please visit: http://www.beckmanmacular.org.