Mr. Thomas A. Farrington

Mr. Thomas A. Farrington

President and Founder

President and Founder

PHEN

Thomas Farrington founded the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) in 2003 after receiving treatment for prostate cancer in 2000 and publishing his first book Battling The Killer Within in 2001. Under Mr. Farrington’s leadership, PHEN is recognized as the leading prostate cancer education and advocacy organization with national programs and initiatives focused on the needs of African Americans.

A key foundation for PHEN’s success is its national network of prostate cancer survivors and their loved ones who support the organization’s efforts within their communities. PHEN partners with hundreds of churches across the nation to bring education and awareness programs into their communities and recruit local prostate cancer medical specialists as educators for these events.

PHEN also makes extensive use of online programming to reach and support individual educational needs. Mr. Farrington’s background is in Information Technology.  Farrington currently serves as a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s (NCCN) Prostate Cancer Treatment Guidelines Panel and the NCCN Prostate Cancer Early Detection Guidelines Panel. He serves as a trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and as an advisor to a number of other healthcare organizations and programs. Mr. Farrington received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1966.

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Rev. Adrian Backus

Rev. Adrian Backus

Director of Church Partnerships and Community Outreach

Director of Church Partnerships and Community Outreach

PHEN

Adrian Backus JD, MDiv, has more than thirty (30) years’ experience as an executive in educational and religious institutions, international assistance programs and industry.  Rev. Backus holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law, and a Master of Divinity, from Princeton Theological Seminary.  He currently serves as Director for Partnership Development and Outreach for the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN). Additionally, he served for 15 years as Princeton Theological Seminary’s first, vice president for information technology. Prior to that, he served as Director of Institutional Research and Strategic Planning as well as Assistant Director for Student Advisement. In 2003-2005, during his vice presidency, Adrian also served as, Interim pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church in Montclair, New Jersey with a focused ministry on congregational care and ministerial outreach.  In 2013 and 2015, for the CME Church Ninth Episcopal District Mid- Winter Councils, Mr. Backus lectured and led workshops on estate planning and church giving.  From 2014-2016, Mr. Backus served as Assistant Dean for the Rutgers University higher education prison degree granting program in 9 prisons throughout New Jersey.

Adrian’s other experiences include serving as general counsel for an information technology company and as a U.S. Department of State diplomatic escort officer and country director in Rwanda and Senegal Africa, for Africare. Adrian is married to Abiola. Their children and grandchildren include his daughter, Sikira, husband Sidiki; two grandsons, Cody and Maddox, and one granddaughter, Jocelyn Eliana; his son, Joel, and grandson Jeremiah, and his daughter, Adria Joi.

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Rev. George Hardy

Rev. George Hardy

Pastor

Pastor

Mt. Zion AME Church of Oakland Park, FL

Rev. George Alen Hardy is a father, husband, pastor, episcopal leader, business owner, and, most importantly, a man of God. Pastor Hardy is an advocate for the homeless, elderly, and those who were incarcerated in addition to education. He has worked tirelessly to help provide funding, locations, and guidance for both early education childcare centers and elementary schools. In October 2006, he was assigned to Saint John A.M.E. Church of Pompano Beach, (Collier City) Florida.

In 2011, Rev. Hardy was relocated to Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Oakland Park, Florida. Under his pastoral leadership, the church membership had grown to more than 125 active members. That growth made it necessary for the church to expand its sanctuary. In February 2011, Rev. Hardy held ground-breaking services for the new edifice.

He was officially appointed Pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church of Oakland Park in April 2011. He quickly assessed the growth potential and financial status and implemented an aggressive plan to coordinate talents of the membership. He increased the potential for finances by connecting the church with the community and local government.

Rev. Hardy has a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He also obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Vision International University and a master’s degree from Trinity Theological Seminary.

Currently, Reverend George Alen Hardy serves as the 11th Episcopal District Coordinator for the Sons of Allen

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