/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the company that helps employers enhance benefits offerings to employees, today announced it will donate a total of $1,060,000 to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to help defray the costs facing cancer researchers. The three-year scholarship awards focus on career development, scholar-in-training; a special program for high school students, and a task force on pediatric oncology. The company is announcing the scholarships this evening at the AACR-Aflac Incorporated Scholar Awards Reception in Orlando, Florida. A total of 43 researchers will receive scholarship funds from an initial installment of $265,000.
"Finding a cure for cancer has been our primary philanthropic cause for more than 15 years," Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos said. "Finding a cure begins with making sure our up-and-coming researchers have the tools they need to make a difference. We are honored to support the AACR any way we can."
Since 1997, Aflac and the American Association for Cancer Research have been partners in the fight against cancer. The collaborative efforts focus primarily on better understanding of cancer science, especially as it relates to childhood cancers. Aflac has provided scholarships for more than 600 young researchers since the inception of its partnership with AACR, including Dr. Charles Mullighan from St. Jude's Children's Hospital (see bio below).
"The Aflac award has provided crucial support in the initial stages of my career as an independent investigator," Dr. Mullighan said. "The award allowed me to pursue high risk studies examining the genetics of Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and the development of novel mouse models of ALL. These are clinically relevant studies as they have defined new genetic changes in this disease and helped elucidate their contribution to leukemogenesis."
In addition to the AACR Scholarships, since 1995, Aflac has raised and donated more than $62 million for the treatment and research of childhood cancer.
Facts about pediatric cancers
* Cancer is the leading cause of death in children under age 15. American Cancer Society (ACS 2010)
* Leukemia causes one-third of childhood cancer deaths. (ACS 2010)
* Mortality rates for childhood cancer have declined by 55 percent since 1975. (ACS 2008)
* There are estimated to be at least 270,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the United States.
2011 Scholarship Recipients
* Antonio L. Amelio, PhD - Scripps Institute, Florida
* Guillermo Armaiz Pena, PhD – University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
* Kofi Asomaning, MD – Harvard School of Public Health
* Gregor M. Balaburski, PhD – Fox Chase Cancer Center
* Daniel W. Bowles, MD - University of Colorado School of Medicine
* J. Chad Brenner, Graduate – University of Michigan
* Sara A. Byron, PhD - Translational Genomics Research Institute
* Qi Cao, PHD – University of Michigan
* Tooba A. Cheema, PhD – Massachusetts General Hospital
* Ru Chen, PHD - UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
* Brooke C. Christensen, PhD – Brown University
* Leonie H.A.M de Wilt, MSc – Virginia University Medical Center
* Jan B. Egan, PhD – Mayo Clinic, Arizona
* Inna V. Fedorenko, Graduate - H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr. & Res. Inst.
* Dinorah Friedmann-Morvinski, PhD - Salk Inst. Cancer Ctr.
* Nicolas N. Garnier, MSc - Lady Davis Institute, JGH
* Hossien A. Hamed, BS - Virginia Commonwealth University
* Linda Holmfeldt, PhD - St Jude Children's Research Hospital
* Shu-hao Hsu, Graduate – Ohio State University
* Jae Hong Im, PhD – University of Oxford
* Yuqi Jing, PhD - University Of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
* Neil Johnson, PhD – Dana Farber Cancer Institute
* Amjad P. Khan, PhD - University of Michigan Medical School
* Hyung-Gu Kim, PhD - Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
* James L. LaBelle, MD, PhD – Dana Farber Cancer Institute
* Andrea Lai, Graduate – McGill University
* Jill E. Larsen, PhD - UT Southwestern Medical Center
* Melissa K. McConechy. BS - BC Cancer Agency, University of British Columbia
* Andrew S. Moore, MBBS – The Institute of Cancer Research
* Britney L. Moss, Graduate – Washington University School of Medicine
* Min Ni, PhD – Dana Farber Cancer Institute
* Wen-Bin Ou, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
* John R. Prensner, Graduate – University of Michigan
* Jeanine M.L. Roodhart, MD – University Medical Center Utrecht
* Mike R. Russell, PhD – Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
* Takaomi Sanda, MD, PhD – Dana Farber Cancer Institute
* Prasanna K. Santhekadur, PhD – Virginia Commonwealth University
* Punit Saraon, PhD – University of Toronto/Mount Sinai Hospital
* Timothy K. Starr, PhD - Univ. of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Ctr.
* Li Tao, MD - Univ. of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Ctr.
* Jose T. Thaiparambil, PhD - Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
* Chery Whipple, PhD - Dartmouth Norris Cotton Cancer Ctr.
* Kenichi Yoshida, MD - Cancer Genomics Project, The University of Tokyo
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Showing posts with label AFLAC. Show all posts
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Friday, April 08, 2011
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Aflac Announces Support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac today announced its support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by kicking off a new integrated fundraising campaign to benefit the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Childhood cancer is the number one cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15. Through improved research and treatments, childhood cancer survival rates have improved from less than 20% in the 1980's to over 80% today. Aflac makes pediatric cancer its primary philanthropic cause.
The campaign includes a new component enabling people to donate to the Aflac Cancer Center (ACC) through the Aflac Cancer Center causes page which can be accessed on Facebook.com or at www.aflac.com/aflaccancercenter. Aflac will contribute one dollar for anyone who joins the ACC causes page and will match donations up to $1 million.
To kick off the campaign Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos today announced that he will make a personal donation of $100,000 and challenged others to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer.
"The heroic doctors and nurses at the Aflac Cancer Center work hard to improve the lives of children while delivering much-needed hope to families," Amos said. "That's why Aflac, our sales agents and our employees continue to embrace this great cause. We are proud to match donations and encourage everyone to show their support for children and families dealing with cancer."
The month-long campaign also includes a text to donate program which opens on September 1, and targets NASCAR fans. It will be highlighted on September 6th as NASCAR star Carl Edwards drives his No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion at the nationally televised race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The car's paint scheme, designed by a 13-year-old patient at the Aflac Cancer Center, signifies a special tribute to the Aflac Cancer Center and all children fighting childhood cancer. The company will sustain the fundraising drive throughout the month of September.
"Cancer is the leading medical cause of death in children, and saving such lives leads to more total years saved than for any adult cancer except breast cancer," Dr. William G. Woods, director of the Aflac Cancer Center said. "We have a unique ability to make an investment in children's lives and longevity and we thank Aflac and Carl Edwards for helping us achieve our goals."
Each year the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 350 new cancer patients. It also provides the largest sickle cell disease program in America, with 1,635 active cases and has cured more children of sickle cell disease than any treatment center in the nation. In addition to funding research and treatment, Aflac contributions serve other critical needs, including new facilities, a new state-of-the-art pediatric research building, and endowments for the Family Support Team and Fellowship Program. In August, the Aflac Cancer Center announced that Aflac had surpassed $50 million in donations to this cause.
Components of the plan for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month include the following:
-- Causes Page (Facebook)
Aflac will donate $1 for anyone who joins the Aflac Cancer Center causes page, an application on Facebook. The company will also match donations up to $1 million and Aflac CEO Dan Amos will initiate donations with a personal contribution of $100,000.
-- Color Carl's Car Contest
Patients at the Aflac Cancer Center were asked to color Carl Edwards' car for the nationally televised race on September 6, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Carl and the car's designer, Jody Lawrence, a 13-year-old cancer patient, will unveil the car on Friday, September 4, at the Aflac Cancer Center.
-- Text to Donate Program
Throughout September, NASCAR fans are encouraged to text the phrase "GOCARL" to 90999 to make a $5 donation to the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. All donations will appear on the contributor's next cellular phone bill.
-- Sale of Die Cast Replica Cars
Motorsports Authentics will donate 5 percent of proceeds from the sale of the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion die cast to the Aflac Cancer Center.
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The campaign includes a new component enabling people to donate to the Aflac Cancer Center (ACC) through the Aflac Cancer Center causes page which can be accessed on Facebook.com or at www.aflac.com/aflaccancercenter. Aflac will contribute one dollar for anyone who joins the ACC causes page and will match donations up to $1 million.
To kick off the campaign Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos today announced that he will make a personal donation of $100,000 and challenged others to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer.
"The heroic doctors and nurses at the Aflac Cancer Center work hard to improve the lives of children while delivering much-needed hope to families," Amos said. "That's why Aflac, our sales agents and our employees continue to embrace this great cause. We are proud to match donations and encourage everyone to show their support for children and families dealing with cancer."
The month-long campaign also includes a text to donate program which opens on September 1, and targets NASCAR fans. It will be highlighted on September 6th as NASCAR star Carl Edwards drives his No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion at the nationally televised race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The car's paint scheme, designed by a 13-year-old patient at the Aflac Cancer Center, signifies a special tribute to the Aflac Cancer Center and all children fighting childhood cancer. The company will sustain the fundraising drive throughout the month of September.
"Cancer is the leading medical cause of death in children, and saving such lives leads to more total years saved than for any adult cancer except breast cancer," Dr. William G. Woods, director of the Aflac Cancer Center said. "We have a unique ability to make an investment in children's lives and longevity and we thank Aflac and Carl Edwards for helping us achieve our goals."
Each year the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 350 new cancer patients. It also provides the largest sickle cell disease program in America, with 1,635 active cases and has cured more children of sickle cell disease than any treatment center in the nation. In addition to funding research and treatment, Aflac contributions serve other critical needs, including new facilities, a new state-of-the-art pediatric research building, and endowments for the Family Support Team and Fellowship Program. In August, the Aflac Cancer Center announced that Aflac had surpassed $50 million in donations to this cause.
Components of the plan for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month include the following:
-- Causes Page (Facebook)
Aflac will donate $1 for anyone who joins the Aflac Cancer Center causes page, an application on Facebook. The company will also match donations up to $1 million and Aflac CEO Dan Amos will initiate donations with a personal contribution of $100,000.
-- Color Carl's Car Contest
Patients at the Aflac Cancer Center were asked to color Carl Edwards' car for the nationally televised race on September 6, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Carl and the car's designer, Jody Lawrence, a 13-year-old cancer patient, will unveil the car on Friday, September 4, at the Aflac Cancer Center.
-- Text to Donate Program
Throughout September, NASCAR fans are encouraged to text the phrase "GOCARL" to 90999 to make a $5 donation to the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. All donations will appear on the contributor's next cellular phone bill.
-- Sale of Die Cast Replica Cars
Motorsports Authentics will donate 5 percent of proceeds from the sale of the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion die cast to the Aflac Cancer Center.
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Celebrates $50 Million of Goodwill
/PRNewswire/ -- The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta today kicks off Pediatric Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month by announcing that its primary benefactor, Aflac, has surpassed $50 million in donations to the fight against pediatric cancer and blood disorders. September is Pediatric Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under 15 in America.
Contributions to the Aflac Cancer Center help the center treat more than 350 new cancer patients every year. The hospital also performs more than 50 bone marrow transplants each year, making it the leading BMT program in the country. In 2008, the Aflac Cancer Center treated a total of 6,504 patients.
"We could not do the innovative research nor provide the quality of care that patients need without the generous support of good-hearted people who are committed to eradicating childhood cancer and blood disorders," Dr. William G. Woods, director of the Aflac Cancer Center and Professor with the Emory University School of Medicine. "Aflac's support enables us to recruit the most brilliant and dedicated researchers who are developing life-saving treatments for children at the Aflac Cancer Center and across the nation."
With 1,635 active cases, the facility maintains the largest pediatric sickle cell disease program in America, curing more children of sickle cell disease than anywhere in the nation. Sickle cell is an extraordinarily painful disease that attacks internal organs through the blood stream. Sickle Cell Disease is often referred to as an orphan disease. An orphan disease is one that has not been "adopted" by the pharmaceutical industry because it provides little financial incentive for the private sector to make and market new medications to treat or prevent it. Even so, Dr. Peter Lane and researchers at the Aflac Cancer Center make it one of its primary research initiatives.
In addition to corporate donations, approximately 16,000 of Aflac's independent sales agents donate an average of $325,000 every month to the Aflac Cancer Center directly from their commission checks. Other contributions come from Aflac staff headquartered in Columbus Georgia, New York, and Nebraska. Aflac also sells plush Aflac Ducks online with all proceeds going to fight pediatric cancer. Since 2001, sales of the Aflac Holiday Duck alone have provided more than $2.3 million to the cause.
"Our support for this cause has never been about Aflac; it is about the children whose lives are being saved or improved every day by the dedicated people at the Aflac Cancer Center," Aflac chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "We are proud to help any way we can, but the children and their doctors and nurses are the true heroes."
Throughout the month of September, Aflac and the Aflac Cancer Center will be conducting a major, integrated campaign, including special events, online donating opportunities on Facebook, a text to donate program, and cancer & blood disorder awareness events involving NASCAR superstar Carl Edwards, driver of the number 99 Aflac Ford Fusion.
Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs, serving infants to young adults. Recognized as one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S.News & World Report, the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 350 new cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,500 patients with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. Visit www.aflaccancercenter.org or call 404-785-1112 or 888-785-1112 for more information.
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Contributions to the Aflac Cancer Center help the center treat more than 350 new cancer patients every year. The hospital also performs more than 50 bone marrow transplants each year, making it the leading BMT program in the country. In 2008, the Aflac Cancer Center treated a total of 6,504 patients.
"We could not do the innovative research nor provide the quality of care that patients need without the generous support of good-hearted people who are committed to eradicating childhood cancer and blood disorders," Dr. William G. Woods, director of the Aflac Cancer Center and Professor with the Emory University School of Medicine. "Aflac's support enables us to recruit the most brilliant and dedicated researchers who are developing life-saving treatments for children at the Aflac Cancer Center and across the nation."
With 1,635 active cases, the facility maintains the largest pediatric sickle cell disease program in America, curing more children of sickle cell disease than anywhere in the nation. Sickle cell is an extraordinarily painful disease that attacks internal organs through the blood stream. Sickle Cell Disease is often referred to as an orphan disease. An orphan disease is one that has not been "adopted" by the pharmaceutical industry because it provides little financial incentive for the private sector to make and market new medications to treat or prevent it. Even so, Dr. Peter Lane and researchers at the Aflac Cancer Center make it one of its primary research initiatives.
In addition to corporate donations, approximately 16,000 of Aflac's independent sales agents donate an average of $325,000 every month to the Aflac Cancer Center directly from their commission checks. Other contributions come from Aflac staff headquartered in Columbus Georgia, New York, and Nebraska. Aflac also sells plush Aflac Ducks online with all proceeds going to fight pediatric cancer. Since 2001, sales of the Aflac Holiday Duck alone have provided more than $2.3 million to the cause.
"Our support for this cause has never been about Aflac; it is about the children whose lives are being saved or improved every day by the dedicated people at the Aflac Cancer Center," Aflac chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "We are proud to help any way we can, but the children and their doctors and nurses are the true heroes."
Throughout the month of September, Aflac and the Aflac Cancer Center will be conducting a major, integrated campaign, including special events, online donating opportunities on Facebook, a text to donate program, and cancer & blood disorder awareness events involving NASCAR superstar Carl Edwards, driver of the number 99 Aflac Ford Fusion.
Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs, serving infants to young adults. Recognized as one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S.News & World Report, the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 350 new cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,500 patients with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. Visit www.aflaccancercenter.org or call 404-785-1112 or 888-785-1112 for more information.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Aflac Agents and Employees Boost Bone Marrow Registry
/PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of Aflac agents and employees will be queuing up in the next few days to have their cheeks swabbed as part of a new company initiative to boost the rolls of the National Marrow Donor Program. Aflac's Bone Marrow program kicks off at the company's annual national sales conference on December 12 in Atlanta.
The bone marrow registration effort was inspired by Steve Karas, an Aflac regional sales coordinator in Boston, whose stem cell donation recently helped save the life of Matthew Welling, a young Aflac claimant in New York. Matthew's parents had been told that without a transplant, he stood little chance of living beyond childhood. Matthew's doctors searched the National Bone Marrow registry for a donor and found Steve Karas.
"Through Steve's story we learned more about the pressing need for bone marrow registrants and wanted to do something as an organization to help," said Paul Amos, president and chief operating officer of the Georgia-based insurance company.
Indeed, the need is great. Individuals with life-threatening diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma must find a donor whose tissue type matches their own. Ideal candidates for a match are usually from the same ethnic background and race. The National Marrow Donor Program has about 11 million registrants today, but 61 percent of patients who need a bone marrow transplant do not receive one. And that's just among Caucasians. Among other racial groups, the match rate is far lower. For instance, about 83 percent of African Americans in need of a transplant do not receive one because African Americans are severely underrepresented on the donor registry. Individuals from racially or ethnically diverse heritage represent only 26 percent of the entire donor registry.
"On a daily basis, about 6,000 people search the registry looking for a life-saving match," said Dr. William G. Woods, director of the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "Increasing the pool of registrants increases the likelihood of a match, and will save lives."
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The bone marrow registration effort was inspired by Steve Karas, an Aflac regional sales coordinator in Boston, whose stem cell donation recently helped save the life of Matthew Welling, a young Aflac claimant in New York. Matthew's parents had been told that without a transplant, he stood little chance of living beyond childhood. Matthew's doctors searched the National Bone Marrow registry for a donor and found Steve Karas.
"Through Steve's story we learned more about the pressing need for bone marrow registrants and wanted to do something as an organization to help," said Paul Amos, president and chief operating officer of the Georgia-based insurance company.
Indeed, the need is great. Individuals with life-threatening diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma must find a donor whose tissue type matches their own. Ideal candidates for a match are usually from the same ethnic background and race. The National Marrow Donor Program has about 11 million registrants today, but 61 percent of patients who need a bone marrow transplant do not receive one. And that's just among Caucasians. Among other racial groups, the match rate is far lower. For instance, about 83 percent of African Americans in need of a transplant do not receive one because African Americans are severely underrepresented on the donor registry. Individuals from racially or ethnically diverse heritage represent only 26 percent of the entire donor registry.
"On a daily basis, about 6,000 people search the registry looking for a life-saving match," said Dr. William G. Woods, director of the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "Increasing the pool of registrants increases the likelihood of a match, and will save lives."
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