$102,322 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Awarded to the Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. (December 22, 2014) – The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven and donor-centered charity dedicated to raising money for children’s cancer research, is proud to award a one-year, $102,322 grant to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. This grant is one of 40 infrastructure grants awarded as part of the Foundation’s fall grant cycle, totaling more than $2.5 million and surpassing last year’s total awarded during this same period.

This grant will fund a clinical coordinator at the Aflac Cancer Center who will provide clinical and non-clinical support to families including travel arrangements, insurance certifications and short-term housing needs.

“St. Baldrick’s Foundation provides funding that is critical to our program by supporting the salary for a dedicated nurse skilled in caring for children and families at the time of disease recurrence and few curative options,” said Dr. Cynthia Wetmore, pediatric oncologist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, “Our community raised money for St. Baldrick’s and being able to see the contribution their support provides to kids in our center is important.”

This series of grants, combined with the more than $24.7 million awarded in July to fund cutting-edge research, brings the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s funding total to more than $27.2 million awarded in 2014. Grants were awarded based on the need of the institution and its patients, anticipated results of the grant and local participation in St. Baldrick’s fundraising events and activities.

“These grants are critically important to saving children’s lives, and would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers and generous donors who believe kids deserve better than medicine is currently able to provide,” said Kathleen Ruddy, chief executive officer for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

To learn how you can get involved visit www.StBaldricks.org, and connect with St. Baldrick’s on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Vimeo.

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. St. Baldrick’s coordinates its signature head-shaving events worldwide where participants collect pledges to shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer, raising money to fund research. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $154 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, and the new International Scholar grants train researchers to work in developing countries. For more information about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

About the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader among childhood cancer, hematology, and blood and marrow transplant programs, serving children and young adults. Recognized as one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S.News & World Report, the Aflac Cancer Center cares for 375 newly diagnosed cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,500 patients with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. Visit aflaccancercenter.org or call 404-785-1112 or 888-785-1112 for more information.

###