Combating Cancer

Fundraising and Awareness

By Eliza Theiss on Oct 12, 2016 in Giving, People

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. As a company, one of our core values is community service. Participating in nonprofit work and giving back is a shared part of the culture at Yardi. Many of our employees give back regularly through local and global charities, volunteerism, and raising awareness. Yardi is honored to support organizations doing work to further research, prevention and education efforts in the fight against cancer.

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has been working to raise public awareness about cancer for over 100 years. Founded in 1913, the ACS started as a small group of committed doctors and civilians with one mission: to fight back against the disease.  In the late 1930’s, the organization created a legion of volunteers to educate the public and fundraise. Later in 1946, the ACS expanded their programming to include cancer research, raising more than $4 million to fund the Society’s groundbreaking research and educational initiatives. The ACS has been involved in almost every major cancer research breakthrough in the last 70 years. This also includes the strategic fundraising of cancer-fighting medications, the passage of the National Cancer Act in 1971, as well as advocacy in legislation and preventative medicine. Their annual events, including Relay for Life and Making Strides, encourage community members to get involved, promotes awareness and early detection, and raises millions of dollars for cancer research and prevention education. Thanks in part to the American Cancer Society (ACS), there are nearly 14.5 million people in the United States who have survived cancer.

Cancer Care for Hope

CancerCare was founded in 1944 with the goal of providing free, professional support services and information to people managing the different challenges of cancer. In the past year, CancerCare has provided nearly $13 million in financial assistance. Annually, the organization helps 180,000 people through programs and services ranging from counseling and support groups to financial assistance and educational workshops. Annual programs, such as golf tournaments, bike tours, and Walk/Run for Hope events, help fundraise for CancerCare and spread awareness about their free support services. Their most recent video campaign with Caribou Coffee is helping recognize caregivers in the community and donating $5 per #CaribouTribute video to CancerCare.

 

 

Cancer Council Australia

Cancer Council Australia is the key advocacy organization between the Australian government and other vital services on best practices and policies in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. The organization also advocates for patient rights, funding cancer research, and providing support resources for people affected by cancer. Established in 1961, Cancer Council Australia has transformed to a strong national organization with a goal to develop independent national cancer control policies. For over 50 years, Cancer Council Australia has developed a network of advisory experts spanning medicine, patient support and public health. These advisory committees assist the organization to make evidence-based recommendations to the Australian government on legislation, funding, research, education, and advocacy.

 

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude’s is a leading organization in the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Their mission is to advance cures and prevention for pediatric cancers and diseases through research and treatment. Founder Danny Thomas opened the doors to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in February 1962, with the goal that no child would be denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.

St. Jude’s is the premier research institution for childhood cancers and diseases. This has included groundbreaking research on gene marking and pediatric HIV/AIDS. It is the first hospital to identify important subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and one of few medical centers in the world with a comprehensive cell and gene therapy program. Their community events, like St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer, have garnered millions of St. Jude Heroes who walk and run to raise awareness for childhood cancer and disease research. With efforts to fund research, prevention and treatment, St. Jude’s has helped push the survival rate for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent in 1962 to more than 80 percent today.

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

Established in 2002, the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) was founded as a resource and support network for families with children with cancer. Serving Ventura County, TBCF empowers families experiencing pediatric cancer by providing financial, educational and emotional support. Financial support programs, including medical expenses and hotel accommodations, and educational support programs, including neuropsychological testing and tutoring services, allow families and children with cancer to focus on recovery. Their annual fundraisers, family events, and community outreach programs provide emotional stability and a support network for participating families. Thanks to TBCF, a record number of 679 individuals (158 families) received services in 2015, and over $1.4 million in financial assistance has been granted since the organization’s founding.

 

The V Foundation

After being diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, Jim Valvano, an American college basketball player, coach and broadcaster, dreamed of curing the disease. Founded in 1993 by ESPN and Valvano, The V Foundation for Cancer Research was born. The organization’s main focus is research progress. An early goal, The Foundation invested in the careers of young physicians and scientists to further the body of research on cancer. Later, the V Foundation established an all-volunteer Scientific Advisory Committee, comprised of an elite group of professionals from the scientific community, that advises research projects funded by the organization. With over 20 years of research support. The V Foundation has granted more than $150 million to cancer research and related programs at 120+ facilities nationwide.

 

 

Join Yardi in showing your support for cancer research this month. Wear pink and post to social media using #TeamYardi to be entered in our October giveaways. Social media accounts must be public for entries to be visible. Winners announced on Yardi’s Instagram weekly in the month of October.