WE DID IT!

Thanks to you, we met our $210,000 goal!!!

On June 1, 2006, the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center in Homewood was given an extraordinary opportunity to bolster the future of its support and wellness programs. The Coleman Foundation awarded the Center a $210,000 matching challenge grant for June 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007. The Center’s history of growth, self-reliance and meeting the needs of the Southland community, are just a few of the reasons that Coleman invested in the Center’s vision and mission. To date, the Campaign has raised $75,000.

Two donors have come forward with leadership gifts. An anonymous donor gave $55,000, and Sylvia Levin gave $10,000 to the “Our Community, Our Challenge” Campaign 2007. These gifts, along with incoming new gifts, will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to the partnership with The Coleman Foundation.

“Helping individuals and families cope with the extreme impact that a cancer diagnosis can have --both emotionally and financially-- is one of the reasons The Coleman Foundation is supporting the Center’s work,” explains Kara Grell, executive director of the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center.

“When awarding grants, the foundation looks for organizations that have clear facts and figures to support the work they do,” says Melissa Barrett, the Center’s director of development. “All of the programs and services at the Cancer Support Center are based on current research, substantiating better outcomes for cancer patients who participate in support groups and wellness programs.”

The Coleman Foundation has played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of supportive programs for cancer patients and their families throughout Chicagoland and the southern suburbs. Having had several board members affected by cancer, The Coleman Foundation appreciates the importance of free programs that help people live better while affected by cancer. The Coleman Foundation has paved the way for support organizations in the Chicagoland area to establish best practices through its financial support of the Cancer Health Alliance of Metropolitan Chicago. The Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center is one of the founding members of this Alliance. Most recently, as a direct result of support from The Coleman Foundation, cancer wellness centers from across the country participated in a national networking session in Chicago. This work will help to strengthen wellness and support programs for patients and their families. This challenge grant to the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center is testimony of how important it is to The Coleman Foundation to encourage community members to continue to give and support this important resource for families striving to overcome the affects of cancer.

Current statistics indicate, in Illinois, one in two women and one in three men will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. Cancer can affect businesses as well. An employee participating in support and wellness programs has a better chance of continuing to work while in treatment for cancer.

How can you help this meet the challenge?
Each and every new dollar raised between June 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007 will be critical for meeting our goal. A new dollar is defined as any contribution over and above a donor’s giving in 2005, including event donations.

The criteria for matching gifts are:
+ Gifts made in 2005, including event donations, must be above that cumulative amount. i.e. if you gave $500 (combining event participation and annual fund gifts) in 2005, the eligible amount to be matched must be above $500 for this campaign.
+ Gifts made prior to 2005, but not since, will be matched 100 percent.

Maybe it’s been awhile since you have made a contribution in honor or memory of someone; your gift now will be matched dollar for dollar and make such a difference in lives of so many.

In the coming months, you will see many wonderful things happening at the Center. Look for “Our Community, Our Challenge” Campaign 2007 information in the future.

Please contact Kara Grell, executive director, at (708) 798-9171 if you would like to be part of this special time at the Center. Check back for updated Campaign information here.