39 Organizations Across the U.S. Awarded LIVESTRONG Foundation Community Impact Project Programs

Austin, Texas (PRWEB) April 21, 2014

Today, the LIVESTRONG Foundation announced the recipients of its Community Impact Project, a program that will distribute more than $1 million in addition to tools and resources to bring three proven cancer support programs to 39 sites across the U.S.

“More than 100,000 passionate cancer advocates voted to immediately provide critical support to people affected by cancer in their own communities, and we’re so appreciative of them all,” said Doug Ulman, Foundation president and CEO. “We stand by these three programs that are on the cutting-edge of fighting the practical and emotional effects of a diagnosis and proven to promote the overall health and wellbeing of people affected by cancer.”

More than 100 qualified hospitals, cancer centers and community organizations in seven regions across the U.S. were selected to participate in the project’s online voting campaign. The finalists of the campaign will now receive up to $15,600 along with tools and resources to implement one or more of the following three programs:

•     The Jeffrey Frank Wacks Music Therapy Program has become an essential component of the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center’s integrative approach to caring for cancer patients. The program’s overarching goal is to facilitate relaxation, decrease anxiety and stress, enhance wellness, improve pain management, and provide comfort and support for cancer patients and their caregivers. Music therapy is proven to reduce stress and pain levels associated with illness and hospitalization. For many patients, the simple act of listening to music provides a therapeutic release, promoting healing and overall wellbeing. Clinical music therapy services are provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Two part-time music therapists conduct sessions with patients either at the bedside or in common (environmental) areas of the cancer center.
•     Pablove Foundation’s Shutterbugs Pediatric Photography Program for Children and Teens, the signature arts program of The Pablove Foundation, teaches children living with cancer to develop their creative voice through the art of photography. Many of the students are removed from school during their illness and treatment, which leads to a disruption in their daily routines. Through Shutterbugs’ carefully designed curriculum, students have the opportunity to develop pride and an enhanced self-esteem as they learn challenging, new skills. Trained professional photography mentors guide its students through a series of lessons created specifically to encourage photographic creativity. They gain hands-on experience while learning the principles and techniques of photography including the basics of composition, lighting and perspective. Each of their students keeps their point-and-shoot camera kit at the end of the program to encourage them to go out and see the world differently and continue practicing their art form as young photographers. The goals for the students include: increasing their sense of joy, encouraging their creative thinking, fostering their self-esteem and developing their independence.
•     VitalHearts: Secondary Trauma Resiliency’s mission is caring for cancer treatment providers who suffer from secondary or vicarious trauma, which is a significant, although hidden problem. Secondary Traumatic Stress includes such reactions as: depression, anxiety, persistent trauma imagery, sleep disturbances, mistrust of their organization, isolating from family/friends, frequent illness and loss of mission optimism, among other symptoms, due to the deep exposure to suffering that care providers are exposed to. VitalHearts’ program, the Secondary Trauma Resiliency Training (STRT), revitalizes care providers, often saving careers of those who work with cancer patient and survivors by making them more resilient. This allows institutions to better retain their staff expertise, which gives crucial value to patients.

Since the Community Impact Project began in 2010, more than one million votes have been cast, resulting in the creation of 375 programs in 48 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The online voting campaign took place over an 18-day period from March 24-April 11. Finalists to receive funding were selected based on overall votes throughout the seven regions across the country.

The financial awards provided by the 2013 LIVESTRONG Community Impact Project are currently being implemented at 72 sites including hospitals, cancer centers, universities, and community-based organizations across the nation and are providing support to thousands of people affected by cancer. The LIVESTRONG Foundation is committed to supporting communities in their efforts to help cancer survivors face the challenges and changes that come with the disease and has invested more than $80 million in community-centered organizations.

About the LIVESTRONG Foundation
The LIVESTRONG Foundation provides free cancer support services to help people cope with the financial, emotional and practical challenges that accompany the disease. Created in 1997 by cancer survivor and philanthropist Lance Armstrong, the Foundation is known for its powerful brand – LIVESTRONG – and for its advocacy on behalf of survivors and their families. With its iconic yellow LIVESTRONG wristband, the Foundation has become a symbol of hope and inspiration around the world. Since its inception, the Foundation has served 2.5 million people affected by the disease and raised more than $500 million to support cancer survivors. One of America’s top cancer non-profit organizations, the Foundation enjoys a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and has been recognized by the National Health Council and the Better Business Bureau for its excellent governance, high standards and transparency. For more information, visit LIVESTRONG.org.

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2014 Community Impact Project Recipients

•     Jeffrey Frank Wacks Music Therapy Program

o    Baylor Scott & White Cancer Center – Waco, Texas
o    Broward Health – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
o    Cleveland Clinic/Hillcrest Hospital – Cleveland, Ohio
o    Greenville Health System – Greenville, S.C.
o    Hennepin County Medical Center, HHF – Minneapolis, Minn.
o    Karmanos Cancer Institute – Farmington Hills, Mich.
o    Levine Cancer Institute – Charlotte, N.C.
o    Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y.
o    Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center – Boise, Idaho
o    Sinai Hospital of Baltimore – Baltimore, Md.
o    Singing River Health System – Pascagoula, Miss.
o    Spectrum Health – Grand Rapids, Mich.
o    University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute – Jacksonville, Fla.

•     Pablove Foundation’s Shutterbugs Pediatric Photography Program for Children and Teens

o    Akron Children’s Hospital – Akron, Ohio
o    The Art Shack – Doral, Fla.
o    Children’s Hospital Colorado – Aurora, Colo.
o    The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pa.
o    Dell Children’s Medical Center – Austin, Texas
o    Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital – Hackensack, N.J.
o    Lehigh Valley Health Network – Bethlehem, Pa.
o    Lucile Packard Foundation for Children – Palo Alto, Calif.
o    Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital – Tacoma, Wash.
o    Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge – Greenville, N.C.
o    Randall Children’s Hospital Foundation, Portland, Ore.
o    Sanford Health, Roger Maris Cancer Center – Fargo, N.D.
o    Stony Brook Children’s – Stony Brook, N.Y.

•     VitalHearts: Secondary Trauma Resiliency Training

o    American Cancer Society Hope Lodge – Grand Rapids, Mich.
o    Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn, Ill.
o    The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pa.
o    East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
o    Floyd Medical Center, Roma, Ga.
o    Gilda’s Club – Davenport, Iowa
o    Huntsman Cancer Institute – Farmington, Utah
o    Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at SJ/C – Savannah, Ga.
o    Little Red Door Cancer Agency – Indianapolis, Ind.
o    Providence Health Care Foundation – Spokane, Wash.
o    Stony Brook Medicine – Stony Brook, N.Y.
o    UT MD Anderson Cancer Center – Houston, Texas
o    UVA Cancer Center – Charlottesville, Va.