WHAT: Emanuel Medical Center reports $946,676 in giving as Legacy Circle completes its first week of a six-week campaign to fully fund a $4 million Emanuel Cancer Endowment. Community and employee volunteers raised $273,338 which was equally matched by the Ahlem family for this ambitious and worthy endeavor. The Ahlem family will continue this dollar for dollar match throughout the campaign.

In addition to the $546,676 given by Legacy Circle members and the Ahlem family, the fundraising campaign has been buoyed by a $400,000 anonymous gift.

WHEN: The Emanuel Cancer Endowment fundraising efforts will continue through October 8 with the goal of raising the remaining $1,009,220.

WHY: Legacy Circle, Emanuel Medical Center’s annual giving program, initiated a $4 million fundraising effort in 2007 to establish the Emanuel Cancer Endowment. The endowment is a permanent fund that will generate a quarter of a million dollars annually for regional cancer services. This is the final year of a three-year campaign focused on community and employee fund-raising efforts.

The Emanuel Cancer Endowment will fund services such as: outreach and prevention, early detection, screenings, support groups, genetic risk assessment, counseling and testing, clinical research, and participation in national clinical trials.

For more information about Emanuel Medical Center, visit www.emanuelmedicalcenter.org