September 29, 2008

Turlock – After raising $675,000 in a month toward an endowment to provide enhanced cancer services at Emanuel Medical Center, volunteers have one week left to raise as much additional support as they can.

 

“Our volunteers have been doing a great job and I know they’ll outdo themselves in this final week.” said Jana Rhine, Emanuel’s Director of Annual Giving.

 

At the heart of Emanuel’s Legacy Circle fundraising campaign are 330 community and employee volunteers. This year’s goal for the campaign is to raise $1.3 million toward the $4 million endowment. Last year the campaign raised just over $1 million.

 

When it’s fully funded, the Endowment will generate hundreds of thousands of dollars every year that will be used to support Emanuel’s cancer treatment services, paying for things like community education and cancer prevention programs, early detection and screening efforts, community support groups, clinical trials and research.

 

“It’s a truly worthy goal and the community has been very supportive,” said Emanuel Vice President of Development Shirley Pok. “With all the headlines about the economy and financial crisis, to see this level of support from our donors has been incredible.”

 

Hospital employees raised $50,000 in the second-to-last-week of the campaign, bringing their total to $208,000. Community volunteers raised $115,000 in the same period, bringing their total to $467,000. Both groups will be out in force this week, trying to close in on the campaign’s goal.

 

“Donating to the Emanuel Cancer Endowment is an investment in the health of this community,” Pok said. “This endowment will be a permanent part of our future and will help detect, prevent and treat cancer in the residents of the greater Turlock area, and for their children and grandchildren. That’s an investment that really does pay dividends.”

 

For more information, please call the Emanuel Medical Center Office of Development at (209) 664-5180.