American Cancer Society to Break Ground for AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Philadelphia
May 24 2007 - 11:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Society Ready to Give Hope a Home in Southeastern Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA, May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The American Cancer
Society, Pennsylvania Division, will break ground on its new
AstraZeneca Hope Lodge of the American Cancer Society on Thursday,
May 24, at 10:30 a.m., at 100 Laurel Avenue in Cheltenham,
Pennsylvania. The ceremony will prepare the way for a
30,000-square-foot facility that will annually provide free
temporary lodging for an average of 1,300 cancer patients who must
travel to Philadelphia for outpatient treatment. Those putting the
first shovels in the ground will be Garry Pincock, CEO of the
Society's Pennsylvania Division; Tony Zook, President and CEO of
AstraZeneca LP, the naming sponsor of Hope Lodge; Dr. Robert Young,
President of Fox Chase Cancer Center; and Hope Lodge Campaign
Committee Co-chairs Dr. Howard B. Kessler, Department of Radiology
Chair at Holy Redeemer Hospital, and Mitchell L. Morgan, Esq., CEO
of Morgan Properties. "It's exciting to know that when it opens in
late 2008, the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge will provide 37 private guest
suites and over 13,500 free nights of lodging each year. These
guests will also have access to a community living room, dining
room, kitchen, library, exercise room and laundry facilities, "
said Mitchell Morgan. "The Lodge will lessen the burden of
traveling for the best and most appropriate cancer care, as most
insurance does not cover the loss of income, transportation or
lodging associated with treatment," added Dr. Kessler. AstraZeneca
Hope Lodge is being built on property donated by Fox Chase Cancer
Center. Located just blocks from Fox Chase, it is ideally situated
near the many major cancer centers in the Philadelphia area. Free
transportation will also be provided to the various hospitals. With
its U.S. headquarters also in the Delaware Valley, AstraZeneca
creates its second presence with its $2 million naming gift on Hope
Lodge. According to Tony Zook, President and Chief Executive
Officer of AstraZeneca U.S., the project was a perfect fit for the
company. "Patients are at the center of everything we do at
AstraZeneca. With a 30-year history of discovering and developing
some of the world's leading oncology products, AstraZeneca is
committed to giving patients access to the medicines and care they
need to live longer, healthier lives. The new AstraZeneca Hope
Lodge Center in Philadelphia will ensure that more patients can
take advantage of the high-quality cancer care that the greater
Delaware Valley offers, and will enable their families to be here
with them for support and encouragement. This new facility, along
with the first AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston currently
under construction, is testament to our primary mission of making
healthcare a more meaningful and personal experience." For campaign
committee member George Forde, Hope Lodge is a very personal
project. "I first heard of Hope Lodge when I was diagnosed with
cancer in 2001, and decided on treatment at a clinic in Georgia.
When we walked into the Hope Lodge in Atlanta, my wife and I
immediately experienced the friendliness of Hope Lodge, guests and
staff alike. The psychological side to the illness is huge. Hope
Lodge was a place to share a difficult time in a way that plays a
major role in the effectiveness of the treatment." The volunteer
campaign committee is seeking approximately $10 million to build
the Hope Lodge. To date, over $7 million has been raised. The
facility will be the second American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in
Pennsylvania; the first is located in Hershey. The Society
currently operates 23 Hope Lodges nationwide, serving more than
20,000 cancer patients and their caregivers every year, with 20
more Hope Lodges in various stages of planning in cities across the
U.S. The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer
as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering
and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and
service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta,
the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400
communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United
States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1.800.ACS.2345
or visit http://www.cancer.org/. DATASOURCE: AstraZeneca CONTACT:
Heather Collins of American Cancer Society, +1-215-985-5334, ; or
Donna Huang of AstraZeneca, +1-302-650-7905, Web site:
http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/ Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/985887.html
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