St. Baldrick’s Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant to Miller Childrens Hospital

LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 21, 2009 – St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, awarded a grant of $100,000 to Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center (JJCCC) at Miller Children's Hospital. These grants are designated to either help institutions treat more kids on clinical trials (their best hope for a cure), or provide resources to make more research possible.

“After 25 years, the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center remains dedicated to helping children with cancer and serious blood diseases through compassionate care, innovative treatments and clinical research,” said Jerry Z. Finklestein, MD, founding medical director, JJCCC. “We’re very grateful to St. Baldrick’s for their continued support, this grant will help JJCCC expand and improve our clinical research program to help children and young adults in our community.”

St. Baldrick’s began as a challenge between friends and has exploded into the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer research. St. Baldrick’s donors and volunteers made possible over $15 million in funding for childhood cancer research in 2008 alone; Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center is one of 28 institutions to receive funding as part of St. Baldrick’s Fall grants which totaled over $2.4 million.

With this funding, JJCCC will be able to actively participate in the Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia (TACL), a consortium that carries out early studies of new drugs in children with recurrent leukemia. The funding will support a clinical research nurse to launch the TACL program, which will allow JJCCC to work closely with other institutions to rapidly develop, execute and collect data to support expanded clinical trials proposed to the Children’s Oncology Group.

In addition, JJCCC envisions using this grant money to reactivate their participation in a national brain tumor endeavor, performing clinical studies with Phase I evaluations and participate in the Headstart Program that is based at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

St. Baldrick’s awards grants to institutions that meet stringent criteria and share the foundation’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and emphasis on research. St. Baldrick’s volunteer event organizers led the way to raising over $17 million in 2008 alone and St. Baldrick’s also considers these efforts in local communities to assist in determining grant recipients.

“Our volunteers and donors give hope to children and families touched by this dreadful disease,” says Kathleen Ruddy, Executive Director for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “Their passion and dedication to the cause turn that hope into reality and have helped make grants like these possible.”

About The Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center The Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center (JJCCC) at Miller Children’s Hospital provides quality, compassionate care to children with cancer, sickle cell disease and other serious blood disorders, encompassing the medical, emotional, and social needs of patients and their families, from diagnosis, to treatment and beyond. The Center is known for its comprehensive psychosocial programs and multidisciplinary approach to patient care in the hospital, day care (the infusion center), clinic areas, home health and community outreach programs. An emphasis on integrating new research efforts into treatment plans allows patients access to leading therapies.

About The St. Baldrick’s Foundation The St. Baldrick’s Foundation coordinates worldwide head-shaving events, with volunteer “shavees” raising money to support childhood cancer research. Since 2000, head-shavings have taken place in 18 countries and 48 U.S. states, raising more than $51 million, and shaving more than 73,000 heads.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation makes grants to research institutions to find new cures for childhood cancer, and to find treatments to ensure a better quality of life for patients and survivors. The Foundation funds research projects conducted by established pediatric cancer experts, as well as younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, offering the best available care for every child. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is grateful to its many volunteers (bald or not!) and donors, including HeadBlade Ultimate Headcare, PartnerRe, elope and QBE for making life-saving childhood cancer research possible. For more information about St. Baldrick’s, please call 1-888-899-BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org. ###