City of Hope Launches 'La Gota de la Vida Campaign' and Announces Cristian Castro, Graciela Beltran and Alejandro Lerner as Headliners for Upcoming Festival

    LOS ANGELES, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- City of Hope Cancer Center is
 launching the 7th annual "La Gota de la Vida Campaign" to raise funds for
 the institution, educate Latinos about their health, and increase the
 number of donors to the National Bone Marrow Program. This year's campaign
 will culminate with a festival and concert featuring internationally known
 recording artist Cristian Castro, Graciela Beltran, Alejandro Lerner,
 Tatiana, El Mayo de la Sierra, Morrison and Italia Renata. Admission to the
 benefit concert is free and tickets will be distributed through Food 4
 Less, Albertsons, Ralphs, Superior Warehouse, and Ritmo Latino Music
 stores. The campaign co-sponsored by Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, Gamesa,
 Coca Cola and Sara Lee and also includes public service announcements, bone
 marrow drives and community events.
     To date, the campaign has raised over $1.2 million for City of Hope,
 registered thousands of Latino bone marrow donors and saved lives. The
 festival will also include the Angels of Hope Awards to honor Latino
 professionals and leaders who have made significant contributions in their
 respective careers and inspirational individuals who have overcome cancer.
 The campaign also includes the support and vision of the Angels of Hope
 Council comprised of community and elected officials such as Jackeline
 Cacho (La Gota de la Vida National Spokesperson), State Senator Gil
 Cedillo, Univision News Anchor Teresa Rodriguez and cancer survivor Gustavo
 Perez.
     "Sara Lee offers a spectrum of choices to encourage a balanced diet and
 healthy lifestyle, an important step in developing good eating habits for a
 longer, healthy life," said Tim Zimmer, vice president Sara Lee Fresh
 Bakery, Sara Lee Food & Beverage. "As part of our commitment to improving
 community life, Sara Lee is proud to support The City of Hope's La Gota de
 La Vida Program to build awareness about cancer prevention and treatment in
 the Hispanic community."
     "La Gota de la Vida," is a national public education project with
 participation of celebrities such as Joan Sebastian, Luis Fonsi, Jennifer
 Pena and Victor Manuell. The celebrities, who are committed to reach the
 Latino community about the importance of the bone marrow registry,
 participated in a highly successful public service announcement (PSA) that
 has already reached millions of people around the country. As a result of
 these efforts, the overall number of Latino bone marrow registrants has
 grown significantly every year.
     La Gota de la Vida Campaign is possible due to the support of companies
 such as Sara Lee, Food 4 Less, Albertson's, Ralph's, Superior Super
 Warehouse and Ritmo Latino Music Stores.
     "I am proud to be affiliated with a campaign and an organization that
 reaches the Latino community on such important health issues and recognizes
 such accomplished Latinos," said Salvador Trevino, president, Santa Fe
 Communications and founder of the La Gota de la Vida/Caminos al Exito
 Campaign. "Latinos are the third largest community to suffer from cancer
 and yet, we are the least likely to participate in the Bone Marrow
 Registry. These efforts are critical to the health of our community."
     About City of Hope
     City of Hope is one of the world's leading research and treatment
 centers for cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.
 Named by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's best medical centers
 for cancer treatment, City of Hope is acknowledged as a pioneer in the
 fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics.
 
 

SOURCE City of Hope