HackensackUMC and the New York Giants Form Groundbreaking Partnership to Tackle Kids Cancer

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Hackensack University Medical Center

Sep 10, 2015, 11:00 ET

HACKENSACK, N.J., Sept. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation and the New York Football Giants announced a groundbreaking partnership to raise funds and find a cure for pediatric cancer: Tackle Kids Cancer. The two nationally-renowned organizations are harnessing their collective influence to advance research and provide children access to the highest level of care.

Tackle Kids Cancer will offer numerous ways for people to get involved and become part of the "team"—through special events with the Giants, exclusive merchandise with proceeds benefitting the partnership, and personal fundraising event ideas, such as viewing parties. The program's fundraising efforts will kick off with: a special online raffle where fans have the ability to win a once-in-a-lifetime Giants Experience, a Giants October Monday Night Football Fundraiser in New York City, and an in-store fundraising program with New York Giants sponsor Modell's Sporting Goods featuring an exclusive Nike Giants Pride T-shirt available in all of its New York Metro Area stores. Ten dollars from the sale of each T-Shirt will be donated to Tackle Kids Cancer.

The Tackle Kids Cancer campaign was introduced with a special event held at Modell's Sporting Goods in Times Square, New York City today. The all-day event featured appearances by New York Giants Super Bowl Champions Carl Banks, Jeff Feagles, Shaun O'Hara and Brandon Jacobs, raffles and a chance to learn more about the campaign. Quarterback Eli Manning has volunteered to support the new initiative by appearing in some of the campaign advertising, events and marketing programs. Most importantly, Tackle Kids Cancer profiled several of the "Most Valiant Patients" whom the New York Giants have drafted, as well as members of the Institute's "Special Teams" squad – the doctors, nurses, child life specialists, social workers and others who make the Children's Cancer Institute a truly special place.

"We are so proud to launch Tackle Kids Cancer with our great partner, the New York Giants and with quarterback Eli Manning," said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of the Hackensack University Health Network. "The HackensackUMC Foundation does an outstanding job of raising necessary funds to expand upon and develop services at HackensackUMC. By focusing solely on pediatric cancer and research, we are addressing the lack of significant funding provided to hospitals nationwide. Through the dedication of the Children's Cancer Institute at HackensackUMC, we have – and will continue to make meaningful, demonstrable advances in pediatric cancer care."

"Over the last 40 years, the cure rate for childhood cancer has improved from 40 percent to over 80 percent, and both organizations are all in to accomplish the goal of a 100 percent cure rate," says John K. Mara, Esq., president and CEO of the New York Football Giants.

The team at the Children's Cancer Institute at HackensackUMC consists of dedicated clinicians and researchers specializing in pediatric cancer. With more than 100 active oncology and transplant clinical trials currently open, it is leading the charge to cure childhood cancer. Diseases that were once considered incurable now boast an overall survival rate of approximately 80 percent, with several tumors having cure rates in the high-90 percent range. Yet despite all of the progress made, there is still tremendous work to be done.

"In 2014, an estimated 15,780 children and adolescents were diagnosed with cancer and 1,960 died of the disease. While extremely rare, pediatric cancer is the number one cause of death by disease in children in the U.S.," said Jeffrey R. Boscamp, M.D., vice president and chief academic officer of HackensackUMC and chairman and physician-in-chief of the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital. "Every dollar received through the Tackle Kids Cancer campaign will support our most important programs and research."

Some of these programs include services and research not found anywhere else, including: the newly-established Pediatric Neuro-oncology Program (focused on the clinical and research needs of children with brain and spinal cord tumors); Developmental Therapeutics Program (the only comprehensive pediatric phase I and II trial program in New Jersey); Cancer Genetics Program; Transplant Clinical Trials Program; and the Cure and Beyond Program (program focused on the long-term health, emotional and social issues specific to pediatric cancer survivors).

"We are so happy to continue our successful relationship with the New York Giants," said Jon M. Fitzgerald, executive vice president and chief development officer of the HackensackUMC Foundation. "Since 2009, we have been able to use our collective influence to greatly benefit patients and their families at HackensackUMC. I am excited to see the developments that will be made for our pediatric cancer patients through this initiative."

For more information on partnering with HackensackUMC and the New York Giants, please contact us at [email protected] or visit www.TackleKidsCancer.org.

About Hackensack University Medical Center
HackensackUMC, a nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. Founded in 1888 as the county's first hospital, it is the flagship hospital of Hackensack University Health Network, one of the largest health networks in the state comprised of 1,717 beds, more than 10,000 team members and 3,300 credentialed physicians. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Report's 2015-16 Best Hospital rankings - maintaining its place atop the NJ rankings since the rating system was introduced. It was also named one of the top four New York Metro Area hospitals. HackensackUMC is the only hospital in New Jersey, New York and New England to be named one of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals™ nine consecutive years, and receive the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 13 years in a row. The medical center is one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country according to Practice Greenhealth, and received 23 Gold Seals of Approval™ by the Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence; receiving its fifth consecutive designation in 2014. HackensackUMC has created an entire campus of award-winning care, including: the John Theurer Cancer Center; the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women's and Children's Pavilion, which houses the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital and Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital, which was designed with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center and listed on the Green Guide's list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. HackensackUMC is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls and is Official Medical Services Provider to The Barclays PGA Golf Tournament. It remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.