HOPE Donates $50,000 to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® Deliver on the Promise of Personalized Medicine

CARMEL, Ind., Dec. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- HOPE (Health Opportunity through Partnership in Education), together with Washington National Insurance Company, donates $50,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® to support world-class pediatric cancer research.

The donation will specifically support the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project launched in 2010 by St. Jude in collaboration with Washington University, St. Louis, to find clues to the causes of childhood cancer and potential new treatments and cures.

The multi-million-dollar project compares healthy tissues with cancerous tissues to better understand DNA mutations and other genetic changes that give rise to childhood cancer.  The findings are expected to lay the foundation for the next generation of treatments.

"We're proud to join the fight against childhood cancer and are pleased to make this donation on behalf of HOPE," said Barbara Stewart, president of HOPE.  "'The Genome Project provides us an opportunity to support St. Jude in the important work of identifying new methods of diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancers."

"St. Jude Children's Research Hospital appreciates this generous donation to continue genome sequencing and freely sharing the breakthroughs it makes," said Nichole Ornelas, associate director of the ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital office in Indianapolis.  "Every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more."

HOPE, a non-profit organization formed in 1982, provides charitable funds to promote good health and to encourage scientific research.  HOPE members and Washington National's more than 175,000 policy certificate holders generously contribute to the HOPE foundation to support and promote its mission.

About HOPE
HOPE (Health Opportunity through Partnership in Education) is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1982.  HOPE's mission is to promote good health, to encourage scientific research, and to disseminate information about the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer and other serious diseases and accidents.  For more information, visit HopeMembers.com.

About Washington National Insurance Company
Washington National Insurance Company, a subsidiary of CNO Financial Group, Inc., has helped Americans since 1911 to protect themselves and their families from the financial hardship that often comes with critical illness, accidents or loss of life.  The company's supplemental health and life insurance products are designed to help give policyholders and their loved ones peace of mind. Policyholders can depend on Washington National to be a strong, caring partner in helping to provide financial security for them and their families.  To learn more, visit WashingtonNational.com.

SOURCE Washington National Insurance Company