MemorialCare’s Long Beach hospitals join forces with Long Beach Cancer League to localize leading cancer program funding

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MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beachannounced today with the Long Beach Cancer League a partnership to ensure all proceeds raised by the Cancer League throughout the year including their annual gala will be directed to MemorialCare’s adult and pediatric cancer programs – ensuring all funds raised locally, stay locally.

This is especially important as many of the patients treated at either MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center’s Todd Cancer Institute or Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital’s Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute are financially disadvantaged or are covered by Medi-Cal and this funding will greatly help offset some of the costs.

“We are over the moon with gratitude for the Long Beach Cancer League,” says Rob Gunsalus, president, MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Foundation. “Our award-winning hospitals have always depended on support from the community, and to now have this wonderful group of local leaders supporting the innovative care and research being done right here in Long Beach by our Todd Cancer Institute and Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute is a significant boost to the health and well-being of our communities.”

According to the City of Long Beach’s most recent community health assessment, cancer is the second leading cause of death in Long Beach, followed only after heart disease. The assessment states that cancer was the cause of 690 deaths for Long Beach residents, and the leading cause of premature death, with an annual average of 5,473 years of potential life lost.

“For years all the money we raised through the efforts of the Long Beach Cancer League was donated to a national cancer organization,” says Tammy Newland-Shishido, president, Long Beach Cancer League. “And while they do amazing work, we wanted to make sure that we were investing back into the health of our own community. This partnership with MemorialCare, who has breakthrough therapies and research in both pediatric and adult cancer, just made sense. With this partnership we have a centralized effort to support Long Beach residents on their cancer journey.”

In addition to funding, the two organizations will be aligned in sharing resources for the Long Beach community through support groups and informational resources.

The Long Beach Cancer League’s annual Gala will be held on Saturday, June 3 at the Museum of Latin American Art.

About MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach:

MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach are designated with the prestigious Magnet® recognition for excellence in nursing. Long Beach Medical Center has been providing compassionate care with the latest state-of-the-art technology for more than 100 years and is the region’s first choice for comprehensive care in virtually every medical and surgical specialty. Miller Children’s & Women’s provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults — as well as maternity care for expectant mothers — under one roof. Since both hospitals share one campus, they are uniquely qualified to care for patients of all ages, from a newborn to an older adult. Visit memorialcare.org/LongBeach and millerchildrens.org for more information

About Long Beach Cancer League

The Long Beach Cancer League is a volunteer, fundraising auxiliary for cancer research, programs, and support services since 1975. For 45 years, we have held an annual Gala/Auction attended by 350 guests. We have always raised funds to support cancer research & services, and now we also use our funds for excellence in patient care provided at MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center and Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach.