The Penn State Hershey Four Diamonds Fund, founded in 1972 by Charles and Irma Millard after their son Christopher lost his battle with childhood cancer, recently released its 2008-09 annual report. Highlights from the past fiscal year include:
- There were 527 pediatric patients seen throughout the year, including 75 new patients.
- Gifts donated to Four Diamonds totaled nearly $9.5 million, with nearly $7.5 million raised through Penn State's THON.
- Thirty-eight Pennsylvania schools hosted mini-THONs, raising more than $792,000.
- Less than 2.5 percent of annual operating budget used for administrative expenses.
- The Penn State Dance Marathon completed its financial commitment to a freestanding Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital building, which will allow pediatric oncology outpatient and inpatient services to be located in the same state-of-the-art facility, providing easier access for patients and their families.
- Unique programs supported by Four Diamonds, such as music therapy and clinical nutrition.
- An update on pediatric cancer research supported by The Four Diamonds Fund.
- A Four Diamonds story of why the Angus family started an annual 135-mile run to kick off THON.
“The goal of The Four Diamonds Fund is to help all pediatric oncology patient families at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, regardless of income,” said Sara Firestone, director of the Four Diamonds Fund. “Families receive support in so many ways, whether it is financial assistance, support from Four Diamonds staff within the Children’s Hospital, or from breakthroughs that have come from research.”
The mission of The Four Diamonds Fund is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research. The founding purpose of the fund is to cover medical expenses not covered by a family’s insurance or other means. Four Diamonds meets all eligible requests for coverage of medical expenses first. Once those needs are covered, the Fund supports Children’s Hospital staff members dedicated to Four Diamonds families and pediatric cancer research at Penn State College of Medicine.
View the entire 2008-09 Four Diamonds annual report at http://www.pennstatehershey.org/fourdiamonds online.