The Ford Motor Company Fund returns as the presenting sponsor of the St. Jude Detroit Gala at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn.
| DETROIT, /PRNewswire/ -- The Ford Motor Company Fund returns as the presenting sponsor of the St. Jude Detroit Gala at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn.
“Ford Fund is proud to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the important work they do to support families affected by pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases,” said Jim Vella, president of the Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. “At the Ford Fund, our mission is to help make people’s lives better and St. Jude does that every day by providing access to treatment and alleviating financial burdens for the children and families they serve.” Event co-chair Sarah Ford credits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® with saving her life after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer, at age 2. St. Jude has increased survival rates for ALL from 4 percent when it opened in 1962 to 94 percent today. St. Jude physician Dr. Gaston Rivera, M.D., never doubted Ford would pull through, promising her when she first came to St. Jude that he would dance at her wedding one day. Decades later, her oncologist followed through on that promise, and today, Ford is living life to the fullest as a mother of two children. “All kids deserve a chance to live long, healthy lives just like Sarah Ford,” said Cynthia Gardner, regional executive director of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “By attending the gala and sponsoring the event, our community partners are helping ensure those diagnosed with childhood cancer or other life-threatening diseases get that chance.” Thanks to the support of a number of local sponsors, including the Lear Corporation and DTE Energy Foundation, the gala will include a cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment, and both live and silent auctions. They share a vision that supports local children who might receive care at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as well as the thousands of families around the globe who benefit from its research discoveries that are freely shared with doctors and scientists everywhere. The Detroit community has generously supported this gala over the years to help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food—because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. St. Jude founder Danny Thomas was a Michigan native, and this event has existed in various forms since the 1960s. For more information, visit stjude.org/detroitgala. About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
SOURCE St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
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