Dear Friends,
Cancer is scary. It’s sneaky. It’s pervasive. And for me, it is at the top of my mind every day. That’s what happens when you work for one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States. You hear stories about lifechanging diagnoses all the time.
You might think that this line of work makes me fearful. Instead, I am overwhelmingly optimistic. Why? Because I get to see the best of humanity every day.
I am reminded of Fred Rogers’ famous story about his mom:
"My mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world."
Mr. Rogers’ mom was right (as moms often are). There is ALWAYS reason to hope.
At City of Hope®, I see helpers everywhere: doctors, nurses, scientists, social workers, child life specialists, patient navigators, support group leaders, valets, campus traffic controllers, donors and volunteers — all deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of our patients and families.
In this month’s newsletter, I hope you will see why I see City of Hope as a City of Helpers.
- You’ll hear from Susan Brown, Ph.D., M.S.N., R.N., CENP, City of Hope’s chief nursing officer, whose team of nearly 2,500 nurses are the epitome of love, kindness and support during the most vulnerable moments for patients.
- You’ll read the incredible story of two strangers brought together by a lifesaving bone marrow transplant.
- You’ll see how the extraordinary efforts of our researchers are leading to smarter and more precise cancer treatments and diagnostic tools.
- And you’ll see how our supporters of all kinds — from leaders of the furniture industry to dedicated Walk for Hope volunteers — are bringing people together to finally end cancer for all.
There are thousands of stories like this playing out every day. And that’s because there are so many caring people who share in our mission to defeat cancer and diabetes: 12,000 City of Hope employees, 100,000 donors and 25,000 volunteers. In our own ways, we are all helpers. We are all a source of hope.
Thank you for being a part of our philanthropic community and making our work possible. Together, our impact is truly exponential.
With gratitude,
Kristin J. Bertell
Chief Philanthropy Officer