https://www.memorialcare.org/press-room/

MemorialCare's Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach announced 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 2023 Gala was held on Saturday, June 3 at the Museum of Latin American Art.