The National Children’s Cancer Society Awarded $50,0000 Grant From The Genetech Foundation

ST. LOUIS - March 13, 2015 - PRLog -- The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from The Genentech Foundation to ensure children with cancer have access to treatment.

The grant was awarded specifically in support of the organization’s Transportation Assistance Fund (http://thenccs.org/financial-assistance) which provides financial support for travel and lodging expenses associated with having a child in treatment.

This year, nearly 16,000 children and adolescents will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States.  It is a diagnosis that impacts the entire family, as parents struggle to take care of their sick child while also maintaining their households, taking care of their other children, missing work and ensuring the family's financial stability.  And one of their most difficult struggles, yet most basic needs, is simply getting their child to and from treatment.

“We are so grateful to The Genentech Foundation for their support.  Genentech understands the incredible burden that childhood cancer puts on families.  Their generosity provides tremendous relief for families and allows parents to focus on what’s most important—getting their child the treatment they need to survive,” said Julie Komanetsky, NCCS Vice President of Patient & Family Services.

The Genentech Foundation is a U.S.-based, private charitable foundation. It was established in 2002 by Genentech, a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes biotherapeutics for significant unmet medical needs. The Foundation provides financial support to qualified nonprofit U.S.-based charitable organizations.  .

In 2009, the Genentech Foundation established the Everyday Needs Assistance Program to provide financial assistance to organizations that support families with children facing cancer.

The National Children’s Cancer Society, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a not-for-profit organization providing emotional, financial and educational support to children with cancer, their families and survivors.   For more information call 314-241-1600, visit www.theNCCS.org or find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thenccs.