AbbVie issued the following announcement on Sept. 21.
AbbVie, a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, today announced a donation of $5 million to Family Reach to support the organization's efforts to alleviate the financial burden of cancer on pediatric patients and families across the United States. This donation, the largest contribution received by Family Reach, was announced at the Biden Cancer Summit in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, the Biden Cancer Summit aims to drive a sense of urgency in developing and implementing new solutions, to build a cancer community that is connected, coordinated, and collaborative, and to showcase the broad range of unique cancer experiences and stories that together comprise the collective cancer narrative.
Grounded in the belief that no child's chance of overcoming cancer should be jeopardized by financial barriers, AbbVie's donation will enable Family Reach to expand the scope of its support programs to an additional 25 hospitals in 25 states to reach an estimated 4,400 additional families. The donation will also be used to launch new programs and train new staff to add 125 hospital-based social workers, resource navigators, and nurse navigators to Family Reach's network. Within the next two years, these additions will allow Family Reach to help approximately 200,000 people.
"Families dealing with cancer need more than a cure. We see the financial struggles families with cancer face every day and the dangerous decisions it forces them to make; do they pay their heating bill or put food on the table? These financial barriers directly impact patient's survival rate because they affect their ability to access care and adhere to life-saving treatment," said Carla Tardif, CEO of Family Reach. "We are tremendously grateful to AbbVie for recognizing the magnitude of this issue. With AbbVie's support, Family Reach can build upon our support programs that will impact families chances of making it to the other side of cancer."
Recognizing Family Reach's ability to make a difference for families during one of the most challenging times of their lives, AbbVie has, since 2014, been supporting Family Reach with grants that have positively impacted over 10,000 people. The company saw an opportunity to create an even bigger impact with the $5 million gift, which will also be used to develop educational resources and tools that families can use to navigate and manage the financial impact of cancer treatment.
"As the only national nonprofit focused exclusively on addressing this issue for over 20 years, Family Reach remains steadfast in its dedication to reducing the financial hardships on families facing a cancer diagnosis," said Laura Schumacher, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, AbbVie. "Family Reach's solution-based model helps so many families at critical junctures in their lives so that they can focus on what truly matters: the health and needs of their child. We are proud that our support will allow Family Reach to significantly expand its work."
New resources will be available to families nationwide by mid-2019 and will include a financial planning program, a set of financial literacy tools and a digital hub for improving data and information-sharing among a network of nonprofits offering financial assistance to cancer patients and their families.
AbbVie is deeply committed to helping families across America thrive. It is this mission that drives AbbVie forward, both in its efforts to advance science and in its commitment to support individuals and communities in need. This donation to Family Reach is part of a larger philanthropic pledge this year: AbbVie is donating $350 million to U.S.-based nonprofits in 2018. As part of these donations, AbbVie is contributing $155 million to leading nonprofit organizations working to address the unrelenting challenges that families of children diagnosed with a life-altering illness face.
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