A greeting that gives

Cards send cheer with message of hope

BY Miriam Spradling

MD Anderson's Holiday Giving Program lets friends show appreciation for others with a memorable holiday card while supporting programs that make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. Each year, a pediatric patient designs the holiday card through the Children's Art Project. The program received a record-breaking $710,000 in 2013 and has raised $4.9 million since 1990. It helps with patient assistance, education, prevention and community outreach programs. Donations convert scientific discoveries into clinical advances, reducing cancer's devastating effects.

For the second year, part of these funds will award college scholarships through the MD Anderson Blood Bank High School Scholarship Program. Recipients attend schools that host two or more blood drives a year with the MD Anderson High School Donors Program. Fifteen graduating high school seniors who promote blood donations within their communities earn $1,000 in scholarships, with one recipient winning the $5,000 grand prize.

Last year’s grand prize winner, Jacqueline Reyes, is halfway through her freshman year of college. She says support from the Holiday Giving Program made it possible for her to continue her studies.

“I’m so thankful for this amazing award and that I can go to college without putting the heavy weight of tuition on my parents’ shoulders,” Reyes says. “Donating blood is very important to me. I see it as a gift of life.”

Reyes is on the pre-medical track and plans to eventually become a Navy physician. She’s the president of HOSA-Future Health Professionals, the largest student organization that prepares students to enter the healthcare field.

The Holiday Program also supports the Anderson Network Cancer Survivorship Conference, the “Too Cool to Smoke" Puppet Show, psychiatry services for patients and family members, and many other initiatives that are Making Cancer History^® all year long.

You've got options

Choose between two options for sending this year’s featured giving card:

Provide a mailing list, and MD Anderson will send a card to each honoree; or
Have cards sent to your address, add a personal greeting and mail them yourself.

For more information and to support the Holiday Giving Program, visit www.mdanderson.org/holiday.

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