Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Inspires the Best in People during the Hardest of Economic Times

September 6, 2009

Children being treated at the Aflac Cancer Center have found a huge support team in Aflac, NASCAR, and Facebook users.

A Facebook Cause “Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta” has sparked attention and grown tremendously this month due to recent Aflac sponsorship and the avalanche of word-of-mouth support by cause members.  By day six of the thirty-day matching campaign, the Cause has already attracted 63,000 new members, and raised a combined total of over $275,000 for the Aflac Cancer Center.

The Center treats over 350 children every year for cancer and blood disorders.

Starting September 1st, and running through the end of the month, Aflac is sponsoring a $1,000,000 integrated fundraising campaign.  For each person who joins the Facebook Cause www.aflac.com/aflaccancercenter - Aflac will donate $1.  Add to that a dollar-for-dollar match for donations, and you have the largest Matching Campaign Facebook has ever been involved with.

The contributions were kicked off with an incredible $100,000 personal donation from Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos.  “The heroic doctors and nurses at the Aflac Cancer Center work hard to improve the lives of children while delivering much-needed hope to families,” Amos said. “That’s why Aflac, our sales agents and our employees continue to embrace this great cause. We are proud to match donations and encourage everyone to show their support for children and families dealing with cancer.”

The multi-faceted fundraising plan that Aflac and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) have for the month include:

• The Facebook Cause Information/Donation page: www.aflac.com/aflaccancercenter

• The September 6th NASCAR Atlanta Motor Speedway Race - where Carl Edwards will be driving his No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion (with special paint scheme designed by a 13-year-old patient at the Aflac Cancer Center).  Carl will be donating a portion of his winnings from the September 6^th race to the Aflac Cancer Center.  NASCAR fans can text “GOCARL” TO 90999 to donate $5, which the NASCAR Foundation has pledged to match, up to $10,000.

Funds raised will go toward treatment of these brave children, and also be used for funding research, a new state-of-the-art pediatric research building, and endowments for the Family Support Team and Followship Program.

On the Facebook Cause page itself, you will see an ever-growing number of members, and an equally budding dollar amount donated.  This is because Aflac donates one dollar for each person who joins.  With the site averaging over ten people joining every minute, you will be treated to an inspiring donation increase every time you refresh your browser.

Many of the page’s posts are stories submitted by the Cause’s supportive members – many of whom are the parents of patients who have been, or are currently being treated at the Aflac Cancer Center.  These stories can be both heart-warming… and heart-breaking.  In either case, they bring into the spotlight the urgent need for action. 

Childhood Cancer is the number one cause of death by disease for children under 15.  Cancer in children is not, however, the hopeless disease it once was.  In the 1980s, childhood cancer survival rates were less than 20%.  Today, due largely in part to increases and advancements in treatment, along with the generosity of people who donate their time and money to causes like this one, childhood cancer survival rates are at over 80%.

It is refreshing and reassuring to see people like the Facebook fans, NASCAR Foundation, Dan Amos, Aflac and its employees, and the friends and family of children treated at the Aflac Cancer Center come together to such a large extent to spread the word about this cause.  To donate their time, their money, and in many cases; their difficult personal stories – all to rally for these children who can use every ounce of help they can get. 

Our economy may be suffering, but this campaign is showing that our compassion, our hearts, and our national conscience is not.

-Jacob Carter

CNN IREPORTER

AFLAC AGENT

CAUSE CREATOR/ADMINISTRATOR

www.aflac.com/aflaccancercenter