American Cancer Society Makes Significant Shift in Utah Hope Lodge Campaign, Commences by Joining the National #GivingTuesday Movement

The Society calls on Intermountain West residents to fund a night and change the life of a cancer patient needing to stay at Hope Lodge in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, December 2, 2014 – This #GivingTuesday, as the nation comes together to celebrate generosity and give back, the American Cancer Society is asking Utah and the Intermountain West region to help fund patients’ stays at the soon-to-be Hope Lodge in Salt Lake City by making a donation at GiveHopeAHome.org on or before December, 2. The request comes as the Hope Lodge Campaign Board announces it has successfully raised the funds necessary to complete construction, and begins to focus on ensuring an operational budget is in place.

A donation of just $38 will fund a night for a patient and caregiver who will be able to stay at the lodge free of charge for the duration of their treatment. The average length of a patient’s stay at an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge is 21 days.

“Hard work and generous gifts from many have helped us raise the funds necessary to begin construction and prepare to open the doors of Hope Lodge in 2015 to cancer patients throughout the West. The efforts and donations surrounding #GivingTuesday mark the beginning of a new, exciting phase which focuses on both operating the Hope Lodge and providing much-needed services and programs to patients as they come to this place of healing and refuge,” said Katie Eccles, Hope Lodge Board Chair.

Coinciding with Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday shopping season marked by Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, #GivingTuesday reminds us that the spirit of the season should be about community and giving back and not just consumerism.

“We hope that as people give thanks for their health and enjoy a comfortable home with loved ones, they will join with us in providing a refuge to those in need. The Hope Lodge will allow people facing cancer not just a place to stay, but the right place to stay. We have been thrilled with the community support to raise funds for the Lodge and hope we can rally as we finish construction,” said Zeke Dumke III, Hope Lodge Board Vice-Chair.

The journey facing someone diagnosed with cancer can be a long and costly one. Leaving home to travel to treatment facilities can be especially isolating and lonely – and can create unnecessary levels of stress for the cancer patient, who should focus on their treatment. With the community’s help, the Society can provide a facility that will dramatically change the cancer journey for thousands of patients and caregivers.

Hope Lodge will provide a home away from home for cancer patients traveling to Salt Lake City for cancer treatment; minimize stress; promote healing by creating a nurturing positive environment; and ease the journey that every cancer patient faces.

There are currently 31 Hope Lodges across the country serving the lodging needs of adult cancer patients. The Salt Lake City Hope Lodge will be the first to serve the Intermountain West and is expected to serve 800 patients per year. On #GivingTuesday, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

For more information on the Salt Lake City Hope Lodge Day of Giving campaign or to donate, visit GiveHopeAHome.org.

About the American Cancer Society Utah
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We’re determined to finish the fight against cancer. We’re finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Media Contacts:
Emilee McConkie
For American Cancer Society

801.708.9601

Shane Ferraro, Media Relations Manager
American Cancer Society
928.273.2818