AVAIL Fund Provides Non-Medical Living Expenses to Recovering Cancer Patients
Sarasota, FL – May 13, 2015…The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, the charitable arm of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), announced that grants to patients will exceed $1 million by the end of this year.
“That represents an increase of 85% since the Foundation was established in 2012. Florida Cancer Specialists pays the major expenses of the Foundation, such as personnel salaries and overhead, so that 100% of every dollar contributed goes directly to helping qualified patients with cancer throughout Florida” said FCS CEO Bradley Prechtl, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation.
To heighten awareness and bring clarity to the mission of the Foundation, the AVAIL Fund, an acronym for Available and Valuable Assistance for Immediate Living expenses, was recently chosen as the signature name for the principal grant fund to aptly describe the purpose for which the grants are given. The FCS Foundation provides assistance with non-medical living expenses to adult cancer patients in Florida, whether or not they are patients of Florida Cancer Specialists.
Dr. Bill Harwin, President and Founder of FCS, and a generous group of like-minded Florida Cancer Specialists physicians established and initially seeded the Foundation. The physicians wanted to assist low-income cancer patients and relieve some of the stress and worry about paying bills, so these patients could focus on what really matters – fighting cancer.
“AVAIL provides meaningful financial support to adult cancer patients in Florida for immediate, nonmedical living expenses while they are undergoing cancer treatment,” Dr. Harwin said. “It’s stressful enough to be diagnosed with cancer, let alone having to worry about making your house or car payments.” For more information on how you may donate or apply for a grant from the AVAIL fund, please visit Foundation.FLCancer.com or call 941-677-7181.
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About Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation:
The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation was created to help qualified patients who need financial assistance while undergoing treatment for cancer. The Foundation’s AVAIL Fund allows those fighting cancer to concentrate on recovery, rather than worrying about bills such as rent, mortgage, utilities or car payments. The Foundation office is located at 5202 Paylor Lane in Sarasota, Florida. You can learn more about the FCS Foundation at Foundation.FLCancer.com or by calling 941-677-7181.
About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute:
At Florida Cancer Specialists, our primary purpose – and our passion – is to provide the most advanced cancer treatment, using cutting-edge technologies, in a setting where patients can be close to home and surrounded by family and friends. Founded in 1984, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) is the largest independent medical oncology/hematology practice in the United States. With over 170 physicians, 110 nurse practitioners and physician assistants and over 80 locations in our network, we are committed to providing world-class cancer care in community-based settings close to home. Recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with a national Clinical Trials Participation Award, FCS offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. Our physicians are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report. Trained in such prestigious medical schools and research institutes as Duke, Stanford, Harvard, Emory, M.D. Anderson, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering, the physicians of Florida Cancer Specialists provide leadership and consultation in the state’s leading hospitals. FCS serves patients on the Gulf Coast from Naples to the greater Tampa Bay area, north as far as Tallahassee, in Orlando and surrounding Central Florida communities, and on the East Coast in Daytona/Palm Coast, Vero Beach/Sebastian and in Palm Beach County. At Florida Cancer Specialists, our primary purpose – and our passion – is to provide the most advanced cancer treatment, using cutting-edge technologies, in a setting where patients can be close to home and surrounded by family and friends.
For more information, contact:
Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation
Beth Bush, Foundation Manager – bbush@flcancer.com
941.677.7184
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Shelly Glenn, Chief Marketing Officer – sglenn@flcancer.com
770.365.6168
Double Diamond Marketing + Communications
Angela Evans – angela@dddinc.com
Elaine Ganick – elaine@dddinc.com
615.254.1515