Ed. 1, No.1 June - December 2005

Welcome to the first edition of CAGNO’s E-newsletter! The Board of Directors, volunteers and staff at CAGNO would like to express our heartfelt sympathies to everyone affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Hurricane Update CAGNO is back and has eagerly resumed its existing social services programs. CAGNO’s five loyal staff members returned to the CAGNO office six months ago (how quickly the time flies by), and we were relieved and blessed to find little damage to the building and no damage to our office. So we immediately set off at the task at hand: locating our patients, contacting pharmacies and vendors and adapting our programs to meet the returning community’s ever-changing and most immediate needs. Program Update Current Patient Services Program offerings have now expanded to include assistance with transportation costs, medical bills and housing expenses. CAGNO has also been working closely with the local medical community to promote public health through educational outreach. Please rest assured that CAGNO’s commitment to prevention remains as strong as ever. Schools, businesses, organizations, and groups wishing to schedule stress management, site-specific or tobacco prevention seminars can still contact CAGNO at 504.733.5539 or 1.800.624.2039. We’d also love to work with anyone wishing to initiate a tobacco cessation group for their friends, co-workers or peers. Grants The National Cancer Coalition (NCC), Direct Relief International, Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Allstate Foundation and the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation have partnered with CAGNO to meet the critical and most immediate needs of our cancer patients. Since the storm, CAGNO has received $2,000 from NCC, $65,500 from Direct Relief International, $50,000 from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, $15,000 from the Allstate Foundation and $20,000 from the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation to assist in CAGNO’s journey in the fight against cancer. Because of the generosity of these foundations and organizations, CAGNO has been able to expand its patient services program to assist with medical expenses, transportation costs, and nutritional supplements. CAGNO thanks you for your support! The Tenet Healthcare Foundation has awarded CAGNO with a $2,000 grant to support CAGNO’s operating budget. The generous award came at the recommendation of Memorial Medical Center. Thank you to both! CAGNO wishes the Tenet Healthcare system well and hopes for its speedy recovery following the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The New Orleans affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has awarded CAGNO with a $5,000 grant to purchase prescription medications for breast cancer patients who cannot afford them. CAGNO has also received support from the organization as a whole. The national headquarters of the Komen Foundation granted $50,000 to CAGNO to help in the recovery of CAGNO’s breast cancer patients. Thanks, Komen Foundation, for your continued support. In Memoriam CAGNO mourns the passing of our dear friend, Dianne Montalbano Brant. Dianne lost her long battle with cancer on February 21, 2006. Dianne supported CAGNO through the proceeds of her CD, "Songs My Daddy Sang" and with a live performance at Le Chat Noir. We offer our condolences to her husband David (Mr. B) and her son Randy. Past Events in 2005 Health Educator honored at alma mater CAGNO’s Health Education Director, Tammy Swindle, (formerly Louk), was honored as the Outstanding Alumnus in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) on April 26, during their annual honors convocation. Swindle received a Bachelor of Science from SLU in 1991 and a Masters in Health Education in 1994. Since joining CAGNO’s staff in the fall of 1996, Swindle has developed myriad health education programs and has been awarded numerous honors. Congratulations to Swindle--we’re lucky to have you! CAGNO Awards $18,000 to 12 Student Cancer Researchers Twelve student scientists each received a $1,500 research stipend for their efforts in the fight against cancer. Three projects will be co-sponsored by the Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force (LBCTF) because of the project’s relevance to breast cancer. Those students will receive $1,000 from the LBCTF and $500 from CAGNO. For a list of grant recipients, please click here. Run for Cancer raises more than $8,000 The 12th Annual Tom Sawyer Mississippi River Run, held just weeks before Hurricane Katrina, was another big success thanks to the generosity and support that our loyal community members, local businesses and runners showed us. More than 400 runners participated in the 2-mile race through the Warehouse District and the CBD despite the rainy weather earlier that morning. Because of your support, CAGNO was able to raise more than $8,000 for its three community programs. We thank you and hope that you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. For a list of race winners, please click here. Happy Birthday, Amelia Leonardi, CAGNO’s newest board member! Amelia Leonardi celebrated her 50th birthday with 200 of her closest family, friends and colleagues at the Women’s Opera Guild House on Saturday, July 16. The party featured a silent auction, live music, and delicious food catered by Jacques-Imo’s Cafe, a favorite local institution that is owned and operated by her husband, Jacques. In lieu of the traditional birthday gifts, Amelia suggested that her guests make donations to CAGNO. Because of the generosity of Amelia and her guests, CAGNO received nearly $16,000 to benefit its patient services, education and research programs. Thanks, Amelia. And happy birthday. Cancer Survivors Day: 2006 Celebration to be held June 4 The 18th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day on Sunday, June 5, was another huge success, with 100 cancer survivors in attendance. Said Tammy, local chairperson of the Greater New Orleans Planning Committee, "It was a true ‘Celebration of Life.’ The survivors’ shared experiences and love for life and laughter make the event especially special and poignant."  This year's celebration will be held Sunday, June 4, at the Kenner Pavilion (Vintage and Loyola) from 2 to 4 p.m. Zephyrs Raise $825 for CAGNO CAGNO, the New Orleans Zephyrs and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) teamed up for their second fun-filled evening at America’s favorite pastime. Last year’s "Go to Bat Against Cancer," held on May 20, burst with a spectacular Star Wars-themed fireworks display. Through raffle and game ticket sales, the Zephyrs raised a total of $1,650 for the two local beneficiaries and will distribute the proceeds equally between CAGNO and PanCAN. Adams & Reese Raises Awareness and $800 for Prostate Cancer Patients Nearly 100 Adams and Reese attorneys and staff in the New Orleans office joined together to celebrate HUGS 17th birthday on June 23. HUGS, appropriately named to represent the Hope, Understanding, Giving and Support it encourages, was founded in June 1988 to promote social responsibility among members of the firm. This year, the firm used the special occasion to support prostate cancer awareness and treatment. Donations were collected during the event and nearly $800 was raised, which will benefit CAGNO’s Patient Services Program.