Hospira Foundation Announces The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as Winner of $100,000 (Mission: Care)2 Grant

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Dec. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hospira Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hospira, Inc., today announced that The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was selected to receive the additional $100,000 grant as part of (Mission: Care)², the 2014 Hospira Foundation Grant Challenge. LLS was one of 10 recipients of the initial $10,000 grants for (Mission: Care)², which then participated in a video contest – voted on by the public – to determine the recipient of the additional $100,000 grant.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will receive a total of $110,000 from the Hospira Foundation for its national Patient Travel Assistance Program, which assists patients around the country with treatment-related transportation and lodging financial challenges.

"We were thrilled to receive the grant from the Hospira Foundation for this program as it's so important to patients," said Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "So many blood cancer patients do not have full access to their care because they can't afford to travel to medical centers that provide the specialized care they need. This program helps give patients that access to treatment."

LLS is the world's largest voluntary (nonprofit) health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The organization's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

"We want to thank all of the organizations who participated in the (Mission: Care)² Grant Challenge and congratulate The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," said Stacey Eisen, president, Hospira Foundation. "We look forward to seeing how all of the organizations will make a difference for people around the country."

Through the (Mission: Care)² challenge, the Hospira Foundation gave a total of $200,000 to 10 organizations that support the Foundation's mission to advance oncology education and wellness programs, and improve access to affordable healthcare services.

About The Hospira Foundation

Established in 2004, the Hospira Foundation is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation focused on improving health and wellness in the communities Hospira touches. The philanthropic arm of Hospira, Inc., the Hospira Foundation provides grants to charities whose missions and programs support the focus areas of advancing oncology education and wellness programs, and/or improving access to affordable healthcare services. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated approximately $10 million to support communities across the globe.

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SOURCE The Hospira Foundation