COLUMBIA, S.C., July 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the leading
provider of voluntary insurance at the work site in the United States, along with Palmetto Health
Children's Hospital presented two Duckprints Awards to local
(South Carolina) heroes whose
commitments to the fight against childhood cancer have left a
huge footprint in the community. The ceremony, held at Palmetto
Health Children's Hospital in Columbia,
South Carolina, recognized a local high school and the
dedicated founder of a camp for children with cancer for their
contributions to this worthy cause. Attendees also heard the story
of Kaitlyn Jacobs, a high school
student and patient at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital whose
life has been impacted by childhood cancer.
The 2015 Duckprints Awardees are:
- Linda Wells — the first
pediatric oncology/hematology nurse at Palmetto Health Children's
Hospital and co-founder of CAMP KEMO, a camp for children with
cancer and their siblings, celebrating its 36th
year.
- Airport High School — the school's annual charity drive has
created a movement and inspired philanthropy among students,
faculty, staff and alumni. In 11 years, more than $300,000 has been raised for CAMP KEMO Programs
of Palmetto Health Children's Hospital.
Legendary Carolina Gamecock quarterback and the current voice of
the University of South Carolina
Gamecocks, Todd Ellis, served as
master of ceremonies for the event. Ellis' daughter Logan is a
childhood cancer survivor.
"Any family who has been touched by cancer, especially those who
have seen their child battle this terrible disease, understands why
we need to keep fighting every day," Ellis said. "As one of those
families, we cannot say enough about these individuals who have
dedicated their time and efforts to helping children like Logan. We
are thrilled to honor them here today."
"Being a children's oncology nurse is a career. Going that extra
mile and founding a camp for children and families facing cancer is
a calling," said Kathelen Amos,
president of the Aflac Foundation. "Organizing a high school to
raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for families you have never
met is an incredible act of selflessness. Today's awardees are a
reflection of Aflac's values and our community, so we proudly honor
them for their heroic efforts."
"We are so inspired by the honorees today," said Sam Tenenbaum, president, Palmetto Health
Foundation. "Our partnership with Aflac allows us to highlight
special people like this who have made such a profound difference
in the lives of patients and families."
In addition to this event, Aflac recently committed $500,000 for an endowed chair for
hematology/oncology at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital so that
an even greater focus can be placed on treating and researching
childhood cancer.
As part of the Duckprints campaign, Aflac is calling on unsung
heroes across America to become active in the cause. The company is
donating $2 for any
Duckprints-related social actions taken on social media,
including:
Twitter - $2 for any tweet
using the hashtag #Duckprints or for retweets of Duckprints-related
tweets.
Facebook - $2 for any share of
specific posts related to Duckprints or using #Duckprints.
YouTube - $2 per view of the
Duckprints videos on YouTube.
Instagram - $2 for every post
using the hashtag #Duckprints.
Aflac also created a website (aflacduckprints.com) that enables
users to nominate unsung heroes in their community who have made a
difference in the lives of children and families facing
cancer. People can follow the Aflac Duck on his journey to
hospitals around the country honoring those who have made a
difference in the fight against childhood cancer. In addition,
merchandise such as plush Aflac Ducks and Duckprints-related
T-shirts, slippers and other items will be available for purchase
at aflacduckprints.com, with all of the net proceeds going toward
the treatment and research of childhood cancer.
About Duckprints Award recipient Linda Wells, MA, RN,
FAAN
Because of her work as the first pediatric
oncology/hematology nurse at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital,
Linda had a vision to create a camp experience for children with
cancer and their siblings. She wanted to give them an opportunity
to feel independent and just be kids at camp. Thirty-six years ago,
she was instrumental in co-founding CAMP KEMO, the fifth oldest
camp of its kind in the United
States. Linda's expertise in nursing research and pediatric
cancer care translated to numerous enhancements of programs and
services for children and their families. She helped create CAMP
KEMO programs to meet the psychosocial needs of patients and
families facing challenges caused by cancer. The programs educate,
inspire and support the entire family so life is more manageable
and enjoyable. After 25 years of helping thousands of patients and
families, Linda retired from Palmetto Health Children's Hospital in
2002; however, her legacy of giving back continues as she serves on
the CAMP KEMO Advisory Council. In 2013, Linda and her family
established the Linda Wells CAMP KEMO endowment at Palmetto Health
Foundation to continue to support children with cancer and their
families for many years to come. Linda's nursing career
spanned 50 years. She is currently the post-award program
coordinator at the University of South
Carolina College of Nursing.
About Airport High School
Students and leaders of
Airport High School have created a grassroots movement unlike
anything they ever imagined. The school's annual 10-day charity
drive has created a culture of philanthropy, and the outcome has
been transformational — nearly $300,000 for CAMP KEMO Programs of Palmetto
Health Children's Hospital. Since 2004, Airport High School's
student government has set a fundraising goal and empowered
students, faculty, alumni and community partners to support the
daily events of the charity drive. A garage sale, bake sale,
kickball tournament and pie throw are among many creative
fundraising efforts led by students. As CAMP KEMO Program's fifth
largest donor, Airport High School continues to inspire
philanthropy and encourage our community to make a difference in
the lives of more than 750 children treated each year in the
Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Palmetto Health
Children's Hospital.
About Kaitlyn
Jacobs
A typical high school student, Kaitlyn was
very active in various clubs, particularly the Drama Club. One day
while she was working on the Homecoming float, Kaitlyn felt
extremely fatigued with continuous arm pain that was believed to
have been a pulled muscle. The family was shocked to hear the
diagnosis. At age 17, just eight months prior to her high school
graduation, Kaitlyn was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(ALL), a cancer of the blood that starts in the bone marrow and
spreads to the bloodstream.
Kaitlyn began her treatment at Palmetto Health Children's
Hospital in October 2014 and
continues weekly chemotherapy treatments. The clinical staff has
come to rely on her encouraging spirit and her heart for kids. She
is committed to lifting the spirits of younger patients in the
clinic.
Kaitlyn recently graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School and was accepted
into Clemson University where she plans
to study secondary education. Her love of kids continues with her
goal of becoming a high school history teacher at an alternative
school.
About Todd R. Ellis
Todd Ellis, play-by-play "Voice of
the Gamecocks" for the University of South
Carolina Football, is the school's all-time leading passer.
Todd set more than 20 school records at Carolina before being
drafted by the Denver Broncos and playing in the World League of
American Football.
After his stint in professional football, Todd earned a law
degree from the University of South
Carolina School of Law in 1995, started his practice in
Columbia and married his wife,
Cissy.
When their daughter, Logan, was just five months old, Todd and
Cissy noticed one of her eye lids was slightly different than the
other, so they took Logan to an eye specialist. The physician
noted that Logan simply had a slightly droopy eyelid. Cissy's
motherly instinct told her to take Logan for a second opinion. A
subsequent chest scan revealed a tumor in Logan's shoulder and neck
area affecting the sympathetic nervous system, which caused the
change in the eyelid. Logan was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. She
had surgery and was treated at the Children's Center for Cancer and
Blood Disorders at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital. Logan made
a full recovery, and 20 years later, she continues her father and
mother's legacy as a student at South
Carolina. Todd and Cissy also have twin sons, Blake and
Graham.
About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt,
Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For nearly six decades, Aflac
insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to
focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the leading
provider of voluntary insurance at the work site. Through its
trailblazing One Day PaySM initiative, Aflac U.S. can
receive, process, approve and disburse payment for eligible claims
in one business day. In Japan,
Aflac is a leading provider of medical and cancer insurance and
insures 1 in 4 households. Aflac individual and group insurance
products help provide protection to more than 50 million people
worldwide. For nine consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by
Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies.
In 2015, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best
Companies to Work For in America for the 17th consecutive year.
Also, in 2015, Fortune magazine included Aflac on its list of Most
Admired Companies for the 14th time, ranking the company No. 1 in
innovation for the insurance, life and health category. Aflac
Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac and One
Day PaySM, visit aflac.com or espanol.aflac.com.
Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of
Columbus and American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
About Palmetto Health Children's Hospital
Palmetto
health Children's Hospital, South
Carolina's first freestanding children's hospital, treats
more than 80,000 sick and injured children in South Carolina annually in its inpatient and
outpatient facilities. As a major pediatric referral center,
Palmetto Health Children's Hospital offers more than 30
subspecialties devoted strictly to children. To learn more, visit
CH.PalmettoHealth.org.
About Palmetto Health Foundation
Palmetto Health
Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, engages community
partners to enhance health care for patients and families served by
Palmetto Health. For more, visit PalmettoHealthFoundation.org.
Media contacts – Jon Sullivan,
706.763.4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com
Darcy Brito, 706.505.9762 or
dbrito@aflac.com
Leah Hyatt Peace (Palmetto Health
Foundation), 803.296.2330 or 803.730.4911 (cell), or
leah.peace@palmettohealth.org
Analyst and investor contact – Robin Y.
Wilkey, 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667, FAX: 706.324.6330, or
rwilkey@aflac.com
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