COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the
leader in voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the U.S. and
a committed corporate ally making a difference in the lives of
children with cancer, partnered with Palmetto Health Foundation and
Palmetto Health Children's Hospital today to honor individuals who
have made a lasting impact in the lives of children with cancer
with Duckprints Awards.
"Aflac passionately supports children and families facing
pediatric cancer because we know the devastating effects that a
cancer diagnosis for a child can have on a family," Aflac
Foundation President Kathelen Amos
said. "We started our journey more than 20 years ago to help health
care providers and researchers find better treatments and cures for
childhood cancer. We are so proud to work alongside the outstanding
individuals who were honored with Duckprints Awards today, and
we'll keep supporting this cause until we find a cure."
The 2017 Duckprints Award recipients are:
- Craig Q. King — a
childhood bone cancer survivor who, after completing treatment and
re-learning how to walk, was inspired to become a mentor and
counselor in 2001 for CAMP KEMO, an annual camp for children facing
cancer and their siblings. Over the years since his diagnosis,
Craig and his family have raised more than $100,000 that has been donated to Palmetto Health
Children's Hospital and other charitable organizations.
- Julian E. Ruffin, Ph.D. —
a servant leader who, after volunteering with Palmetto Health
Children's Hospital, went on to be a counselor at CAMP KEMO and
co-founder of Lasting Impressions, a peer support group for teen
cancer patients and survivors. In 1993, after 12 years of
volunteering, he joined the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood
Disorders team as coordinator of psychosocial programs and clinical
associate professor of pediatrics with the USC School of Medicine. He has since developed
other innovative programs to support children facing cancer.
- Curing Kids Cancer (Clay and Grainne
Owen) — co-founders of Curing Kids Cancer, a nonprofit
organization founded when they lost their son, Killian, to leukemia
in 2003. For nearly 12 years, Curing Kids Cancer has partnered with
Palmetto Health Foundation and Palmetto Health Children's Hospital
to support the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
More than $312,000 has been donated
to help fund a research nurse and advancements in childhood cancer
treatment. The Owens' commitment was elevated last year when they
announced their pledge to establish a $1.2
million endowment to establish the Gamecocks Curing Kids
Cancer Clinic at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital.
Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for
children under the age of 15, according to the National Cancer
Institute. Yet, less than 4 percent of all federal funding for
cancer research goes toward pediatric cancer, according to the
Children's Cancer Fund. That's why since 1995, Aflac has
contributed more than $117 million to
bridge the gap in funding and help find a cure. In fact, each
month, more than 17,000 Aflac independent sales associates
contribute more than $500,000 from
their commission checks to support childhood cancer research and
treatment.
As part of the grassroots Duckprints campaign that began in
2013, Aflac is calling on people across America to become active in
the cause. In honor of national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in
September, Aflac is matching donations to Palmetto Health
Children's Hospital, up to $5,000,
until Sept. 30. Aflac also is
donating $2 to children's cancer
treatment and research for each Duckprints-related social media
activity on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and/or Instagram, up to
$1.5 million. Related social actions
include:
Twitter - $2 for any tweet
using the hashtag #Duckprints or for retweets of Duckprints-related
tweets.
Facebook - $2 for any share of
posts related to Duckprints or using the hashtag #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 heroes. In
addition, merchandise such as plush Aflac Ducks and
Duckprints-related T-shirts, slippers and other items are 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 Craig Q. King
Many
people spend their entire lives searching for purpose. Clarity of
purpose, for some, develops later in life—or never at all. At age
17, Craig King discovered his
purpose: "to inspire, teach and serve the people of the world."
Craig is living his purpose and considers it a gift given to him by
cancer.
In 1999, Craig was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone
tumor. After his left tibia and kneecap were removed and
reconstructed, he began a year of chemotherapy in the Children's
Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Palmetto Health Children's
Hospital. This life-changing experience opened Craig's heart to
selfless giving. After completing treatment and learning to walk
again, Craig was inspired to become a mentor and counselor in 2001
for CAMP KEMO, an annual camp for children facing cancer and their
siblings. Soon after, Craig co-founded Craig Q. King's Celebration of Life Gala with
his mother, Paulette King. Over the
years since his diagnosis, Craig and his family have raised more
than $100,000 in event proceeds that
have been donated to Children's Hospital and other charitable
organizations.
Craig, a native of Manning,
S.C., is director of governmental affairs for the Palmetto
State Teachers Association in Columbia and is the CEO and founder of the
Craig King Group LLC. He has been recognized with numerous
leadership awards, including the 2007-2008 District Teacher of the
Year for Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five; the 2008
Charles Dickerson Community Service Award, presented to one
South Carolina teacher for service
to the community; and the 2013 M. A. Lee Scholarship Gala Medical
and Health Activist Award.
About Duckprints Award Recipient Julian E. Ruffin,
Ph.D.
Diligence, passion and selflessness—three components
that make up the body and soul of those who serve as trailblazers
for the greater good. For nearly 35 years, Julian Ruffin has demonstrated this type of
servant leadership in the community.
Working as the director of the child and adolescent division of
Columbia Area Mental Health Center in 1981, Julian began his
relationship with Palmetto Health Children's Hospital as a
volunteer. He spent countless lunch breaks working with patients
and families who were having a difficult time emotionally during
treatment. This fueled his desire to get more involved. In 1983, he
became a volunteer counselor with the adolescent boys at CAMP KEMO,
a one-week summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings.
CAMP KEMO became one of his greatest passions, both personally and
professionally. Two years later, he was one of the co-founders of
Lasting Impressions, a peer support group for teen cancer patients
and survivors. In 1993, after 12 years of volunteering, he joined
the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders team as
coordinator of psychosocial programs and clinical associate
professor of pediatrics with the USC
School of Medicine.
In the years that followed, Julian developed other innovative
programs such as the Gather, Relax and Come Eat (GRACE) dinner;
HUGGIES, a parent support group for those with preschool children
being treated for cancer; Family Weekend, a three-day retreat for
newly diagnosed families to provide peer support; and Camp New
Horizons, a weekend camp for children who have lost their siblings
to cancer or a blood disorder. He continued his passion for CAMP
KEMO by becoming the leader for the Counselors in Training (CITs)
and was instrumental in advocating for a CAMP KEMO web page so
parents could see pictures of their children participating at camp.
Julian also was an active member of the professional advisory group
for the pastoral care department and served as chair of this group
for many years. He also led seminars on grief and loss in children
for clinical pastoral education students and medical residents. Now
retired, Julian is spending some of his free time volunteering with
the Palmetto Conservation Foundation and as a disaster mental
health volunteer with the American Red Cross.
About Duckprints Award Recipient Curing Kids Cancer
(Clay and Grainne
Owen)
Clay and Grainne
Owen's life took a significant detour when their son,
Killian, passed away from leukemia in 2003. From that moment
forward, the Owens made a commitment to create a legacy for Killian
that would be carried out through Curing Kids Cancer, established
in 2005.
For nearly 12 years, Curing Kids Cancer has partnered with
Palmetto Health Foundation and Palmetto Health Children's Hospital
to support the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
More than $312,000 has been donated
to help fund a research nurse and advancements in childhood cancer
treatment. This funding set Children's Hospital into motion to
bring stage one and stage two clinical trials, the most innovative
therapies, to children in South
Carolina. Without these treatments, children would likely
have to travel outside of the state and leave their families and
support systems.
Curing Kids Cancer and the Owens' commitment was elevated last
year when they announced their pledge to establish a $1.2 million endowment to establish the Gamecocks
Curing Kids Cancer Clinic at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital.
Curing Kids Cancer Endowment funds will help the Children's Center
for Cancer and Blood Disorders team with the complex processes of
helping families navigate the clinical trials process, enrolling
childhood cancer patients in clinical studies and ensuring patient
data is collected accurately.
About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt,
Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For more than six decades, Aflac
insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to
focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the leader in
voluntary insurance sales at the worksite. 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
the leading provider of medical and cancer insurance, and insures 1
in 4 households. Aflac insurance products help provide protection
to more than 50 million people worldwide. For 11 consecutive years,
Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most
Ethical Companies. In 2017, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as
one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the 19th
consecutive year and included Aflac on its list of Most Admired
Companies for the 16th time. In 2015, Aflac's contact centers were
recognized by J.D. Power by providing "An Outstanding Customer
Service Experience" for the Live Phone Channel. 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 is South Carolina's first children's hospital and
has more than 150,000 children's visits each year. It offers more
than 30 subspecialties to meet the unique health care needs of
children and has central South
Carolina's only Children's Emergency Center. With more than
350 professionals who work exclusively with children, Palmetto
Health Children's Hospital has a team of highly skilled and trained
experts unmatched by any hospital in the Midlands. Palmetto Health Children's Hospital
is the place to go for children's medical care, because the best
care matters.
About Palmetto Health Foundation
Palmetto Health
Foundation's mission is to engage community partners to enhance
health care for patients and families served by Palmetto Health.
For more information, visit PalmettoHealthFoundation.org or call
(803) 434-7275.
Aflac media contact – Kristen
Fraser, 706.580.3813 or kfraser@aflac.com
Aflac analyst and investor contact – David A. Young, 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667,
FAX 706.324.6330, or dyoung@aflac.com
Palmetto Health Children's Hospital media contact -
Ashley M. Dusenbury, APR, Palmetto
Health Foundation, ashley.dusenbury@palmettohealth.org,
803.730.4969
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