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Impact Aug 31, 2024
| Photo courtesy of Here to Serve
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A Monrovia-based nonprofit’s Casino Night Fall FUNraiser that assists children and their families in the fight against pediatric cancer is set for Sept. 21, event organizers said Wednesday.
Here to Serve’s gambling-themed fundraiser is scheduled to take place at the Community Center in Arcadia, 356 Campus Drive. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
“There is a huge gap in cancer health care. It happens in the home where more than 60% of the cancer treatment journey happens and there is no support,” Here to Serve founder and CEO Katie Quintas said in a statement to Monrovia Weekly. “Here to Serve comprehensively fills that gap. However, we are highly underfunded because the cancer category is owned by cancer research and hospitals that treat cancer. Their multimillion marketing budgets keep us silent.”
Quintas noted that an extremely small percentage of all dollars raised to fight cancer goes to patients and their families who are actually experiencing the disease.
“Instead, research and hospitals leverage cancer patients’ journeys to fund themselves while leaving patients and their families to navigate and fund treatment by themselves,” Quintas said, adding that her organization provides “practical support in the home like meals, child and pet care, financial support, respite, holiday help and more” — and all in one central place.
“Cancer is a three legged stool,” Quintas said. “Cancer research, hospitals that treat cancer and those going through the cancer journey! All three need the same support and attention!”
FUNraiser attendees will have the opportunity to help support families going though pediatric cancer by enjoying casino games and other fundraising activities.
Event features include the casino games poker, blackjack, roulette and craps, a live and silent auction, dinner, a complimentary wine or beer and speaker Abigail Ruiz, mother of “Forever 4-year-old Adrian ‘Yan Yan Max Ruiz,” event organizers said.
Tickets cost $75 per person until Sept. 5, thereafter admission is $90. A reserved table for 10 with an open bar is $1,500.
For more information on the event, including sponsorship opportunities or to make an online donation, visit heretoserve.org/events/fall-funraiser-casino-night-2024.
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