MACC Fund Receives $1 Million Gift

MILWAUKEE – Even as the world’s focus has shifted to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the critically important battle against childhood cancer has picked up a bit of momentum. Today, the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc. (MACC Fund) announced the acceptance of a $1 million gift to advance its mission in finding a cure for childhood cancer and related blood disorders. The Costigan Family Giving Fund has committed these funds to the MACC Fund in specific support of two major Research Acceleration initiatives.

“We are incredibly grateful for the Costigan family and their continued support of our mission,” said Becky Pinter, President and CEO of the MACC Fund. “While this gift comes during an uncertain time, our children remain our priority, and they need our help now more than ever. While the majority of our world has been put on hold, pediatric cancer remains a threat to many. By continuing to work in collaboration with generous organizations like the Costigan Family Giving Fund, we can ensure that the necessary research to improve survival rates and quality of life for kids diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder continues.”

Despite overall progress, pediatric cancer still causes over 1,800 deaths each year in the United States, making it the leading disease-related cause of death among children.

This philanthropic gift, providing $200,000 per year for the next five years, will support two major Research Acceleration initiatives:

Research Acceleration at Children’s Wisconsin & Medical College of Wisconsin:

1. Investing in the people, programs and vital infrastructure to accelerate the development of therapies through the research process, from concept to trial to outcomes assessment.
2. Growing high-impact discovery science where early findings can lead to remarkable research opportunities to advance therapies.
3. Creating new methods of healthcare delivery that optimize the length and quality of life for pediatric patients.

Research Acceleration at UW Carbone Cancer Center:

1. Develop safer and more effective cancer treatments for children, through innovative clinical trials and applied immunotherapies. Treating kids through applied immunotherapy may potentially not only cure them of cancer but allow for a significantly improved quality-of-life post treatment, avoiding harmful protocols like radiation and chemotherapy.

Both initiatives aim to treat kids better, safer and faster, but additional discoveries need to be made. Funding MACC Fund’s research enables the community to become a part of MACC Fund’s mission.

About the MACC Fund:

Since its inception in 1976, the MACC Fund has contributed over $70 million for pediatric cancer and blood disorders research for diseases like aplastic anemia and sickle cell. MACC Fund supported research in Wisconsin benefits the treatment of children throughout the state, the nation and the world playing an important role in helping the overall cure rate for childhood cancer to rise from 20% to over 80% over the past 43 years. Yet, children can relapse and can have “late effect” issues which require more research. The MACC Fund supports research at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the MACC Fund Research Center, in the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Wisconsin, UW’s Carbone Cancer Center MACC Fund Childhood Cancer Research Wing and at the Marshfield Clinic. Learn more at www.maccfund.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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