Press Release: Gala of Hope Foundation Announces First 2024 Grants

Beavercreek, OH, August 27, 2024

The Board of Directors of Gala of Hope Foundation announce their first 2024 grants following their milestone event on July 20, raising $2 million.  These grants continue Gala of Hope’s intentions to change the face of cancer in the Dayton region, and foster greater hope and care for cancer patients. These grants, totaling $524,000, bring Gala of Hope’s total investments since 2014 to over $6.1 million, directly influencing over 30,000 patients in the greater Dayton community.

“We are so thankful to hundreds of donors who have generously given to us with confidence that we will use these resources effectively in our 14-county region and join with key healthcare partners when we can. These grants focus on two of our current priorities: addressing lung cancer, which is the #1 cause of death across our region, and healthy eating and nutrition for cancer patients. Each heightens a cancer patient’s opportunity to become a survivor, and gives this region even better cancer care,” shared Carly Cox, Gala of Hope board member and chairperson, Grants Committee.The organizations and projects supported by this recent round of grants:

Kettering Health, helping strengthen their lung nodule clinic, and heighten early detection and treatment of lung cancer through artificial intelligence software and equipment, serving thousands of patients annually.

Mercy Health-Springfield, to underwrite a lung nodule program to broaden follow up of those at higher risk of lung cancer, 2,000 patients annually, and a community outreach initiative that connects all county health organizations in Clark and Champaign counties to coordinate lung cancer screenings and prevention.

Premier Health, providing funds to set up and equip nutrition clinics in their cancer centers across the region, to offer nutrition counseling and address malnutrition for more than 3,400 newly diagnosed cancer patients annually.  

“Today, unfortunately, the statistics tell us 25 more in our region will hear they have cancer,” said Jeff Brock, Executive Director. “And 25 more each day. Our mission, through grants like these, is to diminish cancer and its effects on patients, reduce the number who perish in its grip and ultimately reduce the number who hear those words, ‘you have cancer’, doing it unlike any other community in Ohio or the Midwest.”