LOS ANGELES, July 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-powered charity dedicated to funding children's cancer research, is pleased to award 70 grants in 48 states and 11 countries, totaling $21.2 million to support the best in childhood cancer research.
A video accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=34524
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=34525
Worldwide a child is diagnosed every 3 minutes, and in the U.S., more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease. As the leading non-governmental provider of childhood cancer research grants, St. Baldrick's is praised for supporting the work of early scientists, innovative thinkers, cooperative projects sharing valuable information, and clinical trials that will lead to new cures and better treatments for kids fighting cancer.
"This funding would not be possible without the hard work of each volunteer, the bravery of our shavees and the generosity of our donors," says Kathleen Ruddy, chief executive officer of St. Baldrick's. "This is a crucial time in the pediatric cancer community, with new discoveries on the horizon but limited funding to pursue scientific opportunities. St. Baldrick's is honored to fund these remarkable projects that are led by the brightest minds in the field, so that all kids will have a chance to live long, healthy lives."
With nearly 300 applications submitted for funding, grant recipients were excited to get a call from the Foundation, but some didn't expect to hear the news directly from St. Baldrick's staff, families and volunteers. Shown here in this emotional video, St. Baldrick's once again catches the new grant recipients off guard in the best possible way!
The largest grant given is for $6.7 million to the Children's Oncology Group (COG), whose member institutions treat more than 90 percent of kids with cancer in the U.S. With this grant, St. Baldrick's has awarded more than $60 million to the COG since 2005.
To see the research St. Baldrick's is funding near you, visit the Grants Search page, or to learn more about each grant category visit the Grant Types page on the Foundation's website. For additional information on each grant or to interview a researcher please email traci@stbaldricks.org.
About St. Baldrick's Foundation
The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-powered charity that funds the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers. Since 2005, St. Baldrick's has awarded more than $176 million to support lifesaving research. For info: call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.
The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.
