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Angels Among Us
Mission: To financially assist families with a child battling cancer. Currently we are helping families being treated, or living in Nebraska.
Approximately 12,400 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. That’s 46 children each working day. In the United States, almost 3,000 children die from cancer each year, which is more than from asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, congenital abnormalities and pediatric AIDS combined. Along with the inevitable stress and heartache that comes with a childhood cancer diagnosis, families must also deal with the tremendous financial burden. In many cases, one of the parents must quit his or her job to take care of their sick child and it doesn’t take long for the bills to add up. Matters only get worse when it comes to single parent households. That’s where Angels Among Us comes in.
Angels Among us is a non-profit organization that helps families with children who have been diagnosed with cancer. Through funds that they raise in the community, Angels Among Us can help families with house payments, utility bills, medical expenses, travel expenses, auto payments, insurance payments and other expenses that the families may incur.
Angels Among us was started in 2006 by Cathy Bauer. Cathy attended a fund raiser for a child with cancer; a child whose parents were long time friends of the family. She was so moved by the overwhelming show of support to this family that it inspired her to want to help other families. They began by helping six families and are currently helping 28 families who have children battling cancer. The organization raises funds and helps families through a number of programs including fund raisers, direct contributions and the Family Liaison program, in which they act as a liaison between the family and the hospital billing department to help them with financial assistance programs that may be available.
Angels Among Us held their first major fund raiser in November of 2006 and raised over $32,000. Volunteers showed up in droves as they started hearing about the good work that was being done. Many of the volunteers were family members of other children with cancer as well as friends of those families. Soon parents of children receiving treatment started showing up to help. There is an unbelievable bond between “cancer families.” The support they provide each other is unlike that experienced by many others. That network of understanding and dedication to a cause lends to incredible passion by all those that help make Angels Among Us what it is becoming.
Angels Among Us started a program called Christmas Angels this past year. They matched companies and individual families with families who have a child battling cancer. These companies and individual families made it possible for the families of these cancer fighters to have gifts under the tree on Christmas morning; a task that may have been impossible for these cancer families otherwise. The program was a huge success and they plan on continuing it on an annual basis. The organization will hold another fund raiser on November 17, 2007 at the Georgetowne Club. Companies as well as individuals are encouraged to get involved as sponsors, attendees or contributors. For more information on the event, please go to www.MyangelsAMONGus.org and click on the “Events” tab.
As of September 2007, Angels Among Us has helped 28 families with a little over $88,000 in living expenses. By the end of next year, we hope to double the number of families helped. With community involvement and support, Angels Among Us will continue to make Omaha proud. |
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