VOTE AND BE HEARD: ONLINE VOTING CAMPAIGN to Get Livestrong Artist in Residence Program at Pottstown Regional Cancer Center

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Finalists will be determined by an online voting campaign; funds will better the lives of people affected by cancer.

Gallery School of Pottstown in partnership with the Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center, a Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner has been selected as a candidate for the 2012 LIVESTRONG® Community Impact Project, which was created to bring proven cancer support programs to communities across the United States. Finalists will be determined through an online voting campaign that begins on Wed., Mar. 7 at 10am CST. Applicants with the top votes per region will receive a financial award of support to replicate and implement a sustainable program dedicated to supporting families fighting cancer. Finalists will also receive tools and resources from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the organization established in 1997 by the cancer survivor and champion cyclist to serve people living with cancer and empower communities to take action against the world’s leading cause of death. The foundation is now known publicly by its powerful brand – LIVESTRONG – and is a leader in the global movement on behalf of 28 million people around the world living with cancer today.

Voting is for the The Creative Center Program – Hospital Artist-in-Residence Program: Since its inception in 1994, The Creative Center has been dedicated to bringing the arts to people with cancer and chronic illness through all stages of life as a way to help them discover their own creative resources while meeting the challenges of diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. The Artist-in-Residence program helps cancer survivors deal with the stresses of treatment through artistic expression. The program will work bedside and in small group settings with men, women and children – in oncology units, bone marrow transplant units, intensive care/respiratory units, hospice and palliative care programs.

Gallery School of Pottstown in partnership with the Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center, a Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner is among hundreds of organizations still in contention for the award. If selected, they will use the awarded funds to expand on the Healing Arts program that is currently offered to cancer patients at the hospital.  The Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center serves the tri-county area with award winning traditional (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) and complimentary/integrative care (Reiki, harp, massage) treatments. The Healing Arts program’s focus is on using different art modalities, group discussions, and workshops that utilize mental, physical, and creative exercises to explore the person the patients want to be or used to be in the context of cancer diagnosis and recovery. If awarded the funds we will be able to expand on patient perceptions of well-being and lift their spirits, whereby making treatment outcomes more successful.

“We are thrilled and honored to be selected as a candidate for the Community Impact Project,” said Erika Hornburg-Cooper, Executive Director of the Gallery School of Pottstown. “We share LIVESTRONG’s passion for inspiring and empowering people affected by cancer and look forward to working together to make a difference in the lives of cancer survivors and their families.”

The 2012 Community Impact Project will offer nearly $1.4 million in implementation awards to 90 finalists. This represents the largest number of financial awards LIVESTRONG has granted in a single year in the history of the foundation. LIVESTRONG is committed to supporting community organizations in their efforts to help cancer survivors face the challenges and changes that come with cancer and has invested more than $70 million in community-centered organizations.

Voting ends on March 23, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. CST. For more information about the 2012 LIVESTRONG Community Impact Project and to vote, visit http://vote.livestrong.org/. For more information about The Gallery School of Pottstown visit http://www.galleryonhigh.com or about the Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center visit http://www.pottstownmemorial.com.