Executive Director of Isabella Santos Foundation Receives National Award

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Erin Santos honored with America’s Blood Center’s “Larry Frederick Award” 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – April 1, 2019 – Erin Santos, executive director of the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) has received the “ABC Larry Frederick Award” from America’s Blood Centers (ABC) for her commitment to raising awareness of the need for blood donation.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition from America’s Blood Centers,” said Erin Santos, executive director and president of the Isabella Santos Foundation. “Community Blood Center of the Carolinas has been near and dear to our hearts since Isabella received numerous blood and platelet transfusions to help her stay strong and fight neuroblastoma. I am deeply committed to raising awareness about the importance of platelet and blood donation to honor Isabella’s legacy and to support local patients who need these lifesaving products.” 

Santos was presented the award on Monday, March 25 at the ABC Awards of Excellence ceremony in Arlington, Va. The award honors an individual for their community leadership in raising awareness of the need for blood donation. It is named after Larry Frederick, a former Oakland, Calif. police officer who was struck by a DUI driver and received 110 units of blood and nine major surgeries to repair extensive injuries. He has made it his personal mission to thank blood donors and help raise awareness of the need for blood through a nationwide blood drive called Life Across America. America’s Blood Centers created this award to honor the advocacy work of Frederick and all the others who support its mission.  

In addition to Erin Santos being a regular platelet donor and a donor advocate, ISF hosts an annual blood and platelet drive with Community Blood Center of the Carolinas in memory of her daughter, Isabella Santos, and to support local patients. Santos was also the first official platelet donor at CBCC’s newest donation center that is named in Isabella’s honor. Isabella Santos passed away at age seven from a five-year battle with neuroblastoma, a rare type of pediatric cancer. During her treatment, she received several blood and platelet transfusions. According to CBCC, cancer patients are the No. 1 recipients of blood products. One local children’s hospital alone requires nearly 300 units of red blood cells and more than 100 units of platelets each month. 

“Erin [Santos] is an advocate, through and through and is truly deserving of this accolade,” said Martin Grable, president and CEO of Community Blood Center of the Carolinas and president of the board of America’s Blood Centers. “We can’t thank her enough for her unwavering support and dedication. She not only advocates for blood and platelet donations, but also for childhood cancer research and the families experiencing it. She believes in those causes with every fiber of her being, and it’s impossible to miss her passion and dedication to these causes. Donor community advocates, such as Erin [Santos] and Larry [Frederick], play a vital role in the world of blood donation.”

About Isabella Santos Foundation

The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a 501(c)3 childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research for rare pediatric cancers, and charities that directly impact the lives of children with cancer. ISF was founded in honor of Isabella Santos from Charlotte, N.C. who lost her battle against neuroblastoma. ISF is committed to improving rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to increase the survival rate of kids with cancer so they can live their dreams. ISF has donated over $3 million to date to expand the scope of pediatric cancer research and treatment, and to fill various needs surrounding childhood cancers. 

Community Blood Drives to Honor Isabella Santos – March 9

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In partnership with the Isabella Santos Foundation and Community Blood Center of the Carolinas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Feb. 26, 2019 – The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) and Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) will be teaming up to host several community blood drives in memory of Isabella Santos on Saturday, March 9.

The following blood drives are being held on what would have been Santos’ 14th birthday to honor her life and legacy:

  • Isabella Santos Center in Ballantyne

12239 N. Community House Road, Charlotte

7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

*There will also be a bloodmobile parked in front of the Isabella Santos Center

  • Overture Cotswold

4830 Randolph Road, Charlotte

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

*Hosted by the mother (Stephanie Forman) of Isabella’s best friend

  • Firebirds/Jersey Mike’s (Stonecrest)

7716 Rea Road, Charlotte

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

*Two bloodmobiles will be located in the parking lot across from Firebirds and Jersey Mike’s

  • At Four of CBCC’s Donor Centers from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
    • Charlotte Center: 4447 South Blvd.
    • Concord Center: 363 Church Street North, Suite 170
    • Gastonia Center: 2524 East Franklin Blvd, Suite E
    • Hickory Center: 2217 Highway 70 SE

CBCC will also be raffling off $100 gift cards to donors who schedule their March 9 appointment prior to the day of the drive. For questions or to make an appointment for any of these blood drives, visit here or call 1-888-59BLOOD.

Isabella Santos passed away at age seven from a five-year battle with neuroblastoma, a rare type of pediatric cancer. During her treatment, she received several blood and platelet transfusions. According to CBCC, cancer patients are the No. 1 recipients of blood products. One local children’s hospital alone requires nearly 300 units of red blood cells and more than 100 units of platelets each month.

“Community Blood Center of the Carolinas has been an incredible partner and supporter throughout Isabella’s cancer journey and with our efforts to carry on her legacy to impact the lives of children with cancer,” said Erin Santos, executive director and president of the Isabella Santos Foundation. “We appreciate the community coming together on March 9 in memory of Isabella and to support local patients who need life-saving blood.”

All donors at these March 9 blood drives will receive an Isabella Santos Center logo purple blanket, Lifesaving Journey shirt, a Cancer Messed With discount card and a Jersey Mike’s cookie. In addition, donors will be entered to win the following giveaways: Wells Fargo Championship Weekly Ticket Book gift certificate for two; John Hardy earrings in 8K yellow gold and sterling silver; Nothing Bundt Cakes; American Girls Doll (two winners); Firebirds gift card; $100 iTunes Gift Card; Y2 Yoga Gift Card and more.

“We value our relationship with the Isabella Santos Foundation, which is the manifestation of Isabella’s legacy of community support and caring,” said Martin Grable, president and CEO of CBCC. “It is very rewarding to partner with such an ambitious and highly successful group of people dedicated to raising awareness of rare childhood cancers. We encourage the public to make a difference by rolling up their sleeves and giving blood in memory of Isabella [Santos] and to save local lives.”

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas

Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is the local nonprofit, community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to the region’s hospitals. CBCC collects blood and blood products from volunteer donors in the community to return to the community at the lowest possible cost consistent with the highest possible standards. CBCC is a member of America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community-based, independent blood centers that provide more than 50 percent of the nation’s blood supply. For more information, visit oneblood.org/cbcc/.

For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 1-888-59BLOOD. Follow Community Blood Center of the Carolinas on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter, on Instagram https://instagram.com/cbccarolinas/ and on Twitterwww.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.

About Isabella Santos Foundation

The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a 501(c)3 childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research for rare pediatric cancers, and charities that directly impact the lives of children with cancer. ISF was founded in honor of Isabella Santos from Charlotte, N.C. who lost her battle against neuroblastoma. ISF is committed to improving rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to increase the survival rate of kids with cancer so they can live their dreams. ISF has donated over $3 million to date to expand the scope of pediatric cancer research and treatment, and to fill various needs surrounding childhood cancers.

For more information, visit www.isabellasantosfoundation.org  or follow ISF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IsabellaSantosFoundation), Instagram (www.instagram.com/theisfoundation), Twitter (www.twitter.com/TheISFoundation) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/isabella-santos-foundation/)

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CONTACT:

Jenni Walker – Walker PR Group – 980-339-8041-office/704-649-6571-cell

jenni@walkerprgroup.com

EAT A SUB: Help Isabella Santos Foundation

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Feb. 21, 2019 – The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is joining forces with 39 Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurants throughout the greater Charlotte area for the 9th Annual March “Month of Giving” campaign to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. During the month of March, customers can make a donation to the Isabella Santos Foundation at any participating Jersey Mike’s restaurants. Proceeds from all cookie sales at the participating Jersey Mike’s restaurants during the month of March will also go back to the Isabella Santos Foundation.

The campaign will culminate in Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” on Wednesday, March 27, when these 39 local Jersey Mike’s restaurants will give 100 percent of the day’s sales – not just profit – to the Isabella Santos Foundation.

On Day of Giving, local Jersey Mike’s owners and operators throughout the country will donate resources and every single dollar that comes into more than 170 different charities including hospitals, youth organizations, food banks and more.

In 2018, the greater Charlotte area Jersey Mike’s locations raised more than $135,000 for the campaign.

“Last year’s nationwide Month of Giving initiative raised more than $6 million for charities making a big difference in their local communities, and this year, we hope to raise even more,” said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO, who started the company when he was only 17 years old. “From the early days, it’s just kind of what we’ve always done — give to give, as they say. This March, I invite you to visit Jersey Mike’s to help support an important cause in your neighborhood.”

For a list of the 39 participating restaurants in the greater Charlotte area and for more information, visit isabellasantosfoundation.org/jersey-mikes-mog/. Everyone is invited to come into a local Jersey Mike’s restaurant and enjoy a delicious sub meal.

Last year’s Month of Giving campaign raised more than $6 million for 170 local charities nationwide.  Since 2010, Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the country have raised more than $34 million for worthy local charities and distributed more than 2 million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes.

For more information about Jersey Mike’s Subs Month of Giving, please visit:  www.jerseymikes.com/mog.

About Jersey Mike’s Subs

Jersey Mike’s, a fast-casual sub sandwich franchise with more than 1,500 locations open and under development nationwide, believes that making a sub sandwich and making a difference can be one and the same.  Jersey Mike’s offers A Sub Above®, serving authentic fresh sliced subs on freshly baked bread – the same recipe it started within 1956 – and is passionate about giving back to its local communities.  For more information, please visit www.jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jerseymikes) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/jerseymikes). 

About Isabella Santos Foundation

The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a 501(c)3 childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research for rare pediatric cancers, and charities that directly impact the lives of children with cancer. ISF was founded in honor of Isabella Santos from Charlotte, N.C. who lost her battle against neuroblastoma. ISF is committed to improving rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to increase the survival rate of kids with cancer so they can live their dreams. ISF has donated over $3 million to date to expand the scope of pediatric cancer research and treatment, and to fill various needs surrounding childhood cancers. 

For more information, visit www.isabellasantosfoundation.org  or follow ISF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IsabellaSantosFoundation), Instagram (www.instagram.com/theisfoundation), Twitter (www.twitter.com/TheISFoundation) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/isabella-santos-foundation/)

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CONTACT:

Jenni Walker – Walker PR Group – 980-339-8041-office/704-649-6571-cell

jenni@walkerprgroup.com

Isabella Santos Foundation Sees Significant Results in 2018

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jan. 22, 2019 – This past year, the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) continued to make great strides in the local and national pediatric cancer community.

The most significant development was the creation of a leading-edge rare pediatric cancer treatment room at Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital. This is one of the leading MIBG Therapy Suites in the nation and is slated to change the landscape of local cancer care. ISF completed its $1 million commitment to build the treatment room which will be used to treat children with neuroblastoma and in advanced clinical trials to test new products on different types of cancers. Construction began mid-2018 and was completed in eight months. The first patient was successfully treated there in December. More information is available at http://bit.ly/MIBGTherapy.

Among the $672,000 that the Isabella Santos Foundation donated to their mission of fighting pediatric cancer, $600,000 was given to Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital and $30,000 went to The Genomics Department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to help fund the Neuroblastoma Killer Cell Trial. Additional funds were supplied to local Charlotte organizations that support kids and families fighting pediatric cancer.

Another significant mark ISF made, was partnering with Community Blood Center of the Carolinas to open CBCC’s first blood center in South Charlotte. Named in Isabella’s honor, the Isabella Santos Center is a state-of-the art blood center located in Ballantyne.

In addition, Erin Santos, executive director of and president of ISF, was named the Housing Opportunity Foundation’s “2018 Humanitarian of the Year” and was recognized among The Charlotte Observer’s editorial board among those who “made Charlotte better in 2018.”

This year, ISF is committed to raising $5 million to fund the ISF Rare and Solid Tumor Program at Levine Children’s Hospital. This breakthrough program is designed to research and treat a wide range of deadly pediatric cancers, and will allow the hospital to expand their clinical trials and recruit a national expert in rare and solid tumors.

“We are extremely proud of our results and the impact we made on the pediatric cancer community in 2018,” said Santos. “We are very grateful for our tremendous base of volunteers, supporters, partners and staff for helping us achieve these incredible accomplishments and improve the lives of countless childhood cancer patients.”

About Isabella Santos Foundation

The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a 501(c)3 childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research for rare pediatric cancers, and charities that directly impact the lives of children with cancer. ISF was founded in honor of Isabella Santos from Charlotte, N.C. who lost her battle against neuroblastoma. ISF is committed to improving rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to increase the survival rate of kids with cancer so they can live their dreams. ISF has donated over $3 million to date to expand the scope of pediatric cancer research and treatment, and to fill various needs surrounding childhood cancers.

For more information, visit www.isabellasantosfoundation.org  or follow ISF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IsabellaSantosFoundation), Instagram (www.instagram.com/theisfoundation), Twitter (www.twitter.com/TheISFoundation) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/isabella-santos-foundation/)

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CONTACT:

Jenni Walker – Walker PR Group – 980-339-8041-office/704-649-6571-cell

jenni@walkerprgroup.com

Isabella Santos Foundation 5K and 10K for Kids Cancer Raises $225,000

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The Isabella Santos Foundation announced that its 11th Annual 5K/10K for Kids Cancer and 1-Mile Fun Run has raised $225,000.

Three thousand people participated in this year’s race that took place on Sept. 29 in Ballantyne Corporate Park. The family-friendly event also featured a post-race festival that included: a Kids Fun Zone with games, face painting, slides, jump house and photo booth; food and refreshments; activity booths; and a silent auction and raffle. Brighthouse Financial served as the presenting sponsor. The following is a link to additional event sponsors.

“Huge thanks to all who joined us for our annual 5K and 10K for Kids Cancer! The event was a big success and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Isabella’s life and raise funds for pediatric cancer research,” said Erin Santos, Executive Director and President of the Isabella Santos Foundation. “We appreciate our generous sponsors and dedicated staff, volunteers, participants and spectators for supporting Isabella’s dream of a world with no more cancer.”

About Isabella Santos Foundation

The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a 501(c)3 childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research for neuroblastoma, other rare pediatric cancers, and charities that directly impact the lives of children with cancer. ISF was founded in honor of Isabella Santos from Charlotte, N.C. who lost her battle against neuroblastoma. ISF works to improve rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to improve the survival rate of kids with cancer. For more information, visit www.isabellasantosfoundation.org  or follow ISF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IsabellaSantosFoundation), Instagram (www.instagram.com/theisfoundation) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/TheISFoundation)