The Spirit of Community Brings Together Many in Support of Cancer Research and Care

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Pictured left to right (in the photo above) are Eric Horwitz, MD, FABS, FASTRO, Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center; Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President & CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center; Gary Barbera; Barbera Bear; and Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS, Chair, Department of Surgery, Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Fox Chase Cancer Center’s mission of Discovery and Delivery extends well beyond its faculty and staff to include many throughout the community.

From families to local businesses, these groups organize events, raise funds, and increase awareness because they believe in the mission too. Many have personal experience in their own lives with the care provided at Fox Chase.

Recent donations came from the following groups, for which we are grateful.

Gary Barbera’s on the Boulevard  

Car dealer Gary Barbera and the Barbera Bear stopped by Fox Chase Cancer Center to make a $10,000 donation. Funds were raised through the annual Kick Cancer to the Curb campaign.

Pictured left to right (in the photo above) are Eric Horwitz, MD, FABS, FASTRO, Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center; Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, President & CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center; Gary Barbera; Barbera Bear; and Jeffrey Farma, MD, FACS, Chair, Department of Surgery, Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Kick Cancer to the Curb is presented by Gary Barbera’s on the Boulevard, a family owned and operated Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram car dealership at 7810 Roosevelt Blvd., in conjunction with the Gary Barbera Cares Charitable Foundation.  

Pit Stop Car Wash

The Terrizzi family, owners of Pit Stop Car Wash located at 820 Cottman Avenue, and their staff held their 4th annual Haunted Car Wash fundraiser in the fall, raising more than $6,100 to benefit the Social Work Fund at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Led by Tim Terrizzi, the group organizes this annual haunted car wash around Halloween with volunteer actors and spooky decorations.  

Attendees get to drive through the wash, getting their car cleaned while also getting to enjoy a fun experience for a good cause. All proceeds go to helping patients and their families alleviate the financial burden of cancer with support for costs like housing, food, transportation, wigs, and more while they undergo treatment at Fox Chase.

Kicking Cancer Foundation

For more than 15 years, the Kicking Cancer Foundation has been giving to cancer research in Philadelphia — and this year marked $500,000 in support. Members visited Fox Chase in December to hand out candy canes, spread a bit of kindness, and present a check for $30,000.  

The foundation’s signature event is its Philly Kicking Cancer all-day adult kickball tournament held every August in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Other events throughout the year include bowling and ugly Christmas sweater competitions. Fox Chase Cancer Center is the primary beneficiary of the foundation’s efforts.

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

For more information, call 888-369-2427