At a recent check presentation, the Hoover Public Safety Charity Foundation presented two donations of $10,000 each to Children’s Harbor and the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The donated funds were raised at the Night of Laughter comedy event held at the Stardome Comedy Club in October.
“We are thankful for the support we received through the Night of Laughter that allows us to make contributions to Children’s Harbor and the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. Both of these organizations serve many that are struggling with serious health issues. As public servants, we strive to continue to support those in need within our community,” said Hoover Public Safety Charity Foundation Chairman John C. Wingate, former Hoover fire chief.
Children’s Harbor is a non-profit that provides support programs and experiences for critically ill children and their families in Alabama.
The organization includes a family center at Children’s of Alabama that offers support services for patients and families and a 66-acre retreat at Lake Martin.
“The foundation’s historic support of Children’s Harbor has helped to provide a very happy place for seriously ill children from Hoover and all over the state of Alabama,” said Myrle Grate, Children’s Harbor CEO. “The foundation is a leader in public service, and we are so thankful and proud to include them as part of the Children’s Harbor family.”
The O’Neal center is one of the original eight comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute and is nationally recognized for its expertise in oncology.
The multi-disciplinary cancer treatment and research center consists of 400 physicians and scientists and annually provides treatment to approximately 20,000 patients.
“We are so grateful for this generous gift, which provides us with the critical seed money to investigate drugs and develop treatments that we can quickly and safely move to our patients,” said Dr. Michael Birrer, director of the center. “We want to make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer, and we just couldn’t do it without community support.”
Since its founding in 2012, the Hoover Public Safety Charity Foundation has contributed more than $185,000 to local charities. Other recipients have included Camp Conquest, and the American Cancer Society.
—Emily Williams
