This spring Cancer Support Community North Texas (CSCNT) will honor Doug Hawthorne, CEO of Texas Health Resources, with its first annual Community in Action Award. The award celebrates individuals who emulate the spirit of CSCNT’s vision that no one should face cancer alone.
CSCNT’s inaugural Thrive gala, the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year, will celebrate Hawthorne on April 23, 2014 at the Hilton Anatole. The reception, dinner, and live auction will help raise funds to continue the free comprehensive program of support that CSCNT uniquely offers to North Texas. Sponsorships for the Thrive event are available beginning at $5,000. Funds generated by the event support programming that directly aid those in North Texas living with cancer.
Hawthorne was chosen as the first recipient of this award for his dedication to creating healthier communities. Through that vision, Hawthorne helped to expand the area’s premiere psycho-social emotional support program for patients living with cancer by creating locations for Cancer Support Community North Texas, an independent provider, at three Texas Health Resources locations. In doing so, Texas Health Resources became the first major health care system in the nation to offer the CSC gold standard of cancer support on a hospital campus.
Currently, the CSCNT program is located at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, with a new office and clubhouse to open at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano in March of this year. The finish out of the new clubhouses is made possible by a gift from Chairman and CEO of Cambridge Health Properties Jean-Claude Saada and the Cambridge Mindful Living Foundation.
“Doug Hawthorne changed the way healthcare is delivered in our region for the better,” said Mirchelle Louis, CEO of CSCNT. “He has spent his career as a healthcare leader making countless contributions to the community, and his visionary intelligence and genuine heart make him the person we most wanted to recognize this year. We thank Doug for a great first year of being aligned with Texas Health Resources and look forward to many more years of providing support to those affected by cancer together.”
The announcement comes shortly after Hawthorne announced his decision to step down as CEO later this year. Hawthorne reshaped the Texas healthcare industry in 1997 when he led the creation of Texas Health Resources, an alliance of Presbyterian Healthcare Resources, Harris Methodist Health System, and Arlington Memorial Hospital. Today it is one of the largest healthcare providers in the region.
“The membership, events, and education CSCNT provides are free because we want every person impacted by cancer to know they are fully supported. The funds raised by the Thrive gala support initiatives and program for the entire year. We are thrilled to gather this April to honor Doug Hawthorne, who has done so much for the healthcare community during his incredible career,” said Louis.
About Cancer Support Community North Texas
Cancer Support Community North Texas ensures all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. Cancer Support Community is an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, education and hope to all people affected by cancer. Cancer Support Community North Texas offers a menu of personalized services and education for all people affected by cancer, not just the patient. For more information on Cancer Support Community North Texas visit CancerSupportTexas.org.
About the Cancer Support Community
In 2009, The Wellness Community and Gilda's Club joined forces to become the Cancer Support Community. The combined organization, with more than 50 years of collective experience, provides the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer through a network of over 50 licensed affiliates, more than 100 satellite locations and a vibrant online community, touching more than one million people each year. Backed by evidence that the best cancer care includes social and emotional support, the Cancer Support Community offers these services free of charge to men, women and children with any type or stage of cancer and to their loved ones. As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community delivers a comprehensive menu of personalized and essential services including support groups, educational workshops, exercise, art and nutrition classes and social activities for the entire family. In 2013, CSC delivered more than $40 million in free services to patients and families. The Cancer Support Community is advancing the innovations that are becoming the standard in complete cancer care. So that no one faces cancer alone®. For more information, please visit www.cancersupportcommunity.org.