Melodies of Christmas Reaches New Fundraising Milestone
ALBANY, N.Y., March 3, 2010—Sponsors of the 30th Annual Melodies of Christmas concert series and telecast were honored at a reception held today at the Children’s Hospital at Albany Med in celebration of the fact that the holiday concerts raised $304,778—bringing the total amount raised since its inception to $6 million.
The annual concert series supports the only pediatric cancer service in the region—the recently renamed Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Children’s Hospital. Representatives from the event’s corporate sponsors—WRGB CBS 6, Freihofer’s Baking Company, and Price Chopper—were on hand at the Melodies Center to present the check to officials at Albany Medical Center.
“The success of Melodies of Christmas can be directly attributed to the strong partnership between Albany Medical Center and corporate sponsors CBS 6, Freihofer’s, and Price Chopper,” said David Clark, M.D., director of the Children’s Hospital. “Their collective determination to engage and excite the community year after year is as remarkable as the community’s continued support and generosity. We are grateful to all involved.”
Begun in 1980, the Melodies of Christmas four-day concert series, which features the Empire State Youth Orchestra and Chorale, has become one of the Medical Center’s largest fundraising initiatives and the largest out-of-studio television production between New York City and Montreal. In addition to the 10,000 attendees each year, tens of thousands of viewers tune in to the 90-minute special on WRGB CBS 6 and the Capital Region’s CW, which airs on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Albany Med’s pediatric cancer program employs a multi-disciplinary team consisting of four pediatric hematologist/oncologists, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, highly trained chemotherapy nurses, a pediatric social worker, and a child life specialist. In addition, the program is supported by all of Albany Medical Center’s pediatric sub-specialists. More than 700 children are seen on a yearly basis in the center for a wide range of cancers and blood disorders. The money raised by the Melodies of Christmas helps underwrite health care staff and a variety of child cancer services at Albany Med.
This year, Melodies of Christmas will be held December 16-19 at Proctor’s Theatre.
Albany Medical Center is northeastern New York’s only academic health sciences center. It consists of Albany Medical College, Albany Medical Center Hospital and the Albany Medical Center Foundation, Inc. Additional information about Albany Medical Center can be found at www.amc.edu.
- 30 -
*Questions & Comments:
Kristen Cook
