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Press Release

PADRES CONTRA EL CANCER TO HONOR VOLUNTEERS
WHO GIVE SELFLESSLY FOR LATINO CHILDREN WITH CANCER

On Saturday, January 26, 2008, PADRES Contra El Cáncer (PADRES) will honor 150 individuals who have dedicated a cummulative of 6,584 hours this past year to assist and provide support to Latino children with cancer and their families. Two outstanding individuals and one outstanding family will be recognized. One honoree will be bestowed the prestigious “Spirit of ESPERANZA” Award at the 2nd Annual PADRES Contra El Cáncer’s Volunteer Recognition Luncheon.

PADRES Contra El Cáncer (PADRES), a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for children with cancer and their families, along with its many families will reciprocate the kindness and selflessness of the hundreds of individuals, organizations and corporations who assist PADRES throughout the year at family events and activities, health and educational programs and with family services.

“Our children and their families give a resounding and heartfelt THANK YOU to each volunteer who has toiled in obscurity and given of their precious time to our extraordinary children and their families,“ states PADRES Contra El
Cáncer’s Volunteer & Families Activities Coordinator, Gerry De La Rosa. “Their tremendous devotion allows PADRES to serve more families throughout the Los Angeles region.”

In 2007, time and commitment to PADRES by all the volunteers capped at 6,584 hours. With the estimated value of volunteer time at $18.77 per hour, PADRES has benefited from over $123,500 in in-kind volunteer hours. Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes and are a representation of the diversity within the PADRES organization.

This year’s awards include awards for New Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Family Volunteer of the Year, and the prestigious “Inspiration” Award.

The New Volunteer of the Year Award will be bestowed to Eduardo Marquez. Mr. Marquez is employed by the University of Southern California and has volunteered for PADRES since 2006. He is an extremely dedicated volunteer who has come to be entrusted with the responsibility of Volunteer Captain for many events. In addition to volunteering at numerous PADRES event, this past holiday season, Mr. Marquez led a toy drive at the USC campus to benefit the children of PADRES Contra El Cáncer.

The Volunteer of the Year Award will be awarded to Robert Reyes. Mr. Reyes has volunteered at PADRES for the past four years and has become a familiar face at PADRES events and activities. A cancer survivor himself, Robert has become a trusted confidant to many children and families. In 2007, Robert attended the most events of all volunteers, adopted a needy family for the holidays, sponsored a game at the ballpark for three families and has served as Volunteer Captain at most events. His successes have made him the top choice for Volunteer of the Year.

The Family Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to Mario & Blanca Fernandez and Family who have dedicated the past three years to actively participating in PADRES’ programs - PADRES Apoyando a PADRES and Lives in Transition. Mario and Blanca are parents to Marvin Fernandez, a brain tumor survivor. Mario and Blanca have turned their family’s grief and pain and ultimately their joy into HOPE for other parents and families. Their expertise is utilized as a resource to assist and teach newly diagnosed families who are confronting the challenges of having a child with
cancer.

The Inspiration Award will be announced at the event. It will be presented to a recipient who inspires not only other volunteers but who brings smiles and HOPE to thousands of children with cancer and their families. The recipient will have demonstrated a long and outstanding volunteer service history with PADRES and served as an advocate of PADRES. The recipient must be sincerely and passionately devoted to the worthy and important cause of the PADRES Volunteer Program.

The 2nd Annual Spirit of ESPERANZA Volunteer Recognition Luncheon honors those who have a concern for others and the tenacity to turn their concerns into proactive volunteerism. PADRES recognizes each volunteer’s collective power to influence and inspire others to volunteer and ultimately inspire and give HOPE to the children and
families they serve.