The Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Mayor Greg Stanton kicked off Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and a fundraising campaign Thursday at CityScape Plaza.
The event included a ribbon cutting ceremony to kick off the city wide campaign named Go For Gold, with the goal to raise a minimum of $1 million dollars.
“It’s vital that we come together as a city and as a community to show families that we’re right there with them,” Stanton said. “We need to be a symbol of strength and support.”
CityScape will be lighting up with gold throughout September, including a sculpture that was unveiled at the ceremony and was created by local artist Ruben Gonzales of 11th Monk3y Industries. CityScape visitors are encouraged to post a picture of its heart shaped sculpture to social media and donate after taking a photo with it.
The ribbon cutting was performed by Sammy Cibulka, a 16-year-old patient at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and a Brophy Preparatory Academy student. Cibulka contracted a rare form of pediatric cancer in his shoulder while in high school.
“Phoenix Children’s Hospital has really been the core in support from day one,” said Cibulka. “With cancer, I have to have a positive mindset. It’s going to bend me to the extremes, but it won’t break me.”
Stanton said downtown Phoenix will serve a key role in fundraising efforts for the city.
“This is exactly the thing downtown should be doing,” he said. “We’re the center of life, commerce and entertainment.”
Phoenix is one of four cities in Arizona that will be participating in the social media and fundraising campaign, joined by Peoria, Tempe and Scottsdale.
The Go For Gold campaign will be a community wide effort, aiming specifically to support the hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. More than 50 Phoenix businesses are expected to participate including downtown businesses such as Arizona Diamondbacks, Fractured Prune, ZoYo Yogurt, Clean Freak Car Wash, and CityScape. Businesses will be offering discounts, rewards and merchandise to help raise money to count towards the goal. Fractured Prune will feature a special “Go Gold” doughnut.
Tim Harrison, the Director of Cause Related Marketing for Phoenix Children’s Hospital, helped in facilitating collaborations between downtown businesses and the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Harrison said it’s been a great way to connect with people in the community.
“To build a program that’s all about the Phoenix community and make it be competitive with Tempe, Scottsdale and Peoria but is also a part of something where we can all feel like we’re doing something together, is great,” said Harrison.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will also be hosting a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 17th that will be officially dubbed “D-Backs Go Gold,” and will be offering specialized ticket packages that include gold t-shirts. A portion of the funds will benefit childhood cancer organizations.
People can participate by donating by visiting gogoldforpch.org and by posting to social media with the hashtag #GoGold4PCH.
Contact the reporter at Jackson.Dorsey@asu.edu.
