ENDORSEMENTS
Jackie Speier, United States Congresswoman
Everyone in the Bay Area should not walk, but run, to their checkbook to write a contribution to the Joanne Pang Foundation.
Carol Migden, California State Senator
It’s a miraculous new approach. Umbilical cord blood has rich genetic material that can lead to 100% percent cure and recovery for many deadly blood diseases. It is especially hard to match multicultural California patients with donor cord blood and bone-marrow donors. It is even more of a challenge for unique individuals with blood heritage from different backgrounds to find an identical match.
Fiona Ma, California State Assemblywoman
This campaign is on the front line of saving lives. Cord blood stem cells have the power to provide new life for those who otherwise would have little hope for survival. The Bay Area's diverse and generous residents make San Francisco the perfect location to establish this life saving bank.
Carmen Chu, San Francisco Supervisor
I commend the Joanne Pang Foundation for spearheading a campaign that will help alleviate the difficulties for those searching for life-saving transplants. With over 6,000 patients, families and friends seeking a matching bone marrow donor or cord blood unit on any given day, it is imperative that we establish the cord blood bank for those suffering from blood and marrow disorders, such as leukemia and other cancers.
Morton Cowan, M.D., University of California San Francisco
Umbilical cord blood is a very rich source of bone marrow stem cells which can be used to restore bone marrow function following high dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy in adults and children with a wide range of bone marrow disorders, including genetic diseases and leukemias. Cord blood cells do not have to be matched to the same degree as bone marrow from a living donor and collecting them is non-invasive and relatively easy since cord blood is typically discarded after a baby is born.
Michael Amylon, M.D., Stanford University
There is a critical need for increased capacity for public cord blood banking, and, because of its ethnic diversity, the San Francisco Bay Area is an especially good place for this to happen.
TRIBUTES
Paik Swan Low and Steve Hirsch
In loving memory of a vivacious, joyful, strong girl, Joanne, and in tribute to a loving family: Joe, Anne and Christopher.
Henry G. and Phyllis W. Gómez
In memory of our son, Michael Henry Gómez, who died of AIDS in 1990 at the age of 36.
