Friends for Life of America

Hearts for the Holidays Milestone: 100,000 Holiday Cards Delivered to Pediatric Patients

GAINESVILLE, January 4, 2006 - Steven D. Cohen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, announced that the Hearts for the Holidays Campaign has encouraged high school and college students, community members, and corporate employees to create more than 100,000 holiday cards for pediatric patients and their families. Since the program's inception in 2000, the Hearts for the Holidays Campaign has provided handmade cards with simple good wishes and words of encouragement for pediatric patients undergoing treatment in almost every state and in more than twenty countries.

"By taking just a few minutes out of a busy day to create a holiday card, our volunteers can make a dramatic impact on the lives of young patients facing difficult diagnoses," said Cohen.

The Hearts for the Holidays Campaign is a Friends for Life of America signature program that provides funding and supplies for volunteers to create homemade greeting cards for pediatric patients spending the holiday season in hospitals around the world. Volunteers in participating schools and communities create holiday cards from October through early December, and then deliver the cards to local hospitals throughout the holiday season.

"When you put a card into a child's hand and see that bright smile, you know that your time and effort have really made a difference," said Cohen.

For more information about the Hearts for the Holidays Campaign, please visit http://www.friendsforlife.com/hearts/index.html .

About Friends for Life of America

Friends for Life of America is the largest student organization that supports pediatric cancer patients and their families. With a global volunteer base, Friends for Life of America provides innovative opportunities for students, community members, and corporate employees to provide educational, emotional, and financial support for patients living with cancer.