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Proclamation congratulating the Mario Lemieux Foundation on its 25th Anniversary.
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WHEREAS, in 1993, Pittsburgh Penguins own, Mario Lemieux was at the peak of his professional career and was well on his way to establishing a new NHL scoring record, until he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease; and
WHEREAS, after a long, but successful battle with Hodgkin’s disease, Mario’s experience led him to develop the Mario Lemieux Foundation, an organization that is completely dedicated to raising funds and finding a cure for cancer; and
WHEREAS, over the past 25 years, the scope of the Lemieux Foundation has greatly expanded. In 2000, Nathalie Lemieux created Austin’s Playroom, an initiative that helps create playrooms for children and families in medical facilities. Since its creation 18 years ago, a total of 36 playrooms have opened across the United States and have helped over 1 million families; and
WHEREAS, with the Lemieux Foundation’s first major donation in 2001 to the UPMC Health System, it established the Mario Lemieux Center for Patient Care and Research; a facility that provides outpatient treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma - the most common type of blood cancers; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, the Lemieux Foundation established the Lemieux Family Center at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, a center dedicated to supporting and nurturing families during the difficult process of transitioning from hospital care to life back at home; and
WHEREAS, the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers was opened in January 2012 at the Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh by the Lemieux Foundation. The Center for Blood Cancers offers comprehensive diagnostic services, individually designed treatment plans, and long-term follow-up services to patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other blood malignancies; and
WHEREAS, the Mario Lemieux Lymphoma Center for Children and Young Adults was established by the Lemieux Foundation in 2014 at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. This Center is truly unique and the first of its kind. It focuses on clinical care, laboratory research, and clinical research surrounding difficult-to-treat and rare childhood lymphomas; and
WHEREAS, since 1998, the Lemieux Foundation has given over $25 million to cancer research and patient care initiatives in the Pittsburgh region and beyond; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Council Member Bob Macey and All Members of Council, do hereby recognize and congratulate the Mario Lemieux Foundation on its 25th Anniversary, and we thank the Lemieux Foundation for remaining dedicated to raising funds and finding a cure for cancer over the past 25 years.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto caused the Seal of the County of Allegheny to be affixed this 23rd day of October 2018.