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Upstate's Advocates group awards $175,000 to support Upstate's mission

Advocates awarding check to cancer center campaign

The Advocates for Upstate Medical University has awarded $175,000 to Upstate through its 2013-14 budget and other funding sources to support Upstate programs that improve patient care, support medical education and enhance community health.

In the past 10 years alone, the Advocates’ has awarded more than $1.5 million to support Upstate initiatives.

“We are happy to support Upstate in its overall mission of improving the health of the communities it serves,” said Susan York, Advocates’ manager for business and administration.

Beneficiaries of the award include 60 Upstate programs that will receive a total of $120,000 through the Advocates’ 2013-14 budget. These grants will support much needed services offered through Upstate’s academic programs and through Upstate University Hospital’s Downtown and Community Campuses. Some of those initiatives receiving funding include the Ambulatory Services’ Midwifery Program; the Center for Development, Behavior and Genetics; the Binghamton Clinical Campus; and the Upstate Joslin Diabetes Center, to name a few.

“In addition, we have presented a second check for $30,000 to the Upstate Medical University Foundation to be applied to our 15-year pledge of $150,000 to the Upstate Cancer Center,” said York.

Capping this year’s awards was a $25,000 gift to the Upstate New York Poison Center as a result of proceeds raised through an Advocates’ signature fundraising event, Mystery, Malt and Merlot, held April 12 at the Oncenter Complex in downtown Syracuse. The Upstate New York Poison Center was the key recipient of the event. It will use the gift for public and professional education and awareness of poison prevention.

The Advocates’ generate revenue through several means. In addition to Mystery, Malt and Merlot, it sponsors an annual Fall Swing Golf Tournament, and receives commission from contracts for hospital services, such as Tim Hortons, EspressOasis, Lori’s Gift Shop, patient televisions and telephones, and vending machines. Other revenue is raised through activities initiated through its Fund Development and Service Committees.

The Advocates also sponsor several projects. “We are proud to sponsor hospital-based blood drives, blood pressure screenings at local grocery stores, and community-wide smoking cessation programs offered at the HealthLink/OASIS Learning Center,” said York. “Our scholarship program benefits Upstate employees and adult volunteers who are pursuing studies in an accredited institution in any health related field.”

The Advocates for Upstate Medical University, which includes the former Community General Auxiliary, is a fundraising and service organization whose mission is to work to improve the quality of patient and family care, medical education and community health.

To learn more about the Advocates or to join, visit Advocates or contact York at 464-5610.

Caption: Advocates’ President Sharon Putney presents Upstate University Hospital Chief Operating Officer Paul Seale with a $30,000 check for the Upstate Cancer Center at the Advocates’ annual luncheon.

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