REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Proclamation of September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Report
BACKGROUND
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month was established in 1990 by the National Childhood Cancer Foundation and the American Childhood Cancer Society. It gained international recognition in 2008 when the World Health Organization designated September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month helps to reduce the stigma associated with childhood cancer, empower families and children facing the disease, advance research and treatment options, and improve the survival rates for children with cancer.
Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in children in the United States. About 160,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year. The five-year survival rate for childhood cancer has increased from about 50% to over 80% in recent decades.
DISCUSSION
At the September 23, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council will proclaim September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Executive Director Heidi Boynton from Jacob's Heart - Children's Cancer Support Services will be present, to accept the proclamation. Jacob's Heart's mission is to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and support their families in the challenges they face.
Since its inception in 1998, Jacob's Heart has served 3,774 seriously ill children and their family members and in 1999, they led the grassroots effort that established September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the state of California.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an information report only and no action is being taken by the City Council and no environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") is required.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than staff time.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Ch...
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