FOR RELEASE:
Pre-Holiday Shopping Season, 2007

(BUFFALO, NY) A talented group of young cancer patients is using the healing power of art this holiday season to help other cancer patients of every age and diagnosis.

The patient-artists at America’s first cancer center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (headquartered in Buffalo, NY) recently unveiled their 18th annual collection from The Paint Box Project® -- a therapeutic art program that converts the children’s drawings into colorful cards and gifts. This year’s Living Masterpieces collection includes holiday cards, year-round note cards, gourmet chocolate, ornaments, tote bags, trivets, aprons, candles, sweatshirts and photo cards. All proceeds from the sale benefit lifesaving cancer research at Roswell Park-one of the country’s top comprehensive cancer centers.

All told, the 2007 Living Masterpieces collection offers 22 new card designs, plus an exclusive corporate archive of nearly 50 cards. The online store (www.PaintBoxProject.com) offers easy shopping and card customization to add photos, greetings, or even company logos. A toll-free call center (1-800-959-5931) manned by volunteers from Classifieds Plus, Inc., offers another easy way to shop 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Volunteers also offer gift ideas for new shoppers. 

In its first 17 years, The Paint Box Project raised over $6 million to fuel leading-edge cancer research and compassionate patient care programs. In the process, the Project has empowered young cancer patients by allowing them to take charge of their own illnesses while making a difference for others facing cancer. 

• Interviews with pediatric patient-artists, their families, scientific/medical leaders at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and volunteers of this inspiring program are now available.
• High-resolution images of select cards and the patient-artists are on the enclosed CD. Additional images are available by contacting John Senall at the contact information above.

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The Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization formed to receive and administer funds supporting scientific and clinical research, state-of-the-art medical care, and patient-related activities at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, as well as in New Zealand and China. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.