Roswell Park in the Community
Explore the ways Roswell Park is making a difference in Western NY with outreach and community partnerships to educate, inform and reduce the cancer burden in our neighborhoods.
April
Honoring women, Minority Cancer Awareness Month and a dental clinical for patients and survivors.
Honoring Roswell Park's exceptional women
Roswell Park has some incredible women leading the way when it comes to cancer care, research and community outreach! In honor of Women's History Month, our Women's Employee Network Research Group hosted an inaugural luncheon to celebrate them.
Oral health clinic
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and our Community Outreach and Engagement team is partnering with the Dentistry Maxillofacial program to offer an Oral Health Care Workshop for community members, cancer patients and survivors on April 10 from 12-2 p.m. in the Community Outreach and Engagement Center at 907 Michigan.
Cancer 101 workshops scheduled for April
Nikia Clark Robinson is hosting several Cancer 101 Workshops in April, including a session on breast cancer on April 2; prostate cancer on April 9 and cancer research and survivorship on April 16. These workshops are free and open to anyone who would like to understand more about these diseases.
April is Minority Cancer Awareness Month
Cancer screenings are vital to maintain your health! April is Minority Cancer Awareness Month and Roswell Park wants to remind you of the increased risk faced by our African-American, Hispanic and Latinx neighbors. If you're not sure which screenings you're eligible for, read on to learn more.
Supporting our neighbors
Our Community Outreach and Engagement Center at 907 Michigan is the hub for all of Roswell Park's outreach teams and efforts, from hosting community organization meetings to neighborhood celebrations with our partner groups. We've recently added monthly senior bingo nights! If your group needs a place for an upcoming meeting or event, contact us to learn more.
Help your community
Ever wanted to get involved in helping cancer patients or sharing cancer prevention information with your community? We're always looking for helping hands! Whether you want to serve as a translator, a patient guide or to contribute to focus groups that help direct our research efforts, there are many ways to get involved and help Roswell Park and our community.
March
Helping teachers, supporting community organizations and celebrating a new partnership.
Celebrating Black History Month
The African American Roswell Employee Network (AREN) hosted a Black History Month Luncheon, co-sponsored by the Employee Advocacy and Fairness Department. President and CEO Candace S. Johnson, PhD, also took part in the celebration – highlighting this year's theme exploring "African Americans and Labor" through soul food, entertainment and special keynote speaker, Patricia Wideman (National Labor Relations Board retiree).
Elevating patient care with a new partner
Roswell Park is pleased to announce a new partnership and a new name for our patient salon: the New Era Cap Elevate Salon! We're so grateful for the support of one WNY's most recognizable brands in helping us provide specialty salon services including pretreatment haircuts, wig and head coverings, styling, head shaving and information about hair loss during treatment.
Supporting teachers in our city
Our Roswell Park CARES program volunteered at The Teacher's Desk, a nonprofit in downtown Buffalo that provides free supplies to teachers supporting students in need. We're proud to support their mission and help set students up for success!
Attend a Cancer 101 Workshop
Want to learn more about cancer? Nikia Clark Robinson, a Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, is hosting a series of Cancer 101 Workshops in our Community Outreach and Engagement Center at 907 Michigan. On March 19, she'll lead a discussion on colorectal cancer, including risk factors and ways to address them, the importance of screening and information on survivorship and supportive care. The workshops are open to anyone who would like to understand more about this disease, one of the four most prominent types of cancer in Western New York.
CARES awards $50,000 to local organizations
Roswell Park's Community Alliance to Reach, Empower and Sustain (CARES) recently provided a total of $50,000 in Community Impact Grants to five local cancer-focused organizations to help support their efforts toward our shared goal of a world without cancer. Congratulations to these groups for their hard work and dedication!
Help your community
We're always looking for helping hands! Our outreach teams need volunteers to help walk patients through Roswell Park for appointments, but that's not all! We need volunteers who can help with research opportunities to move the future of cancer treatments forward, in addition to those who want to help share important cancer-related information in their neighborhoods and communities of faith. We're also looking for people who speak Spanish or other languages to offer translation services to help patients navigate their care.
February
Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., opening our doors to our community partners and getting ready to Ride.
Honoring Dr. King
It's become a tradition at Roswell Park: Gathering together to talk about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while having a fun paint night and creating images inspired by his important work. The event was hosted by the African American Roswell Employee Network (AREN ENRG) group in collaboration with Paint the Town 716.
Welcoming our community partners
The weather outside was frightful but it was warm and welcoming for our community partners during a reception at our Community Outreach and Engagement Center at 907 Michigan! With more than 100 attendees, representing more than 40 Buffalo-based organizations, our COE team was excited to announce new avenues for partnership engagement, including cancer control and research opportunities.
Changes coming to our outreach events
Starting in February, our outreach teams will be visiting the Tops on Jefferson Avenue on the first Thursday of every other month! We'll be announcing an exciting new change soon, so stay tuned!
Register for this year's Ride for Roswell!
It might seem ages away, but the Ride for Roswell will be here soon! This is the 30th year for the event and we're so excited to combine our pedal power to help raise money in the fight against cancer. There are several routes to choose from, so if you've thought of signing up, make this your year!
Here for our neighbors
Our Community Outreach and Engagement Center at 907 Michigan is the hub for all of Roswell Park's outreach teams and efforts, from hosting community organization meetings and backpack distributions to neighborhood celebrations with our partner groups and public safety and information sessions. If your group needs a place for an upcoming meeting or event, contact us to learn more.
Offer a helping hand
Roswell Park is always looking for community volunteers! We need volunteers to help patients find their way through the hospital for appointments, but we also have research opportunities for people who want to help shape the future of cancer treatment and education. We’re also looking for people who speak Spanish or other languages to help as translators to assist patients navigate their care.
January
Marking the 30th anniversary of the Tree of Hope, sharing holiday spirit and preparing for 2025!
Spreading holiday cheer to children in Buffalo
It's the most wonderful time of the year! In December, thanks to the generosity of Roswell Park employees and patients, the Buffalo Fire Department, Fisher Price and Chief's Barber Parlour, we collected and distributed more than 2,200 toys for children across the area. Thanks also to our 17 community centers and programs across the city of Buffalo for their help in sharing these special moments.
Opening the state's first (and country's largest) cell and gene therapy hub
With great fanfare and the help of Gov. Kathy Hochul and other local dignitaries, Roswell Park opened the new $98 million cell and gene therapy hub in December, a new facility to help support the research and development of life-saving cell and gene therapies. The investment and expansion allows for the creation of new jobs and new partnerships to continue our shared fight against cancer.
Our favorite time of year
What a beautiful night! Under thousands of twinkling lights, the 30th annual Tree of Hope celebration kicked off the holiday season at Roswell Park as hundreds gathered to see this year's tree lighter, Willow, illuminate Kaminski Park. There were horse-drawn carriage rides, hot chocolate and cider for all to enjoy and photos with Santa to make the night memorable.
Make a resolution to schedule your cancer screenings
The start of a new year is the perfect time to make a change to best protect your health — and an easy way to start is by scheduling cancer screenings. In 2024 alone, more than 48,000 community members across Western New York were reached, with 5,000 people gaining access to cancer screening services and 12,500 people receiving screenings for various types of cancer, with a focus on prostate, breast, lung, colorectal and cervical cancers.
Community outreach is at the heart of COE Center
Our Community Outreach and Engagement Center at 907 Michigan is the hub for all of Roswell Park's outreach teams and efforts, from hosting community organization meetings and backpack distributions to neighborhood celebrations with our partner groups, like the holiday party hosted by the Fruit Belt Coalition in our events room in December. There's so much more to come in 2025!
Roswell Park wants YOUR help!
Roswell Park is always looking for community volunteers! We need volunteers to help patients find their way through the hospital for appointments, but we also have research opportunities for people who want to help shape the future of cancer treatment and education. We’re also looking for people who speak Spanish or other languages to help as translators to assist patients navigate their care.
December
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month, new faces and holiday cheer!
Celebrating our Native American neighbors
November was Native American Heritage Month and our Roswell Park Indigenous Employee Networking and Resource Group hosted a series of events, concluding with a visit from storyteller Perry Ground and a commemoration celebration with traditional dancers and food. We know we are stronger when we learn from each other!
Roswell Park introduces first Physician in Chief
We’re pleased to welcome back Michael Wong, MD, PhD, FRPC, an oncology innovator and leader in clinical trials, as our new Physician in Chief! “Dr. Wong comes to Buffalo and to Roswell Park after leadership roles at other major cancer centers, and he is simply one of the most respected and accomplished oncologists across the country,” said Candace Johnson, PhD, Roswell Park’s President and CEO, in introducing Dr. Wong and other newly appointed leaders.
Sharing the holiday spirit
Roswell Park was pleased to once again collect 100 turkeys to help make Thanksgiving a happy holiday for families in our community. Thanks to the support of our employees, donations were shared with the Belle Center, WUFO Power 96.5 and the Mt. Aaron Community Center. We’re also in the process of collecting new, unwrapped toys for the holidays, filling a big red sleigh in our lobby to provide for children in our community.
Tree of Hope is next week!
Roswell Park will celebrate its 30th annual Tree of Hope event on Friday, December 13! Bring your friends and loved ones for a special night with music and holiday fun before the lighting of our beautiful tree.
Did you know?
Our Community Outreach and Engagement Center is available for community groups to use? Each month, we host dozens of groups for meetings, outreach programs, even community celebrations like the Christmas in the City event on December 13 in partnership with the Fruit Belt Coalition. Learn more about the center and what’s going on this month.
Get involved!
Roswell Park is always looking for community volunteers! We need volunteers to help patients find their way through the hospital for appointments, but we also have research opportunities for people who want to help shape the future of cancer treatment and education. We’re also looking for people who speak Spanish or other languages to help as translators to assist patients navigate their care.
October '24
November
Mammothons, expansions and partnerships!
Another successful Mammothon
Mammothon was a big hit! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Roswell Park and WIVB teamed up once again for Mammothon, with a goal of helping 500 women schedule their mammograms. We exceeded our goal by registering 525!
Grant fuels biobank expansion
Big expansion coming to Roswell Park’s research facilities: Rep. Tim Kennedy announced more than $7.7 million in federal funding to help expand Roswell Park’s Biorepository, an important facility to help study cancer’s origins and continue working to find cures.
Tops partnership continues!
Each month, members of Roswell Park’s Community Outreach and Engagement team has an informational table at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue to talk with residents about cancer screening and prevention and help make appointments if needed. To see where our COE Team will be this month, check out their calendar.
Tree of Hope
Roswell Park will celebrate its 30th annual Tree of Hope event on Friday, December 13! Bring your friends and loved ones for a special night with music and holiday fun before the lighting of our beautiful tree.
Did you know?
Our Community Outreach and Engagement Center is available for community groups to use? Each month, we host dozens of groups for meetings, outreach programs, even health fairs like the one coming up on November 18. Learn more about the center and what’s going on this month.
Get involved
Roswell Park is always looking for community volunteers! We need volunteers to help patients find their way through the hospital for appointments, but we also have research opportunities for people who want to help shape the future of cancer treatment and education. Learn more and find out how to get involved.