November 28, 2006
Dear Friends:
Our working committee meeting will be postponed to February/March 2007 instead of December 10 next month as originally planned.
It will not only permit Dr. Cowan and Ms. Fernandes of UCSF Medical Center to fine-tune the logistics and work out a three-year budget for a world class cord blood bank and stem cell research center but also give us needed breath to design a campaign strategy and perhaps start to assemble a list of potential individual and corporate donors. The budget will be undoubtedly in millions.
On another front, I am excited to report that the editors of the Kuangchi Cultural Group in Taiwan will help translate Joanne’s book for the Chinese readers worldwide according to Fr. Bao. KCG is a Catholic publishing house founded in 1957 and is known for publishing and distributing books in Chinese on theology, philosophy, religion, and spirituality as well as popular books and translations based on Christian values. KCG has been supported by the communications ministry of the Jesuits of the China Province.
Hopefully, some time in 2007, we could celebrate the commencement of a world class cord blood bank and research center at UCSF in honor of Joanne and all patients missing critical transplant together with the publication of her book in Chinese.
I will keep you abreast of the progress and please feel free let me know if you have any suggestions.
Blessings,
Joseph Pang, Ph.D.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
An Invitation for A Special Project
November 22, 2006
Dear Friends:
It has been a dynamic change in my life through the journey of Joanne!!
It all started with her illness, followed by writing of her book, and now a quest for a nonprofit public cord blood bank and stem cell research center in San Francisco Bay Area. For a patient like Joanne needing critical and timely transplant, a cord blood transplant could provide the life-saving therapy, as the traditional bone marrow transplant would do.
As many of you have known, cord blood or umbilical stem cells are a rich, non-controversial source of stem cells. It has proven to effectuate cures from some of the most devastating diseases and cancers on earth including Leukemia and Sickle Cell Anemia.
In the past few months, Scott Hildula, Gregory Porter, and I had been talking to several prominent physicians at UCSF (University of California at San Francisco), CHORI (Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute), and Stanford University to see if they would warm up to the idea of establishing a Cord Blood Bank and Stem Cell Research Institute to benefit the residents in Northern California and beyond. Not surprisingly, they all agreed with Prof. Michael Amylon of Stanford University that there is a crying need for it, especially for San Francisco Bay Area.
Fruitfully, I received confirmation a few days ago that UCSF was excited about the proposed nonprofit public Cord blood bank and would work with the Joanne Pang Foundation in developing a world class cord blood bank and research center at UCSF that could potentially benefit many patients around the world according to Prof. Morton Cowan, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of BMT Division of UCSF Children’s Hospital.
Gracefully, Msgr. Harriman quickly permitted the use of the lower church in the Sunday afternoon of December 10 to invite talented parishioners and school parents to help get the words out to the residents in San Francisco Bay Area after I broke the news to him.
In this meeting at 2 pm, Scott Hildula will share and summarize all of the discussions with the physicians from various institutes. Gregory Porter will help strategize the fundraising activities. We might also have the opportunities to hear keynote speeches on the advancement of the Cord Blood Stem Cell Research from some physicians specialized in this promising field. We plan to set up an effective working committee which will involve all participants to target every corner of San Francisco Bay Area Communities as Prof. Cowan once said that this would be a major undertaking project. We would need to quickly raise critical funds within the next 6 to 9 months to enable UCSF to jump-start this project.
If established, this world class cord blood bank and research center at UCSF will benefit patients for many generations to come. It will also carry on the spirit of God’s gracious love and honor all patients who had missed critical transplants.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) commented in December of 2005 after the House passed the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act HR2520, “Not only has God in His infinite wisdom and goodness created the placenta and umbilical cord to nurture and protect the precious life of an unborn child, but now we know that another gift awaits us immediately after birth, something very special is left behind – cord blood that is rich with stem cells.”
I hope you would consider joining me in this crusade. Your help could perhaps save lives of your own friends, neighbors, and even your loved ones.
Blessings,
Joseph Pang, Ph.D.
Dear Friends:
It has been a dynamic change in my life through the journey of Joanne!!
It all started with her illness, followed by writing of her book, and now a quest for a nonprofit public cord blood bank and stem cell research center in San Francisco Bay Area. For a patient like Joanne needing critical and timely transplant, a cord blood transplant could provide the life-saving therapy, as the traditional bone marrow transplant would do.
As many of you have known, cord blood or umbilical stem cells are a rich, non-controversial source of stem cells. It has proven to effectuate cures from some of the most devastating diseases and cancers on earth including Leukemia and Sickle Cell Anemia.
In the past few months, Scott Hildula, Gregory Porter, and I had been talking to several prominent physicians at UCSF (University of California at San Francisco), CHORI (Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute), and Stanford University to see if they would warm up to the idea of establishing a Cord Blood Bank and Stem Cell Research Institute to benefit the residents in Northern California and beyond. Not surprisingly, they all agreed with Prof. Michael Amylon of Stanford University that there is a crying need for it, especially for San Francisco Bay Area.
Fruitfully, I received confirmation a few days ago that UCSF was excited about the proposed nonprofit public Cord blood bank and would work with the Joanne Pang Foundation in developing a world class cord blood bank and research center at UCSF that could potentially benefit many patients around the world according to Prof. Morton Cowan, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of BMT Division of UCSF Children’s Hospital.
Gracefully, Msgr. Harriman quickly permitted the use of the lower church in the Sunday afternoon of December 10 to invite talented parishioners and school parents to help get the words out to the residents in San Francisco Bay Area after I broke the news to him.
In this meeting at 2 pm, Scott Hildula will share and summarize all of the discussions with the physicians from various institutes. Gregory Porter will help strategize the fundraising activities. We might also have the opportunities to hear keynote speeches on the advancement of the Cord Blood Stem Cell Research from some physicians specialized in this promising field. We plan to set up an effective working committee which will involve all participants to target every corner of San Francisco Bay Area Communities as Prof. Cowan once said that this would be a major undertaking project. We would need to quickly raise critical funds within the next 6 to 9 months to enable UCSF to jump-start this project.
If established, this world class cord blood bank and research center at UCSF will benefit patients for many generations to come. It will also carry on the spirit of God’s gracious love and honor all patients who had missed critical transplants.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) commented in December of 2005 after the House passed the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act HR2520, “Not only has God in His infinite wisdom and goodness created the placenta and umbilical cord to nurture and protect the precious life of an unborn child, but now we know that another gift awaits us immediately after birth, something very special is left behind – cord blood that is rich with stem cells.”
I hope you would consider joining me in this crusade. Your help could perhaps save lives of your own friends, neighbors, and even your loved ones.
Blessings,
Joseph Pang, Ph.D.
A Special Event for Joanne's book at Barns & Noble
September 24, 2006
A special event for Joanne’s book “See Daddy! That’s the New Kite”
Alex Brown wrote an article in 2001 with a title of “Help Little Joanne Beat Leukemia” in San Francisco Examiner: “You want to call her a victim, because she is a leukemia patient. You want to describe her outlook as brave and courageous, because that’s convention. Then you look a little deeper. And that’s when it hits you. Joanne Pang, an 8-year-old student at Saint Cecilia School, isn’t a victim of leukemia. She is the disease’s adversary…” Joanne passed away in 2003 and she would have been 13 this year.
In remembrance of Joanne, Barnes and Noble would like to host a special event honoring patients and their families who are battling deadly diseases. All who were affected by Joanne are invited to attend. We encourage you to bring pictures of your loved ones to share your experience.
B&N will donate up to 20% of the net sales from this event to Saint Cecilia School, where Joanne was a 4th grader before she went to Lord in early 2003. (Please ask for a Bookfair Voucher at B&N before attending.)
Fr. Vito Perrone, who was pivotal in the editorial review of this book and subsequently wrote a touchy foreword, will help celebrate this event.
A limited number of the bookmarks with Joanne’s artwork made in 2002 will be available to the guests through Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.
Please come for a day of journey with the spirit of Joanne at B&N. Cheers!!
Date: September 24 (Sunday)
Time: 2 pm
Where: Bay View room, 5604 Bay Street in Emeryville
Direction: After Bay Bridge, I-80 East, Powell Street Exit, R on Powell Street, R on Christie Ave (0.2 mil), R on Bay Street (0.2 mil) exit, near IKEA. Parking is free with the purchase of any items at the shopping mall.
For more information, please email to josephpang@pacbell.net or visit Joanne’s website at http://www.joannepang.org/ or call Joe at 415-624-4123 (C). Joanne’s book is also available through San Francisco Kaufer’s Religious Supplies at 1455 Custer Avenue/3rd Street.
A special event for Joanne’s book “See Daddy! That’s the New Kite”
Alex Brown wrote an article in 2001 with a title of “Help Little Joanne Beat Leukemia” in San Francisco Examiner: “You want to call her a victim, because she is a leukemia patient. You want to describe her outlook as brave and courageous, because that’s convention. Then you look a little deeper. And that’s when it hits you. Joanne Pang, an 8-year-old student at Saint Cecilia School, isn’t a victim of leukemia. She is the disease’s adversary…” Joanne passed away in 2003 and she would have been 13 this year.
In remembrance of Joanne, Barnes and Noble would like to host a special event honoring patients and their families who are battling deadly diseases. All who were affected by Joanne are invited to attend. We encourage you to bring pictures of your loved ones to share your experience.
B&N will donate up to 20% of the net sales from this event to Saint Cecilia School, where Joanne was a 4th grader before she went to Lord in early 2003. (Please ask for a Bookfair Voucher at B&N before attending.)
Fr. Vito Perrone, who was pivotal in the editorial review of this book and subsequently wrote a touchy foreword, will help celebrate this event.
A limited number of the bookmarks with Joanne’s artwork made in 2002 will be available to the guests through Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.
Please come for a day of journey with the spirit of Joanne at B&N. Cheers!!
Date: September 24 (Sunday)
Time: 2 pm
Where: Bay View room, 5604 Bay Street in Emeryville
Direction: After Bay Bridge, I-80 East, Powell Street Exit, R on Powell Street, R on Christie Ave (0.2 mil), R on Bay Street (0.2 mil) exit, near IKEA. Parking is free with the purchase of any items at the shopping mall.
For more information, please email to josephpang@pacbell.net or visit Joanne’s website at http://www.joannepang.org/ or call Joe at 415-624-4123 (C). Joanne’s book is also available through San Francisco Kaufer’s Religious Supplies at 1455 Custer Avenue/3rd Street.
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