Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno Truck Center Donates $2 Million to Valley Children's Cancer Survivors Effort
Liz-Juarez
By Liz Juarez
Published 2 years ago on
December 2, 2022

Share

A $2 million donation from the Fresno Truck Center will give Valley Children’s cancer survivors a leg up on remaining cancer-free.

The donation provides the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program Endowment with long-term funding to help improve the quality of care. 

In recognition of the gift, which was announced Thursday, the program will be renamed “The Fresno Truck Center Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program.”

Dr. Vinod Balasa, who is the director of the hospital’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, says the program addresses a huge need.

“The support provided by Fresno Truck Center is extremely valuable and very much appreciated,” said Balasa. 

Fresno Truck Center’s Long History of Support

The Fresno Truck Center has been owned and operated by the Howard family for more than 90 years serving as a Freightliner and Western Star commercial truck dealership. 

The family has supported Valley Children’s for more than 50 years. For example, it annually buys vital medical equipment for the hospital’s clinical teams. 

The Howard family, which owns and operates the Fresno Truck Center, has donated $2 million to Valley Children’s Cancer Survivorship Program. (Valley Children’s Hospital)

“It is our privilege to make this financial commitment on behalf of our loyal customers,” said Doug Howard, president of Fresno Truck Center.

“Together, we will improve the quality of care available to cancer survivors and make a positive impact in the lives of hundreds of survivors of pediatric cancer and their families.”

Valley Children’s Program One of a Kind in the Valley

According to hospital officials, 65% of cancer survivors experience later effects and remain unaware of their health risks or how to reduce them.

The program is the only one of its kind in the region, working with cancer-free patients from Valley Children’s and other facilities who are three years from completion of treatment by providing education, support, and health maintenance.

Through the program, Valley Children’s offers academic and vocational scholarships to members, holds an annual conference in partnership with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and promotes events for childhood cancer survivors, their family members, and health care professionals.

There are 1,800 members in the program, which is led by Dr. John Gates.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Allow Him to End Humanitarian Parole for 500,000 People From 4 Countries

DON'T MISS

House Follows Trump’s Lead With a Vote to Change the Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’

DON'T MISS

Fresno Art Hop Could Feature Street Vendors Again. Downtown’s Players Are Divvying Up Responsibility

DON'T MISS

Before Tariff Price Increases, Mark Cuban Suggests Stocking Up on These Items

DON'T MISS

He Was Killed in a Road Rage Shooting. AI Allowed Him to Deliver His Own Victim Impact Statement

DON'T MISS

Trump Urged Speaker Johnson to Raise Top Tax Rate, Source Says

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Plan 10-Hour Bicycle, Pedestrian Safety Operation for Saturday

DON'T MISS

Freeman’s Bases-Loaded Triple Helps Dodgers Beat Marlins

DON'T MISS

Robbie Ray Pitches 6 Effective Innings as the Giants Beat the Cubs

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Xzavier Isaha McGee

UP NEXT

House Follows Trump’s Lead With a Vote to Change the Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’

UP NEXT

Fresno Art Hop Could Feature Street Vendors Again. Downtown’s Players Are Divvying Up Responsibility

UP NEXT

Before Tariff Price Increases, Mark Cuban Suggests Stocking Up on These Items

UP NEXT

He Was Killed in a Road Rage Shooting. AI Allowed Him to Deliver His Own Victim Impact Statement

UP NEXT

Trump Urged Speaker Johnson to Raise Top Tax Rate, Source Says

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Plan 10-Hour Bicycle, Pedestrian Safety Operation for Saturday

UP NEXT

Freeman’s Bases-Loaded Triple Helps Dodgers Beat Marlins

UP NEXT

Robbie Ray Pitches 6 Effective Innings as the Giants Beat the Cubs

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Xzavier Isaha McGee

UP NEXT

Fresno Author Teams Up With Valley Children’s to Help Kids Know More About Epilepsy

Before Tariff Price Increases, Mark Cuban Suggests Stocking Up on These Items

12 minutes ago

He Was Killed in a Road Rage Shooting. AI Allowed Him to Deliver His Own Victim Impact Statement

28 minutes ago

Trump Urged Speaker Johnson to Raise Top Tax Rate, Source Says

46 minutes ago

Fresno Police Plan 10-Hour Bicycle, Pedestrian Safety Operation for Saturday

56 minutes ago

Freeman’s Bases-Loaded Triple Helps Dodgers Beat Marlins

56 minutes ago

Robbie Ray Pitches 6 Effective Innings as the Giants Beat the Cubs

1 hour ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Xzavier Isaha McGee

1 hour ago

Fresno Author Teams Up With Valley Children’s to Help Kids Know More About Epilepsy

1 hour ago

‘Gov. Greg Abbott, How Dare You? Officials in Texas Clash Over Gaza Resolution

1 hour ago

US Cardinal Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV, First American Pontiff

1 hour ago

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Allow Him to End Humanitarian Parole for 500,000 People From 4 Countries

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow it to end humanitarian parole for hu...

5 minutes ago

5 minutes ago

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Allow Him to End Humanitarian Parole for 500,000 People From 4 Countries

8 minutes ago

House Follows Trump’s Lead With a Vote to Change the Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’

10 minutes ago

Fresno Art Hop Could Feature Street Vendors Again. Downtown’s Players Are Divvying Up Responsibility

12 minutes ago

Before Tariff Price Increases, Mark Cuban Suggests Stocking Up on These Items

28 minutes ago

He Was Killed in a Road Rage Shooting. AI Allowed Him to Deliver His Own Victim Impact Statement

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 5, 2025. (REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo)
46 minutes ago

Trump Urged Speaker Johnson to Raise Top Tax Rate, Source Says

56 minutes ago

Fresno Police Plan 10-Hour Bicycle, Pedestrian Safety Operation for Saturday

56 minutes ago

Freeman’s Bases-Loaded Triple Helps Dodgers Beat Marlins

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend