The current growth and future potential of the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer is now evident, with the recent opening of the foundation’s new Education Advancement Center and headquarters in downtown Chattanooga.
The foundation will host an open house on Tuesday to officially showcase the EAC, which is at 232 E. 11 St., Suite 100 and is designed to facilitate an expansion of services provided to young cancer patients and their families.
The open-house schedule has been divided into three segments:
8-9 a.m. for the Chattanooga business community;
2-5 p.m. for medical personnel plus pediatric cancer patients and their families;
5-7 p.m. for foundation donors, supporters, media and members of the foundation’s board of directors.
The EAC focuses on diagnosing and treating educational and functional deficits associated with pediatric cancer and its life-saving treatments. The center’s programs include industrial arts and driving simulation along with school tutorial programs, neuro-cognitive testing and remediation and other specialty programs designed to optimize recovery from cancer by both patients and their families. The center is also building a “Hot Rodders” program modeled after the popular Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge national competition.
The automotive-themed center reflects the Austin Hatcher Foundation’s long-running affiliation with both the automotive and motorsports industries. In addition to being a member of the “SEMA Cares” Family of Charities, the foundation is an official “Proud Charity” of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based International Motor Sports Association, North America’s premier sports car sanctioning body. Previously, the foundation was the Official Charity of the American Le Mans Series sports car organization. The foundation also is amid a successful fundraising partnership with Goodguys Rod & Custom Association of Pleasanton, California, the world’s largest hot-rodding organization.
“Our open house is a great opportunity to introduce our new headquarters and the EAC to the Chattanooga area,” Austin Hatcher Foundation President Amy Jo Osborn said. “Since we began the foundation is 2006, the support we’ve received on the local level has been vital to our day-to-day operations – and our vision for the future.
"The fight against pediatric cancer is far from being won. But strides are being made. There is much work to do, so many children and families to help. That’s what our new facility is all about. That’s what our organization is all about.”
Services previously provided at the now-closed Hatch’s House of Hope, located in Erlanger Medical Mall, will be expanded at the Education Advancement Center. During the eight-year period Hatch’s House of Hope was open, it provided nearly $3 million in service at no cost to patients.
“We’re entering an exciting new era for the foundation, but we want to emphasize how important Erlanger Children’s Hospital has been to our efforts,” Ms. Osborn said. “It was our home for eight years. It will be in our hearts forever.
“We also want to emphasize that we are going to continue working with the hospital to provide services and programs in Chattanooga to patients and families.”
Throughout 2017, the Austin Hatcher Foundation is commemorating its recently-completed first decade of operation. The foundation began in 2006 and prior to its IMSA Proud Charity status, it was the Official Charity of the American Le Mans Series. As part of the commemoration, the foundation is amid its “Five for Ten” major gift campaign. The “Five for Ten” campaign focuses on “Building a Foundation For The Future” which includes the acquisition and furnishing of a permanent home for the foundation, and helping to continue and expand programs to benefit those dealing with pediatric cancer and the effects it leaves behind.