Advertisement
The Home Away From Home program is made possible by a sponsorship fromRoche which donates accumulated corporate hotel points to the NFT for patientsand their families. The program was originally designed to provide freelodging to patients enrolled in the NFT's fundraising assistance program.Through enhanced contributions from Roche, patients unaffiliated with the NFTmay now apply for the hotel accommodation through their hospital socialworkers or other transplant professionals.
Advertisement
"For transplant patients and their families already burdened with highmedical costs, paying for hotel accommodations, especially in majormetropolitan areas where most transplant hospitals are located, can be ahardship," said Jackie Hancock, Jr., president of the NFT. "Thanks to expandedsupport from Roche this year, we can now offer more patients in need of life-saving transplants essential support services."
The NFT and Roche partnered in 2004 to start the Home Away From Homeprogram based on research which revealed that many transplant candidates andrecipients do not have adequate -- or any -- health insurance coverage orpersonal savings to pay for the costs associated with a transplant.
Since its inception, more than one million points have been donated byRoche, helping more than 100 transplant patients and their families receivefree lodging. As a result of the expansion, the NFT anticipates serving morethan 100 patients in 2007 alone.
About the Home Away From Home Program
Roche donates corporate frequent-stay points from three of the nation'sleading hotel chains that are accumulated by the company and its employeeswhen corporate functions are hosted at these properties. The points are thenredeemed and donated to the NFT and made available to transplant patients forfree accommodations.
Additionally, this year, Roche will begin contributing phone cards to helpoffset some of the added expenses patients incur as a result of traveling.
"Through our partnership with the NFT and the Home Away From Home program,Roche is continuing its commitment to enhancing the well-being of patients,"said Ellen Lambert, director, Corporate Relations and Contributions at Roche."By relieving families of added expenses associated with transplantoperations, like hotel expenses, we want to enable transplant patients tofocus on regaining their health which is an essential element of their pre andpost-operative care."
Transplant centers or hospital social workers interested in learning moreinformation about the Home Away From Home program can call the NFT toll-freenumber, 1-800-489-3863 or visit www.transplants.org
About the National Foundation for Transplants
NFT is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Memphis, TN whichprovides patient advocacy, support services and financial assistance to organand tissue transplant candidates and recipients. Founded in 1983, NFTcurrently assists approximately 650 transplant patients nationwide who facefinancial obstacles to their medical treatment and care. In 2006, NFT paid outover $2.4 million for patient transplant needs.
About Roche
Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), based in Nutley, N.J., is the U.S.pharmaceuticals headquarters of the Roche Group, one of the world's leadingresearch-oriented healthcare groups with core businesses in pharmaceuticalsand diagnostics. For more than 100 years in the U.S., Roche has been committedto developing innovative products and services that address prevention,diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing people's health andquality of life. An empl
