Cancer Center Celebrates Spirit of Volunteerism

Prestigious awards honor the Lane family, Jerry T. Goss and Sheila Moore, MD

(Baton Rouge, La.) Three prestigious awards, named after individuals who have supported cancer patients through volunteer leadership, were recently presented to several exemplary community members and an outstanding physician. The awards were presented at a special reception at Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center Tuesday, Dec. 11. “All of the award recipients are superheroes among us—and for that, we all thank you for the respective roles you have played in helping take the fight against cancer forward in our community,” said Janice Guitreau, chair of the Mary Bird Perkins Joint Development Committee and member of the Cancer Center’s Board of Directors. “They are extraordinary people who give of their resources to make a difference, and their generosity deserves special recognition.” The Hillar C. Moore, Jr., Memorial Outstanding Leadership Award was presented by Hillar Moore, Jr.’s sons, Hillar Moore, III, longtime supporter of the Cancer Center and also East Baton Rouge Parish’s district attorney, and Steven Moore, member of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Foundation Foard of Directors, to Gerald “Jerry” T. Goss. Goss has been a longtime volunteer and advocate of the Cancer Center, serving on both the Foundation board and the Cancer Center’s board. The award recognizes a Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center volunteer with unwavering dedication, outstanding leadership and a sense of responsibility in the fight against cancer. The D. Jensen Holliday Memorial Community Service Award is a community-wide award presented to an individual whose vision and dedication to the greater good of the community has made a sustained and measurable difference in the fight against cancer. The Holliday family presented this year’s award to Sheila Moore, MD, for her advocacy for children with cancer. In the early 1980s, Dr. Moore worked tirelessly to successfully establish the St. Jude Baton Rouge Affiliate at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health right here in Baton Rouge so children could stay at home and receive world class cancer treatment. Dr. Moore is also responsible for creating Camp Care, Cancer Services’ weeklong summer camp that helps children affected by cancer to feel “normal” in spite of their circumstances. The Louis D. Curet Memorial Volunteer Fundraiser Award was presented by Curet’s daughter, Jeanne Jamesto the Lane family, longtime volunteers and supporters of the Cancer Center. This award recognizes individuals, an organization or a foundation that has launched or led a significant philanthropic effort in support of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Since 1993, the Lane family has been a key partner of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center as longtime volunteers and supporters of the Cancer Center and through their presenting sponsorship of Karnival Krewe de Louisiane through Gerry Lane Enterprises. The late Gerry Lane and now the entire Lane family have committed to lead the community in fighting cancer, donating more than half a million dollars to the Cancer Center and helping to raise hundreds of thousands more. “On behalf of this board, the Cancer Center leadership team, every volunteer and team member, I offer my sincere gratitude to all the award recipients,” said Bill O’Quin, chairman of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s board of directors. “Together with these awardees, the Cancer Center continues its pursuit of providing the highest quality treatment and lifelong care of our friends and neighbors in need.” About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center As a regional destination for cancer care, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center offers the most advanced technology and services provided by a dedicated team of nationally-recognized oncology experts. The Cancer Center provides best-practice, comprehensive care at every stage of the cancer journey, including disease site-specific multidisciplinary care teams, a robust clinical research program, extensive supportive care services and is the only facility in the Gulf South with the revolutionary Leksell Gamma Knife® Icon™. As a nonprofit organization, donor generosity is essential to sustaining the mission of improving survivorship and lessening the burden of cancer for so many throughout Southeast Louisiana and beyond. For more information on the Cancer Center, and how you can become involved, please visit marybirdlake.org.