Providence Swedish and the Seattle Storm bring their A game to fight cancer
At this year's Storm Out Cancer game, Seattle's WNBA team donated $20K to the Swedish Cancer Institute's Patient Assistance Fund and celebrated the team's honorary coaches.
Providence Swedish and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm teamed up at the Storm's Aug. 30 game against the NY Liberty for a special event to Storm Out Cancer and support patients going through cancer treatment.
The annual Storm Out Cancer game at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena is dedicated to recognizing those facing cancer as well as loved ones we’ve lost to the disease. At a special halftime celebration, the Seattle Storm Foundation presented a $20K check to Providence Swedish leaders, including Elizabeth Wako, M.D., president and CEO of Swedish Health Services, Sara Jo Grethlein, M.D., chief medical officer of clinical institutes at Providence Swedish and Ashwani Rajput, M.D., regional medical director for the Swedish Cancer Institute. The funds will support the Swedish Cancer Institute’s Patient Assistant Fund, which provides financial support for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
The game also celebrated the Storm’s honorary coaches from over the years. Since 2016, Providence Swedish has teamed up with the Storm to recognize outstanding members in our community who are making waves and creating positive changes. Many Providence Swedish caregivers have been named honorary coaches.
At top (left to right): Storm CEO and Team President Alicia Valavanis presents a $20K donation to Providence Swedish leaders Elizabeth Wako, M.D., president and CEO of Swedish Health Services, Sara Jo Grethlein, M.D., chief medical officer of clinical institutes at Providence Swedish and Ashwani Rajput, M.D., regional medical director for the Swedish Cancer Institute at this year's Storm Out Cancer game on Aug. 31 at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena. Above: The game also celebrated the Storm's honorary coaches. Since 2016, Providence Swedish and the Storm have teamed up to recognize indviduals making significant contributions in their communities.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Seattle Storm and the Storm Foundation for their generosity. Patients going through cancer treatment face many challenges, and this donation helps us relieve some of the financial pressure so patients can focus on their treatment and recovery,” said Dr. Wako. “We’re also so proud of our honorary coaches. They are really living our mission of caring for our communities. And of course, we love our Storm and will continue being some of their biggest cheerleaders!”
About Providence Swedish
Providence Swedish has served the Puget Sound region since the first Providence hospital opened in Seattle in 1877 and the first Swedish hospital opened in 1910. The two organizations affiliated in 2012 and today comprise the largest health care delivery system in Western Washington, with 22,000 caregivers, eight hospitals and 244 clinics throughout Western Washington – from Everett to Centralia. A not-for-profit family of organizations, Providence Swedish provides more than $545 million in community benefit in the Puget Sound region each year. The health system offers a comprehensive range of services and specialty and subspecialty care in a number of clinical areas, including cancer, cardiovascular health, neurosciences, orthopedics, digestive health and women’s and children’s care.