News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2010
MEDIA CONTACT: Joyce Brennan
Public Information Officer
Southcoast Health System
Phone: 508-961-5270
Fax: 508-961-5876
Pager: 508-387-9605
brennanj@southcoast.org
www.southcoast.org/news/releases/
BankFive donates $100,000 to Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care
FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals announced today that BankFive has
donated $100,000 in support of the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care in Fall River and the new
flagship outpatient facility in Fairhaven, which is currently under construction and set to open in
early 2011.
“We are grateful to BankFive for their generous support of our efforts to bring the best
cancer care available to the South Coast region. Our new cancer center is being built on a
foundation of strong community support that is driven by and would not be possible without —
the generous support of our community leaders,” said John B. Day, CEO of Southcoast Health
System.
BankFive, South Coast’s independent community bank and one of the top regional banks
in Massachusetts, committed a donation of $20,000 per year over the next five years.
“When we heard that more than 3,500 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the South
Coast region each year — and our region’s incident rate is six percent higher than the state
average — we knew we had to do something,” said Thomas F. Lyons, President & CEO of
BankFive. “This holiday season the best gift we could give our community is a donation to
Southcoast’s Cancer Center.”
Keith A. Hovan, President of Southcoast Health System and President & CEO of
Southcoast Hospitals Group, said Bank Five’s donation is another example of the strong
community support the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care has been receiving. “The Southcoast
Centers of Cancer Care will save lives and care for patients now and for years to come.
BankFive’s generous donation will help Southcoast continue to meet the needs of our community
by providing the best care available right here in the South Coast region.”
Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care
The Fall River site of the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care is located in the Mitchell
Building on the campus of Charlton Memorial Hospital. The newly renovated building offers
patients the latest in cancer treatments and technology, including radiation therapies such as
IGRT, IMRT and PET/CT and comprehensive medical oncology services in the Jarabek
Diagnostic & Treatment Center, a newly renovated modern treatment area that offers a host of
comforting amenities.
The care delivered at the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care is complimented by an
outstanding cancer team, which includes dedicated medical and radiation oncologists and staff
who have been treating cancer patients at Southcoast for decades — and new staff who include
top-tier clinicians with a wealth of experience from some of the major academic cancer centers
around the country.
Southcoast Hospitals is also building its new flagship Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care
in Fairhaven that, when completed in early 2011, will provide convenient access to advanced
cancer services to residents in the eastern part of the South Coast region.
The new Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care in Fairhaven will ensure coordinated, highquality, streamlined care for cancer patients and their families. It brings together state-of-the-art
radiation therapy and medical oncology, such as chemotherapy, in a beautiful and peaceful setting
conveniently located off Interstate 195 in Fairhaven. In addition to radiation therapy the new
outpatient center will house expansive diagnostic testing, imaging and laboratories — all to meet
the growing needs of the region's cancer patients.
The estimated cost for both the new Fairhaven and Fall River cancer centers is about $60
million. The Fairhaven building project will create up to 250 temporary construction jobs over the
life of the project. The center will employ about 55 staff, of which about 40 will be permanent
new clinical and support jobs.
For more information on Southcoast’s cancer services visit
www.southcoast.org/cancercare/.
About Bank Five
Since 1855, BankFive has been serving the communities of the SouthCoast with a
steadfast commitment to provide local individuals, families and businesses with outstanding
products and services designed to meet their financial needs. With 13 offices conveniently located
throughout the SouthCoast, BankFive is one of the top regional banks in Massachusetts and the
place to BankSmart. For more information, visit BankFive online at www.bankfive.com.
About Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group
Southcoast Health System is a community based health delivery system with multiple
access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern
Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes the three hospitals that make up
Southcoast Hospitals Group — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in
New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast provides advanced clinical services, such as open heart surgery, angioplasty
and heart rhythm services, comprehensive cancer care, neurosurgery, weight loss surgery,
orthopedic surgery and advanced imaging services. Southcoast is a not-for-profit charitable
organization that depends on the support of the community to provide services.
More information is available online at www.southcoast.org. Connect to Southcoast at
www.southcoast.org/connect/.
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Photo attached: BankFive pledges $100,000 in support of the Southcoast Centers for Cancer
Care. Pictured left to right: Bill Eccles, Executive Vice President and COO of BankFive and
Thomas F. Lyons, President and CEO of BankFive with Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of
Southcoast Hospitals Group, Barbara H. Mulville, CFRE, Senior Vice President of External
Affairs for Southcoast Health System.