AGENDA
ITEM
PROCLAMATION NO. 2025-06
WHEREAS, the character of our community is revealed in how we treat our most vulnerable; each year, 19.2 in every 100,000 children in our community will be diagnosed with cancer; and
WHEREAS, cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease among children— more than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies, and AIDS combined; and
WHEREAS, Jacob’s Heart has been keeping medically fragile children and families housed, fed, and emotionally supported by steadfastly adhering to the following commitments:
• Parents of children with cancer and other serious illnesses will be relieved of financial fears and able to focus attention on their children; • No child undergoing intensive treatment in our community will be homeless; • Families of seriously ill children will not experience food insecurity during and after the pandemic;
• No seriously ill child in our community will ever miss a medical appointment because of a lack of transportation; and
WHEREAS, Jacob’s Heart holds the memories and honors legacies of hundreds of children from our local community who have been lost to cancer, ensuring that their memories will never be forgotten; and
WHEREAS, the Oncology Department at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford has worked closely with Jacob's Heart for the past 27 years as a trusted community partner in providing family-centered care that addresses the emotional, practical, and financial struggles of families of children with cancer in the City of Gonzales; and WHEREAS, it is important for all Gonzales City residents to recognize the impact of pediatric cancer on families within our community and honor the children in our community whose lives have been cut short by cancer.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Jose L. Rios, on behalf of the City Council of the City of Gonzales, do hereby declare September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Gonzales, and do hereby honor Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services for outstanding support to our community and acknowledge the organization’s contributions to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
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Jose L. Rios, The Honorable Mayor
August 18, 2025