Stop & Shop Presents $1.75 Million Check to Memorial Sloan Kettering

Don Sussman, President of Stop & Shop New York Metro Division ( left), is joined by nine year old, Leonardo Burgos, a cancer survivor and his parents Sandra(right) and Jesus ( second from right) when Stop & Shop presented a check for $1.75 million to Paul A. Meyers, MD, Vice Chair of Memorial Sloan Kettering Department of Pediatrics ( second from left). Leonardo was successfully treated at MSK for rhabdomyosarcoma.Stop & Shop, its customers and vendors raised the $1.75 million through the sale of a coupon book to assist pediatric cancer research and to raise awareness of the progress being made at Memorial Sloan Kettering in treating childhood cancer.

Stop & Shop and nine year-old Floral Park resident, Leonardo Burgos, a cancer survivor, and his parents, Sandra and Jesus, presented a check for $1.75 million to Dr. Paul A. Meyers, Vice Chair of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Department of Pediatrics at the New Hyde Park Stop & Shop. Two years ago, Leonardo was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in muscle tissue.

Stop & Shop, its customers and vendors raised the $1.75 million through the sale of a coupon book. Customers who bought the three dollar coupon book could save eighty-five dollars in products purchased in the store. The coupon books were purchased by Stop & Shop customers seeking to assist pediatric cancer research and to raise awareness of the progress being made at Memorial Sloan Kettering in treating childhood cancer.

“We are so touched by the kindness of the Stop & Shop customers,” said Sandra and Jesus Burgos. “Their generosity will help Memorial Sloan Kettering continue to make lifesaving research advances so that other children like Leonardo are able to defeat their cancer diagnosis. It will make a tremendous difference for the young patients under the care of Dr. Meyers and his colleagues.”

Since 2001, Stop & Shop has raised over $68 million for charitable causes with more than $15 million given to support pediatric cancer research at MSK.

“We hope to give families hope that their youngsters will receive the care needed so that they can lead long and productive lives. We are so appreciative of the generosity of each of our customers who will help to make this campaign a success. By working together we are proud that Stop & Shop and our customers can make a difference,” said Don Sussman, president of Stop & Shop New York Metro Division.

“The support Stop & Shop has provided for the past fifteen years has allowed us to continue to fulfill our mission, to not only cure childhood cancer, but to return patients healthfully back to their homes, schools, families and friends,” said Paul A. Meyers, MD, Vice Chair of MSK Department of Pediatrics. “The hard work each Stop & Shop employee puts into this campaign truly pays off. We see better outcomes for kids and for their families. On behalf of the physicians and scientists who work tirelessly to conquer childhood cancers – and the children who will benefit now and in the future – I extend our deepest gratitude.”