The Aflac Foundation has announced a $1.5 million commitment to support treatments and therapies for children with cancer and blood disorders.

The gift to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta allocates $1 million to the hospital's clinical research office and the remaining $500,000 for critical needs at Children's Hughes Spalding Sickle Cell Clinic. More than 85 percent of patients in the sickle cell clinic rely on Medicaid or are uninsured. The center offers patients access to more than 380 clinical studies—current research surrounding sickle cell disease includes chronic pain management, blood-banking anemia testing, opioid treatment, and stroke biomarkers and prevention.

“Providing care to more than 2,600 children and young adults with sickle cell each year, the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is home to the largest pediatric sickle cell disease program in the country,” said Aflac Foundation president Kathelen Amos. “This funding will help them continue to treat the ‘whole child’ at the Hughes Spalding clinic through its support of psychologists, social workers and teachers—crucial positions that are not fully reimbursed by insurance and rely on philanthropy to continue.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Zinkevych)