Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This year 2022 marks Neil’s Ace Home Center’s 13th Annual holiday fundraising project since 2009, with the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition. The special fundraiser raises funds for stipends to assist cancer patients with their medical bills, medical care, as well as their daily medical expenses. This year the fundraiser kicked off early December and ended on Christmas Eve.

The annual holiday fundraising project includes community involvement where at the time of a customer check-out, ACE cashiers ask customers if they would like to donate to the Cancer Coalition and whatever donation made by the customer ACE will match it dollar for dollar. Customer’s who participate in the program are called “ANGELS”.

This year Angels’ contributions totaled $15,600, and with the ACE match, the donation combined for a total of $31,200, beating out last year’s contribution by $200. It marks the highest the Angels have ever donated to the American Samoa cancer coalition.

A total of 124 stipends were issued through December 12, 2021. Forty-seven (47) were first time applicants and of those who have been verified at least 13 have received off island care and 22 are diagnosed with metastatic cancer.

Since 2009, the Angels have annually tried to up their total contributions. Not all years have been successful, but from the original 2009 donation of $2091.80 to this year’s $31, 200 — a grand total of  $208,698.85 over the years since its inception, has allowed cancer coalition patients to receive stipends: For first time applicants — $750, while repeat applicants receive $500 and there is no limit to a number of times they may reapply annually. How many recipients are able to receive stipends depends on how much the Angels are able to raise for that year.