MORGAN PARK — The conversation on WSCR 670-AM occasionally steers away from Chicago sports and toward the more serious issue of childhood cancer.
For that reason, Mitch Rosen, operations director of 670 The Score and WXRT FM 93.1, will receive an award on Nov. 13 from Children's Oncology Services Inc.
Rosen, a Morgan Park resident, will be presented with the Hospira Foundation Award at the charity's Flight fundraiser. The annual event begins at 7 p.m. and is held at the Four Seasons Hotel at 120 E. Delaware Place in the Gold Coast.
"Mitch and The Score have been incredibly supportive of our organization," said Jeff Infusino, president of the charity that was founded in 1998.
The nonprofit group works with children who are receiving treatment or in remission with cancer. The charity sends the kids to special summer camps and other activities with young people facing a similar diagnosis, Infusino said.
"The key for us is to provide a way for them to forget about cancer," he said.
Besides getting a welcome distraction, the kids also learn from each other by sharing strategies for taking medications, picking up tips on how to best deal with symptoms and talking through other shared experiences, Infusino said.
Many of the camp counselors are also cancer survivors. This provides role models as well as an opportunity for children to see others like themselves who have successfully navigated the disease, Infusino said.
Rosen and the other radio personalities on The Score have proven a valuable in raising both awareness and funds for the group, often sharing fundraising information on the air and via Twitter — all while encouraging listeners to get involved, he said.
"For us, it's about getting the word out," Infusino said.
His charity works with about with between 600-650 kids annually. Participants are between ages 7-19, and many of the kids attend more than one event throughout the year, Infusino said.
Upon their return from the camps and other events, the cancer-stricken children often are better able to communicate their medical needs and conditions, parents often say. Others have said their sick students improve in school as well, he said.
The charity hosts several fundraisers throughout the year to pay for these outings, including a Charity Poker Championship. But the biggest fundraiser is the upcoming Flight event, which will carry the theme "A Night in Argentina."
"We are going to take you to a virtual destination every year," Infusino said.
Tickets to the fundraiser cost $275 each, and Infusino hopes to raise between $300,000-$350,000.
As for Rosen's recognition, the Hospira Foundation Award was created after the charity received a $1.2 million grant from the Hospira Foundation in September. The foundation is the philanthropic arm of Hospira Inc., a provider of injectable drugs.
"Giving (The Score) an honorary award is not enough," Infusino said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
