Philanthropy

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“One morning to walk one mile to unite one community.”

D.C. Walk of Hope
National Harbor, MD
June 6, 2015 at 10 a.m.
(Check-in opens at 9 a.m.)

Shady Grove Fertility is a proud sponsor of RESOLVE’s 2015 D.C. Walk of Hope to raise awareness and funding for the infertility community. The Walk of Hope, which occurs in cities across the nation from Los Angeles to Chicago to Washington, D.C., is RESOLVE’s signature fundraising event.

The funds raised through the Walk of Hope support RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association programming, such as support groups, educational content, public awareness initiatives, and advocacy efforts to ensure that family building options are available to everyone.

RESOLVE Facts about Infertility in the Mid-Atlantic Region

  • More than 325,000 people in the Mid-Atlantic region are affected by infertility, yet current funding only supports 23 RESOLVE local support groups.
  • Maryland is the only state in the area with an insurance mandate that covers infertility treatment.
  • In 2012, RESOLVE helped defeat a bill in Virginia that would have endangered the practice of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Funds from events like the Walk of Hope enable RESOLVE to perform this kind of advocacy.
  • RESOLVE’s headquarters are located in Virginia.

D.C. Walk of Hope – Why We Walk

At Shady Grove Fertility, we walk to show solidarity with the infertility community. Hope is a precious emotion and defines what we do and how we do it. The greatest technological and scientific advancements have no value if one does not have hope. The Walk of Hope represents more than just putting on a t-shirt and coming out to walk a mile—it’s a movement. A movement to tell the community that they are not alone and to inspire hope; a movement to make friends and family aware of what those with infertility feel; and a movement to raise money to help individuals have access to build their family and for legislators to consider expanding and creating greater coverage.

Join us in National Harbor, Maryland on June 6, 2015, to raise hope and awareness and to remind others that they are not alone.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about Shady Grove Fertility, our New Patient Liaisons are ready to help. Please call 877-971-7755.

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New York, NY – On Tuesday, November 18, 2014, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association held the Night of Hope Gala in New York City. RESOLVE, an organization that supports and provides a voice for people diagnosed with infertility, established the Hope Awards to recognize professionals, companies, volunteers, and the media who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the infertility field or have made a positive impact in the lives of people struggling with infertility. As a Visionary Partner with RESOLVE, Shady Grove Fertility is committed to upholding the standards of the Hope Awards and supporting their mission to increase awareness about infertility.

In 2013, SGF’s Robert J. Stillman, M.D. was awarded with the Hope Award for Service. At this year’s event, Michael J. Tucker, Director of IVF and Embryology Laboratories at SGF, BSc Comb Hons, Ph.D., FIBiol, HCLD, was among those who were honored for their vital service to the infertility community. Dr. Tucker was recognized with the Hope Award for Advocacy to commemorate his many years of promoting infertility patient rights and access to care. Using his expertise as an embryologist, he has been able to inform and educate lawmakers in a number of states on legislation that has been integral to the infertility community.

Dr. Michael J. Tucker accepts the Hope Award for Advocacy.

“I have spent most of my life as an embryologist focused on the improvement of laboratory techniques, never imagining that I would be recognized for being an IVF patient advocate,” said Dr. Tucker. Working as a certified laboratory director in the field of clinical embryology for over 30 years, Dr. Tucker has received worldwide recognition for his pioneering work in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) technologies that have helped to revolutionize the treatment of infertility. In 1992, he helped to advance the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique and was responsible for the first “ICSI babies” born in the United States, revolutionizing the treatment of male factor infertility. In 1997, he led the team that was successful in achieving the first-ever pregnancies and births using cryopreserved donor and immature eggs.

“RESOLVE is delighted to recognize Dr. Tucker for his commitment to the infertility community,” said Barbara Collura, RESOLVE’s President/CEO. “The Night of Hope is a special opportunity to come together and thank all those who work tirelessly to improve the lives of the 7.3 million women and men in the United States facing infertility.”

Mark Segal, Shady Grove Fertility CEO, and Alisyn Camerota, CNN anchor and RESOLVE board member, at the Night of Hope.

The 2014 Night of Hope recognized other leaders in the infertility community as well, including Lee Rubin Collins, J.D., a member of the Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM);  Rachel Gurevich, fertility expert for About.com; Susan Donaldson James, a retired ABC News reporter; Cindy Flynn, an applications report writer for Sutter Health; Angelica Nassar, a RESOLVE advocate; researchers at The Hastings Center and the Yale School of Medicine; and Our Misconception was recognized as the best blog to raise awareness about infertility and to shed light on what it’s like to live with infertility.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association was established in 1974 and remains the only nationwide non-profit organization established to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders. Through events like the Night of Hope, RESOLVE raises money to continue advocacy efforts for the infertility community.

If you have questions regarding infertility treatment or would like to schedule a new patient appointment, please call our New Patient Center at 877-971-7755 or click to schedule an appointment.

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On Saturday, September 13, 2014, Shady Grove Fertility joined the Tinina Q. Cade Foundation to host the 9th annual Maryland Race for the Family. The Cade Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes infertility awareness and provides grants to infertile couples in order to access treatment that otherwise would not have been possible.

In 2014, the Race for the Family boasted 203 runners, 102 walkers, and 21 corporate sponsors who helped to raise nearly $60,000 for the Cade Foundation.  Dr. Frank E. Chang, an SGF physician and Cade Foundation board member, said, “We are proud of the contributions our team makes through fundraising and volunteering with the Cade Foundation, in order to help couples overcome infertility.”

It’s not too late to support The Cade Foundation. Click here to donate

This phenomenal fundraising effort was brought about in large part through staff-driven fundraisers at each office, with events ranging from a Frederick Keys baseball game to a potluck lunch to a variety of raffles. SGF offices alone raised over $2,800. Fundraising also took place at the Race itself, courtesy of activities including the 5K Run and Fun Walk and the hotly-anticipated SGF physician-embryologist tricycle race. This year, the SGF embryology team won the race – and the bragging rights.

In support of Race Day, Shady Grove Fertility donates up to $10,000 for fertility treatment to be raffled off to one lucky couple. “[This] is a fantastic prize that helps us raise awareness about family building for our Race for the Family,” said Dr. Camille Hammond, CEO of the Cade Foundation. “All proceeds from the raffle go to the Cade Foundation. It’s a win-win for both our foundation and the patient trying to conceive.”

Tiffany Emami-Locke, the 2013 treatment raffle winner, was present at the Race with her son Cole and is currently pregnant with her second child, the result of the treatment she won at the 2013 Cade Race. Returning to the 2014 Race brought back so many exciting memories: “I will never forget pulling into the park in the early morning and seeing the rows of cars and so many strollers. So many miracle babies.”

This year’s raffle was won by John and Lauren Heier. “After six years of struggling with infertility with no success, we had given up hope on having a biological family, but the Cade Foundation has now given us an opportunity we never thought would be possible. We are very excited to continue our journey and feel forever indebted to the Tinina Q. Cade Foundation.”

Shady Grove Fertility would like to thank everyone who supported this year’s Race for the Family: the SGF physicians and staff, the runners and walkers, our corporate sponsors, and all of those who donated to this fantastic cause. For nearly a decade, Shady Grove Fertility and the Cade Foundation have worked together to raise more than $500,000 to help couples battling infertility.

If you have questions about fertility or are ready to schedule an appointment at Shady Grove Fertility, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.

2026 Shady Grove Fertility

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