MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.—FEB. 6, 2006—Today the American Cancer Society Midwest Division announced that a $7.5 million challenge grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation of Minneapolis has been met.

This matched grant, the largest current gift to the American Cancer Society in its 92-year history, will be used to build a Hope Lodge near the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities and double the size of the existing facility in Rochester near the Mayo Clinic.

An American Cancer Society Hope Lodge provides free, long-term housing for adult cancer patients and their caregivers in an emotionally supportive environment.

"We are thrilled the challenge has been met and thank the thousands of donors, who, like our family, want to ensure the stress and barriers to cancer patient's treatments are reduced as much as possible," Richard M. Schulze said. Schulze is the founder and chairman of Best Buy Co., Inc., the nation's leading specialty retail chain.

"More than 2,000 cancer patients from throughout Minnesota travel to the Twin Cities every year for their cancer treatments, creating a financial hardship for many who must pay for their transportation and lodging. Plus, more than 30 people are typically on a waiting list to stay at the Hope Lodge in Rochester. The expense and burden of travel and housing—coupled with an at-times overwhelming sense of solitude—will be eased due to the incredible generosity of the Schulze family and the more than 2,500 donors who contributed to this campaign," said American Cancer Society Midwest Division CEO Jari Johnston-Allen.

Current plans call for construction to begin in 2006 to add 30 rooms to the existing 28 rooms at the Rochester Hope Lodge, currently the only Hope Lodge in Minnesota. It opened in 1999 and has since accommodated nearly 2,000 cancer patients who received treatment at Mayo Clinic.

In the Twin Cities, construction of a 40-room Hope Lodge on land provided by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, near the east edge of the University of Minnesota campus, is also slated to begin in 2006. The American Cancer Society, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Cancer Center and the University of Minnesota Medical Center, will open the facility to cancer patients in 2007. Hope Lodge guests will be referred to the facility from cancer centers throughout the Twin Cities.

"The Twin Cities Hope Lodge will enable us to expand our cancer care capabilities and, most importantly, ease the burden on patients coming to the Twin Cities for therapy by giving them a place to stay during the course of their treatment," said John Kersey, M.D., director, University of Minnesota Cancer Center.

Even though the Hope Lodge Schulze Challenge has been met, the American Cancer Society will continue to raise funds to provide for the cost of annual operations.

The first American Cancer Society Hope Lodge opened in 1977 in Charleston, South Carolina. There are 21 American Cancer Society Hope Lodges in the U.S., typically near National Cancer Institute-designated treatment facilities or research centers. Many additional Hope Lodges are currently under construction or consideration, including in Iowa City, Iowa.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. For more information day or night, call toll-free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

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Media Contact: Mary Lawson, Public Relations Director, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, 612-624-6165, 612-363-6971 (cell), mlawson@umn.edu.