The free home-away-from-home recently opened for cancer patients undergoing treatment.

The grand opening of the Richard M. Schulze Family American Cancer Society Hope Lodge was held April 7. The celebration included a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the recently completed 40-room Hope Lodge, which was constructed on land donated by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center. The Hope Lodge is located near the University of Minnesota campus at 2500 University Ave. S.E., Minneapolis.

The Hope Lodge offers free private suites for the comfort of its guests and their caregiver. Fostering a home-like environment, the Hope Lodge is equipped with a community dining room, kitchen, family room, library and laundry facilities. The Lodge also offers guests a wide variety of cancer programs and services that provide information, resources, and support to ease the cancer journey.

Construction of the Hope Lodge was made possible through a $5 million challenge grant donation from The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, which was matched with another $5 million from individual donations. "Our family offered the challenge grant as our way of helping cancer patients deal with some of the stress related to this life-threatening disease," Richard M. Schulze said. "The Hope Lodge provides cancer patients and their caregivers comfort, support and encouragement from others experiencing similar circumstances on their journey for a cure." Schulze is the Best Buy Co., Inc. founder and chairman.

"This is such a great moment for the American Cancer Society and the people we serve," said American Cancer Society Midwest Division Chief Executive Officer Jari Johnston-Allen. "Thanks to the incredible generosity of The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and hundreds of additional donors, we are now able to provide much-needed comfort in this home-away-from-home for cancer patients who must travel to the Twin Cities for treatment not available in their communities."

For more information about The Richard M. Schulze Family American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, visit www.cancermw.org/hopelodgetwincities.

You may give online to the Hope Lodge through the Minnesota Medical Foundation Web site, or you can make your gift by mail or phone, or through automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account. For more information, please contact Cathy Spicola at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, 612-625-5192 or c.spicola@mmf.umn.edu.