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Dear friends, 

Cooler temperatures are in our future, kids are back in school and our communities continue to rebuild and are working to find a new "normal" after hurricanes Harvey and Irma. I'm glad to hear the majority of our Advance Team family was able to weather the storm safely, and we remain available and ready to assist those affected. 

MD Anderson's Caring Fund raised more than $894,000 over the past month. It is estimated that at least 35% of MD Anderson's 20,000-person workforce had to evacuate or experienced damage to their homes or vehicles during the storm. Thank you to all of our Advance Team members who donated and supported our MD Anderson friends and faculty.

Sept. 1 marked the start of a new fiscal year at MD Anderson, and we're excited about the new year of possibilities and advances in our collective mission to end cancer. We're looking forward to your involvement and ideas as we continue our efforts in Making Cancer History.

The Moon Shots Program? Five Year Anniversary
Five years ago, MD Anderson embarked on an ambitious initiative to rapidly and dramatically reduce mortality and suffering in several major cancers through a comprehensive action plan called the Moon Shots Program?. Over the past five years, the program has evolved from its initial focus of six cancers - breast and ovarian cancers, MDS and AML, CLL, lung cancer, melanoma and prostate cancer - to 13 areas of focus, including B-cell lymphoma, colorectal cancer, glioblastoma, HPV-related cancers, multiple myeloma and pancreatic cancer. 

Thanks to your generosity and support, MD Anderson has raised more than $449 million in private philanthropic support for the Moon Shots Program to-date. Treatments for these cancers continue to improve, paving the way for better outcomes for patients.

With your continued support, I'm confident this is just the beginning of groundbreaking advances through the Moon Shots Program. 

From the Capitol
Our friends in Governmental Relations were extremely busy over the summer and into the fall, educating decision makers both here in Texas and all over the country. This year, the regular session was followed by a special session that ended in August. 

Our Governmental Relations team tracks hundreds of bills and, with the help of faculty, staff and the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, educates legislators on the potential effects of bills and budgets on our mission. Here are some highlights of the Legislature's actions that went into effect Sept. 1. 

Budget issues

• Increase of 1.3% in our General Revenue funding: The General Revenue funding decisions for higher education produced a very positive outcome for MD Anderson. The institution will receive an increase of 1.3%, or $4.6 million above current funding levels for 2018-2019. That's $192.9 million per year to MD Anderson. This includes full funding of tuition revenue bond debt service for certain capital projects, such as $50 million in bonds for the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Building for Personalized Cancer Care. The Cancer Center Operations Formula, which provides the bulk of the institution's funding for support of MD Anderson's primary mission of cancer patient care, was held to current funding levels, and special item funding will continue at moderately reduced levels.

• Full funding for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

• Continued support for the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Program: The program will be funded at $1.5 million per year. Special item, non-formula funding was under intense scrutiny. A joint interim legislative committee will be appointed to review special item funding and improvements in formula funding for all higher education institutions and to develop recommendations for the next legislative session. The Legislature intends to phase out special item funding.

Other highlights:
MD Anderson served as a resource witness and weighed in on a number of issues, including an initiative of the EndTobacco Program and our cancer prevention and control platform for our Moon Shots Program:

• Raising the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco and nicotine delivery products from 18 to 21 (H.B. 1908/S.B. 910 {Zerwas/Huffman}: The legislation was supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders and, while the bill passed out of the House Public Health Committee, the bill failed to pass due to legislative deadlines. Progress during this past session included:

1. The estimated financial impact on the state as a result of projected lost revenue from tobacco sales was lowered from $64 million over the biennium to $7 million.
   
   
2. The public remains strongly in favor of the policy, with nearly 70% of Texas voters favoring raising the minimum legal age to 21.
   
   
3. A state budget provision requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to conduct a study of pre-term and low birthweight births and report on opportunities for cost savings to the Texas Medicaid program from increasing the legal age for access to tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Mark your calendars and join the fight
You'll find a full calendar of events within this e-newsletter, but I'd like to highlight a few that I hope you can all attend and support. As members of the Advance Team, we all have the opportunity to influence change in our communities and circles, and these events are particularly deserving of our support and time. 

• Oct. 29, Dec. 9: Little Galleria events - The Little Galleria Spooktacular and Little Galleria Breakfast With Santa events have always had a special place in Advance Team members hearts. Join us for a fun time in the Houston Galleria! .
  
  
• Nov. 11: The Boot Walk to End Cancer? - Join us for the second annual Boot Walk to End cancer, a 1.2-mile walk around the Texas Medical Center. Sign up for the Advance Team's Boot Walk team and grab your boots, family and friends to help stomp out cancer.
  
  
• Nov. 15, Nov. 28 - A Conversation With a Living Legend? - These signature MD Anderson events in Houston and San Antonio are not to be missed!
  
  
• Dec. 1, 7: Santa's Elves Beaumont and Houston - Celebrate the holidays with the Advance Team, Board of Visitors and other friends of MD Anderson.

As always, please feel free to reach out to Rachel, Barry, Christine or me with any ideas, questions or concerns. We're looking forward to seeing everyone.

Sincerely, 

Holden Rushing
Advance Team chair