AFLAC CANCER CENTER AND BLOOD DISORDERS SERVICE OF CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE
Caring for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders
The Aflac Cancer Center is committed to providing our pediatric patients a brighter future through advanced medical treatment, family-centered care, a child-friendly environment and innovative research.
Recognized as one of the top childhood cancer centers in the country by U.S.News & World Report, the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 350 new cancer patients each year and follows more than 2,500 patients with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. Our courageous patients range from infants to young adults.
Committed to Pediatric Research
Children’s, in conjunction with Emory University School of Medicine and the Emory Winship Cancer Institute, is committed to excellence and innovation in pediatric cancer and blood disorders research. Our participation in hundreds of national therapeutic and nontherapeutic clinical trials gives our patients access to the latest in treatment for childhood cancer and blood disorders.
Research Highlights:
• Our physicians are widely regarded in national clinical trials and collaborative studies of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health and the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium—among others.
• Children’s ranks as one of the leading childhood cancer and blood disorders centers in the country for enrolling children in clinical trials.
• The Aflac Cancer Center is especially proud of our impact on the cure and overall survival rates of the patients we treat.
At Children’s, we not only stand on medicine’s leading edge, we also work to advance it.
BACKGROUND INFO:
88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade to Air Thursday, Nov. 27
THE 88TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE® MARKS THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THE NATION’S MOST BELOVED SPECTACLE, NOV. 27 ON NBC
Parade Airs Live 9 a.m. – noon (All Time Zones), Encore Presentation to Air Same Day 2-5 p.m. (All Time Zones)
Also airs on CBS.
NEW YORK – Nov. 3, 2014 – As the nation gathers to celebrate and give thanks with family and friends, the biggest spectacle of the holiday season returns to entertain millions, as the 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® returns to NBC on Thursday, Nov. 27 (9a.m.-noon in all time zones.) Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie of NBC’s “Today” will anchor the broadcast.
More than 8,000 participants, some donning clown costumes, handling balloon giants or striking up the band will set down the streets of Manhattan at the sound of the time honored catchphrase Let’s Have a Parade™. With a live audience, more than 3.5 million strong and a nationwide television gathering of more than 50 million viewers, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the nation’s most beloved holiday pageant.
The star power on Thanksgiving Day comes courtesy of performers from music, film, sports, theatre and television. As they reach their marks on 34th Street, the nation will enjoy their spectacular performances. Joining the festivities this year are the Big Apple Circus, Before You Exit, William Blake, Sabrina Carpenter, Cirque du Soleil, Hilary Duff, Renee Fleming, Becky G., Lucy Hale, Nick Jonas, KISS, Sandra Lee, The Madden Brothers, Idina Menzel, Miss USA 2014- Nia Sanchez, MKTO, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, NEEDTOBREATH, NHL® legends John LeClair and Pat LaFontaine, Pentatonix, Romeo Santos, Cole Swindell, Meghan Trainor, The Vamps, Quvenzhané Wallis, and more.
Kicking off the march will be a special group of children who have embodied the Parade’s spirit of teamwork. Throughout their remarkable run this past season at the Little League World Series, Philadelphia’s Taney Dragons displayed an inspiring level of collaboration, spirit and camaraderie – as perfectly evidenced by the group’s embrace and support of pitcher Mo’ne Davis. In honor of that exemplary effort this year the Taney Dragons will lead the procession down the streets of Manhattan with Macy’s Parade executive producer Amy Kule.
“Like turkey dinner and gathering with family, tradition means everything on Thanksgiving and we’re thrilled to once again telecast the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs and Late Night, NBC Entertainment. “It’s an annual heartwarming event that helps celebrate the holiday season.”
From its humble beginnings in 1924 to the breathtaking spectacular of today, the Macy’s Parade line-up unfolds each year in grand fashion. It’s not just a Parade marching down an avenue; it is a march through tradition, history and popular culture. The magic Parade’s famed line-up this year features 16 giant character balloons; 33 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons; 27 floats; 1,300 cheerleaders and dancers; 1000 clowns; 12 marching bands; and a host of celebrity performers.
“This is a record breaking year for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as we debut the largest new cast of giant character balloons ever assembled, along with five amazing new floats. Tens of millions of spectators will be amazed by what we have in store,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “In addition to an incredible line up of celebrity performers, America’s best high school and college marching bands, hundreds of dancers, cheerleaders, clowns, and balloon handlers, we are adding some new layers of interactivity to the Parade for the first time this year. From live cameras on a float capturing special moments along the route to incredible 360-degree panoramic photos where fans can find themselves part the action, and finally, through our Confetti Carpet, the behind the scenes look at the starting line with our celebrity performers; we are bringing the Macy’s Parade closer to audiences in New York City and in homes across the country.”
GIANTS IN THE SKY
The Parade’s signature giant balloons have for decades showcased the world’s most recognized characters. From comic strips and cartoons to films, video games and the collective pop culture psyche, these giants are a cast of wonder. Starting with a simple paper sketch and transformed via science and engineering by Macy’s “Balloonatics” into high flying art, the giants of wonder will return to inspire and amaze.
This year, Macy’s will introduce the biggest class of new balloons in its history. Six new giant characters will take to the sky including the loveable Peruvian bear Paddington™; the always electrifying Pikachu™; the warm giggling Pillsbury Doughboy®; the vanquisher of evil the Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger; the lava spewing Skylanders® Eruptor; and the friendly locomotive Thomas the Tank Engine®.
Rounding out the ballooning line-up are returning favorites including Adventure Time with Finn & Jake, Diary of A Wimpy Kid®, The Elf on the Shelf®, Hello Kitty®, Papa Smurf, Ronald McDonald®, Snoopy and Woodstock, Spider-Man, SpongeBob SquarePants and Toothless of How to Train Your Dragon. In addition, the balloon cast includes new balloonicles (a Macy’s Parade hybrid of cold-air balloon and vehicle) of the famed-spokesduck the Aflac Duck and Cloe the Holiday Clown, as well as the return of the KOOL-AID Man. In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the film classic, balloonheads of The Wizard of OZ™ characters will also make a special appearance.
FLOATING SCENE MAKERS
Macy’s floating stages take to the streets bringing a collection of whimsical treats that transport spectators into worlds of fantasy. These 360-degree masterpieces are created by Macy’s Parade Studio’s team of designers, carpenters, painters, animators, metal fabricators and electricians, who work to bring the initial visions on a sketch pad to larger-than-life form. While creativity is key, the team must also factor a very big detail when designing these marvels…these sometime three stories tall and several lanes of traffic wide creations, must collapse to no more than 12 ½-feet tall and 8-feet wide in order to safely travel from the New Jersey studio to the Manhattan starting line.
This year’s five new fant
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