EXTENDED STAY AMERICA is continuing its support for The American Cancer Society with a new video series. The series will focus on ESA’s Hotel Keys of Hope program that provides free and discounted rooms for cancer patients and their caregivers.
The “Stay Stories” video series will feature the stories of families who have to travel for cancer treatment, such as Candace Bennik, the subject of the first video who traveled from her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Houston for treatment for stage four lung cancer.
“One of ESA’s core values is to put people first and care for our community, a sentiment that is demonstrated through our support of the ACS,” said ESA’s Director of Creative Services Holly Hester. “As part of this partnership, our goal is to help patients and their families overcome the financial stress of travelling for treatment and gain access to the care they need. We are honored to share their incredible stories.”
The Hotel Keys of Hope program includes 620 ESA properties across the country. ESA provides the room but ACS distributes them to cancer patients in its network. Since it began in 2013, the program has provided more than 130,000 hotel nights to more than 17,000 cancer patients and their families, saving them more than $7 million in lodging expenses.
“ESA continues to be a remarkable partner of the ACS,” said ACS Chief Cancer Control Officer Dr. Richard Wender. “That partnership is only getting stronger with the release of these new Stay Stories. Together we are bringing hope, awareness and much needed support to our mission to fight cancer from every angle.”
Along with Keys of Hope, ESA’s “Give Hope” teddy bear program provides comfort to children who are diagnosed with cancer by giving them a teddy bear with a hoody featuring “Hope” as a monogram. As part of this program, ESA donates Hope the bear to hospitals and fundraising events throughout the country and also makes them available for purchase.
For each Hope Bear purchased, Extended Stay America will contribute $5 and a Hope Bear to the American Cancer Society in support for pediatric cancer research. The company plans to continue both programs in 2020, which will be the company’s seventh year supporting ACS.
In November, ESA named Bruce Haase as its new president and CEO to succeed Jonathan Halkyard.
