Each year, nearly 90,000 adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39 years are diagnosed with
cancer; and lymphoma, the most common type of blood cancer, accounts for nearly 1-in-5 cancer
diagnoses among young people. Five California State University, Long Beach, students and women
of color are working together as part of a national public relations competition to help raise
awareness about lymphoma among adolescents and young adults in the Long Beach community.

Adolescents and young adults often dismiss early warning signs and potential symptoms of
lymphoma and delay seeking medical attention, in part because many of the symptoms and signs
are also associated with normal body changes that are common at this age. The student-led team
saw this as an opportunity to educate adolescents and young adults about Lymphoma, teach them
how to keep track of their health and let them know how to spot early warning signs.

From having a Lymphoma101 workshop with Lymphoma charities, to teaming up with local
restaurants with nutritious guidelines, Lymphoma101 strives to educate the long beach community
about all aspects about lymphoma, including life after being in remission. The team is even writing
and self-publishing a cookbook to aid Long Beach’s lymphoma community with everyday nutritional
guidelines. Inspired by the artwork around Downtown Long Beach, Lymphoma101 is also hosting an
art therapy workshop and spreading awareness of the campaign on local art galleries.
Lymphoma101’s kick-off events will be a virtual Healthy Roundtable on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2021 at 6
p.m. and an in-person art therapy workshop on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2021 at 11-12 p.m.

Lymphoma101 is a month-long campaign dedicated to providing the Long Beach community with
information and resources for those diagnosed with lymphoma and families of adolescents and
young adults. The campaign, which ends on March 11, 2022, will feature virtual and in-person local
events designed to promote healthy practices and educate the long beach community of how
lymphoma affects adolescents and young adults.

“I felt moved to join this campaign because after the last few years, I realized how important it is to
educate yourself about your health,” said Trinity Beasley, team leader of Lymphoma101. “The
Bateman competition gave us a great opportunity to inform the community about lymphoma, bring
to light resources for those affected and show the community how they can support and help out.”

Lymphoma101 is a part of the 2022 Bateman Case Studies Competition. The Bateman
Competition is the Public Relations Student Society of America's premier national case study
competition for public relations students, giving them the opportunity to apply classroom
education and internship experiences to create and implement a full public relations campaign
for a non-profit organization. This year’s client is the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Historically, California State University, Long Beach’s Bateman competition teams have been a
top contender throughout the recent years. Competing against 54 universities across the nation,
in 2021, Long Beach’s Bateman team won first place with their campaign CivilityLB with the
purpose of reversing the corrosion of civility in American life and fostering more constructive and
inclusive public discourse.

“For me, Lymphoma101 is more than just a school campaign,” said Beasley. “This is our chance
to help Long Beach open up about important health topics when we need it the most.”

ABOUT Lymphoma101
​
Lymphoma101 is an educational campaign led by students from California State University, Long
Beach that aims to raise awareness on the topic of lymphoma amongst adolescents and young
adults. Lymphoma101 was created as part of the 2022 Bateman Case Study Competition, hosted
by the Public Relations Student Society of America. The Bateman competition gives students the
opportunity to research, plan and implement a campaign for a non-profit client. This year's client
is the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (March 14, 2018) — The last two months of the Spring 2018 semester will see two guest speakers join PRSSA-LB. The chapter has confirmed that Warner Bros. Digital Marketing Manager Colin Sommer will live chat with the chapter via Google Hangouts on Tuesday, April 10 and not on Thursday April 12 as originally announced. Los Angeles Lakers Director of Community Relations Matthew Makovec has also been confirmed, and will speak to the chapter in-person on Wednesday, May 2.

The time of the live chat with Sommer will remain at 6 p.m. despite the date-change. This event will require PRSSA-LB members to attend Tuesday’s general meeting as the live chat will be accessible only at the meeting. The tentative location will be LA3 room 206 and will be confirmed or updated with an announcement on the chapter’s social media.
​
Matthew Makovec, previously an unconfirmed guest, will officially be PRSSA-LB’s final guest speaker of Spring 2018. Makovec has acquired community relations experience with several major sports teams in his career before taking his current position with the Lakers, and his discussion with PRSSA-LB will focus on social responsibility in the sports industry. This meeting will take place on May 2 at 6 p.m. and the location will be announced on social media.

About PRSSA-LB
PRSSA-LB is a chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) located at California State University Long Beach (CSULB). The organization prepares students for their careers in public relations by providing opportunities for networking and professional development. Members of PRSSA-LB have access to guest speaker events, various career tours and exclusive newsletter content. The chapter was founded in 1972 by PR professional and CSULB professor Frank Winston Wylie and continues to thrive as a premier network of future PR professionals.

​

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2018) - The Long Beach State Dirtbags have partnered with nonprofit organization With Purpose to host “Play With Purpose,” a charity baseball game dedicated to striking out childhood cancer, on Sunday, Feb. 18. at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.

Beginning at 11 a.m., “Play With Purpose” will be a day of family-friendly fun for a charitable cause, featuring games, food and, of course, plenty of baseball.

The Dirtbags will donate a portion of ticket sales to With Purpose and its mission to support children battling cancer. With Purpose is a youth and community-led movement dedicated to advancing childhood cancer treatment research.

To kick off the special game, a patient of the Jonathan Jacques Children’s Cancer Center at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach has been invited to throw the first pitch. The National Anthem will be sung by Miranda Harrison, a childhood cancer advocate.

“Sunday’s game will be a special event combining the Dirtbags opening weekend with the LBSU student-led campaign for nonprofit With Purpose, dedicated to conquering childhood cancer,” said LBSU Director of Marketing Kelli Gill. “It’s our hope that the Long Beach community will rally around this important event, much like they do our baseball team and raise awareness for childhood cancer research.”

The community event will feature a special “VIP” (“Very Important Purpose”) area with a caricature artist, games and lunch catered by Naples Rib Company. In the “VIP” area, guests can enjoy a view of the game from the third base line while learning about ways to help in the fight to help childhood cancer.

Through this partnership, the Dirtbags and With Purpose hope to shed light on the issues surrounding childhood cancer while raising funds for With Purpose, and encouraging the Long Beach community to take action on this cause.

Childhood cancer research is vastly underfunded in the United States. In 2016, the National Cancer Institute designated roughly 4 percent of its research budget to childhood cancer, according to the institute’s annual report, and only three cancer treatments have been approved for children in the last 30 years. Compare that to more than 100 new treatments for adult cancer in the first six months of 2017. 

With support from community grassroots efforts like “Play With Purpose,” With Purpose advocates for children battling cancer by identifying and supporting initiatives that advance treatment options.

Tickets for “Play With Purpose” are $10 each. For every ticket purchased through the below link, $5 will go to With Purpose.

​To purchase tickets, visit www.longbeachstate.com/playwithpurpose. 

ABOUT WITH PURPOSE: With Purpose is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conquering childhood cancer. Founded in 2014 and powered by grassroots efforts, With Purpose advocates for families affected by childhood cancer, empowers young activists to take action and invests in initiatives that advance childhood cancer treatment research.
For more information on With Purpose, visit with-purpose.org. 

With Purpose LB is a month-long campaign created to increase awareness of With Purpose and their mission. The campaign strives to educate the Long Beach public about the issues associated with bringing childhood cancer treatments to the market, raise funds for With Purpose and activate the youth of Long Beach to get involved and make a difference in conquering childhood cancer. 
For more information on this campaign, visit facebook.com/withpurposelb. 

CONTACT:
Kevin Olivares
562.533.0334
withpurposelb@gmail.com