Ralph Lauren has unveiled plans for its Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation to establish a new Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles.
This center, strategically located in the heart of Los Angeles County, aims to enhance access to high-quality healthcare for underserved communities within the expansive 10.4-million-person catchment area. The anticipated launch date for this facility is the spring of 2024, marking a significant milestone as the third Ralph Lauren-named center in the United States and the first on the West Coast.
The collaboration between USC Norris and Ralph Lauren seeks to expand access to top-tier cancer care by implementing a distinctive patient navigation approach. This approach places a strong emphasis on addressing the social determinants of health that play a pivotal role in influencing access to healthcare and health-related outcomes.
Through strategic partnerships with the Los Angeles General Medical Center and three Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), encompassing more than 12 sites situated in high-need areas throughout Los Angeles County, the center will serve as a crucial bridge between primary care (offering education and screening) and specialty care (providing follow-up screening and cancer treatment).
Aligned with USC Norris cancer center’s core strategic objectives in cancer care, the Ralph Lauren Center will focus on mitigating disparities in risk and outcomes for specific cancers, including cervix, breast, colon, and lung cancer.
USC Norris, recognized as one of the pioneer comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute, has faithfully served the Los Angeles community for an impressive 50 years. This longstanding commitment includes offering a wide range of services, such as screenings, treatment, and dedicated survivorship support.
Carol Folt, President of the University of Southern California, expressed profound appreciation for the generous and transformative award, underscoring the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention’s alignment with USC’s unwavering commitment to promoting equitable access to healthcare. The award is poised to significantly benefit the local community and contribute to USC’s overarching mission to revolutionize healthcare access and delivery.
In 2022, the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation pledged a substantial $25 million investment to establish or expand five Ralph Lauren-named cancer centers, each strategically located in underserved communities across the United States. Ralph Lauren, the Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Ralph Lauren Corporation and Chair of the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, reiterated the company’s enduring dedication to the battle against cancer. He emphasized their resolute commitment to reducing healthcare disparities and enhancing access to high-quality preventive care and treatment, with a particular focus on medically underserved populations.
The central location of the USC Norris cancer center within the community uniquely positions it to provide invaluable support to those in need, advancing the foundation’s overarching mission to make a substantial and enduring impact on patients, their families, and communities nationwide.
