Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center announced the naming of the New Era Cap Foundation Elevate Salon. The naming of the salon, located in Roswell Park’s downtown campus, comes with a $1 million endowed gift from the New Era Cap Foundation and New Era Cap, LLC.
The New Era Cap Foundation Elevate Salon is a specialty salon for cancer patients which offers pretreatment haircuts, wig and head covering selection support, wig styling, inpatient or outpatient head shaving, helpful information about hair loss during cancer treatment and more.
“When we come together to support of community, it fosters resilience, empowers individuals and creates a collective strength that drives positive, lasting change for everyone involved,” said Christopher Koch, CEO of New Era Cap and president of the New Era Cap Foundation.
“The New Era Cap Foundation Elevate Salon is where patients and families can find comfort, support, connection, and guidance in navigating hair loss through their cancer journey.” said Rebecca Colville, manager of the salon and resource center. “We are grateful for New Era’s continued partnership in our mission and thank them for ensuring that patients will have access to these important services for years to come.”
Located on the first floor of the Scott Bieler Clinical Sciences Center, the New Era Cap Foundation Elevate Salon provides a warm, spa-like environment with the knowledge of compassionate staff, stylists and volunteers. Patients, like Kimberly Walker-Parker, come to the Elevate Salon during their time at Roswell Park for hope and to feel like their best self.
“They’re professionals and they’ll help you pick out a wig that looks like your style. They have a catalog to look through. They also have hats and caps, not just the wigs. It’s worth the trip,” said Walker-Parker, a Roswell Park patient. When asked if the salon made a difference in her experience, she replied, without hesitation: “Oh absolutely. I feel incredible.”
With the new name, comes custom headwear, new artwork and upgraded visuals to enhance the comfort and brighten the aesthetic of the salon, in addition to the assurance that these vital services will be available for the community and cancer patients for years to come.
This gift expands New Era’s decades-long partnership with Roswell Park. For more than 25 years, New Era has supported Roswell Park’s mission through event sponsorship, in-kind support and gifts to support capital projects including a president’s circle-level gift to build the Scott Bieler Clinical Sciences Center in 2016.