First Lady Yumi Hogan Serves Meals to Young Adults with Cancer, Honors Last Day of 2019 Day to Serve Maryland Initiative

ANNAPOLIS, MD – First Lady Yumi Hogan joined the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives to visit the Ulman House, a home away from home for young adult cancer patients. Staff from the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives volunteered to prepare, cook, and serve the dinner as part of their participation in Day to Serve, an annual month-long volunteer initiative from September 11 to October 10 proclaimed by Governor Larry Hogan to encourage all Marylanders, including state officials, to serve communities. First Lady Yumi Hogan joined the staff to serve a Korean dinner and share a meal with the patients, caregivers, guests, and staff of the Ulman House as the 2019 Day to Serve comes to a close.

“It was on October 3, 2016, when Governor Hogan completed his final chemotherapy treatment and said he never could have made it to that point without the amazing support of those around him. It was touching that Governor Hogan, me, our family, and the citizens of Maryland bonded together to support him in his recovery,” said First Lady Yumi Hogan. “Since then, he has made funding cancer research, and organizations like the Ulman House who assist people and families suffering from this disease, a priority.”

Governor Hogan was diagnosed with an aggressive Stage III non-hodgkin’s Lymphoma shortly after taking office in 2015. In November 2015, he announced that he was officially 100% cancer-free and in complete remission.

The Ulman Foundation built the Ulman House to offer free housing for young adult cancer patients and their caregivers. The Ulman House is located in East Baltimore near Maryland’s world-renowned hospitals and uniquely designed with young adults in mind.

The partnership between the Ulman Foundation and the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives started thanks to Governor Larry Hogan’s successful effort to increase funding for cancer research and relevant nonprofits and improve medical and health care services for cancer patients.

Governor Hogan has partnered with nearly a dozen organizations across the state to fight for a cure, and ensured that the Ulman Foundation received a grant through a state bond bill toward the construction of Ulman House.

“I received a letter from Governor Hogan when this first happened: telling me his journey. That was super encouraging, super motivational and helps me get through this whole process,” said Spencer Wiersberg, an Ulman patient. “Seeing him advocating cancer studies is amazing.”

Maria Vest, another Ulman patient shared her words on how much she appreciates what Governor Hogan has been doing for new legislation for improved health care services and cancer awareness and research.

Last year, Governor Hogan signed legislation that requires insurance coverage for fertility preservation services of cancer patients struggling with infertility due to cancer treatments. Maryland is the third state to provide this benefit in the U.S. After the 2019 legislative session, Governor Hogan Signed 174 bills into law, including critical legislation to improve cancer coverage benefits for firefighters.