Resolution 241067

..Title Also naming the 3900 block of Chestnut Street as "Dr. Audrey E. Evans Way" to honor the life and memory of Dr. Audrey E. Evans and her invaluable contributions to pediatric oncology and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region. ..Body WHEREAS, Dr. Audrey Evans co-founded the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which opened the first Ronald McDonald House in the world fifty years ago in West Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Dr. Evans was not only a pioneering pediatric oncologist but also a visionary who profoundly changed the lives of countless families. Her groundbreaking work in the treatment of neuroblastoma significantly improved survival rates and brought hope to many around the world. She produced most of her work at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the same neighborhood as the Ronald McDonald House; and WHEREAS, Dr. Evans recognized the immense emotional and financial burden faced by families of children undergoing long-term medical treatment. She co-founded the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia with the help of the Philadelphia Eagles to provide a "home away from home" for families, ensuring they had a supportive and caring environment during their most challenging times; and WHEREAS, The Ronald McDonald House that Dr. Evans co-founded in West Philadelphia grew to become more than just a place to stay; it became a community of support, understanding, and compassion-and the model for over 385 Houses all over the world; and WHEREAS, Dr. Evans not only changed the landscape of pediatric oncology but also touched the hearts of everyone she met with her kindness and empathy. Her legacy continues to inspire the medical community, and her principles are deeply embedded in the work done at the Ronald McDonald House; and WHEREAS, Dr. Evans shattered glass ceilings throughout her life and brought an unconventional approach to care - the birdcage on the oncology floor; the hamster up the sleeve of her lab coat; the bunny that helped a child through her fear of the MRI machine; and her willingness to answer heavy questions asked by her young, critically ill patients about death and heaven; and WHEREAS, Dr. Evans married her longtime colleague, Dr. Giulio D'Angio, in 2005 at the age of 79. She was a woman who cared deeply and considered all of the children she treated or served to be "her children"; her extraordinary life and achievement serve as a beacon of hope for the future generations; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the 3900 block of Chestnut Street also be named "Dr. Audrey E. Evans Way" to honor the life and memory of Dr. Audrey E. Evans and her contributions to pediatric oncology and the Ronald McDonald House Charities. ..End