Illinois taxpayers can donate to cancer research

Illinois residents now can make voluntary contributions to children’s cancer research when they pay their state income taxes. Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation this week adding a childhood cancer research fund to the state’s income tax checkoff program.

Taxpayers can donate to various charities when filing their Illinois income taxes. Newly added charities include a fund for children’s health projects and a fund to provide grants for housing for low-income families.

The idea for the pediatric cancer research fund originated with the mother of a patient treated at the University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital. Laura Lutarewych saw her daughter go through aggressive treatment for a type of leukemia. The girl is doing well and will celebrate her fifth birthday in September.