CHICAGO – 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 check-off 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.