Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF)
Contact: 610-649-3034 or 866-333-1213Population served: Children with cancer and their families, caregivers, young adults, healthcare professionals and researchers related to childhood cancer
Mission:
To change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.
- Travel For Care Program offers financial assistance to eligible families for travel for childhood cancer treatment at medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada. Patient must be diagnosed by age 18 and be under 21 and in active oncology treatment following a relapse, or enrolling in or currently participating in a clinical trial for active oncology treatment or a treatment innovation not available at their local institution. Applications must be submitted by a social worker or medical representative.
- Childhood Cancer Treatment Journal is a free treatment organizer for families of childhood cancer to help parents keep track of important treatment information.
- Ambassadors Program involves family members and friends of a childhood cancer hero who choose to get more involved with ALSF.
- My Childhood Cancer: Survey Series aims to better understand how childhood cancer affects families.
- SuperSibs Programs aim to comfort, encourage and empower siblings during their family’s battle against childhood cancer.
- Offers a free guide for education professionals to help patients, their siblings, and classmates cope with a diagnosis or death in their school community.
American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO)
Contact: 855-858-2226Population served: Children and adolescents who are currently fighting cancer
Mission:
To provide information and support for children and adolescents with cancer and their families, to provide grassroots leadership through advocacy and awareness, and to support research leading to a cure for all children diagnosed with this life-threatening disease.
- Provides support for parents with children fighting cancer both locally through its affiliates and online
- Offers books, medical play kit, comfort kit
- Online peer support and local groups in some geographic areas
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation
Contact: 800-747-2820 or help@aamds.orgPopulation served: Patients and families living with Aplastic Anemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH), and related bone marrow failure diseases
Mission:
To support, connect and educate patients, caregivers and health professionals on bone marrow failure diseases worldwide
- Free educational materials: Information on research, treatment, and clinical trials
- Online Academy: Live webinars, webcasts, interviews with experts, and interactive learning modules
- Peer Support Network: Patients and caregivers can speak with trained patient volunteers who share treatment experiences and provide emotional support
- Community Connections: Volunteer-led regional support groups connecting patient and families
- Online Community: MarrowCommunity.org is an online community for patients with bone marrow failure and their families. Members can connect with others, share resources, learn about upcoming events and have their questions answered.
- Educational Conferences: Our free conferences in cities around the country offer learning opportunities from leading medical experts, and the ability to connect directly with other patients and caregivers
- Travel Assistance: To ensure that patients can see a specialist to seek the best course of treatment. Financial aid may be available for U.S.-based patients with demonstrated financial need
-
Find A Specialist: online search tool.
CancerCare
Contact: 800-813-4673Population served: Individuals, families, caregivers and the bereaved in the U.S. affected by a cancer diagnosis
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
To provide free, professional support services to individuals, families, caregivers and the bereaved to help them cope with and manage the emotional and practical challenges of cancer.
- Oncology social workers are available for telephone counseling services to provide support, information and resources to help in coping with cancer
- Offers online support groups and educational publications
- Cancer Out Loud: The CancerCare Podcast features conversations with people living with cancer, caregivers, survivors, loved ones and the bereaved
- Connect Education Workshops in which leading experts in oncology provide up-to-date information in one-hour workshops over the telephone or online
- Financial assistance for transportation, medications, home care, child care, or durable medical equipment may be available for patients in active treatment. Eligibility guidelines vary depending on diagnosis, gender and geographic location. Call for details
- Young Professionals Committee Scholarship Program awards $2,500 grants to young adults who have lost a parent or guardian to cancer in the last two years. Applicants must be from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania. Call for details.
- Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp - a free retreat for families with children coping with the loss of a loved one to cancer
- Pen Pal Program: Cancer patients age 65 and older can receive letters from a caring volunteer
- Financial assistance for insured cancer patients in treatment in the US to help with co-payments for chemotherapy and targeted treatment medications who meet certain financial, medical and insurance eligibility criteria. Check the website (http://cancercarecopay.org/) or call 866-552-6729 for details.
Cancer Support Community (CSC)
Contact: 888-793-9355Population served: People affected by cancer in the U.S. and Canada
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
To provide support, education and hope to people affected by cancer; to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.
- Offers support through a network of more than 52 local affiliates and 175 locations
- Cancer Support Helpline® - offers resources and emotional support via phone or live chat, and is staffed by licensed mental health professionals
- MyLifeLine - create a private, personal webpage to help keep family and friends stay involved and informed
- Frankly Speaking About Cancer® – education series that provides trusted information on a variety of topics important to people affected by cancer; information is available in a variety of formats
- Virtual Home - resources to connect you to education, support, and action opportunities to enhance your health and well-being from the comfort of your computer
- Open to Options – provides general information about clinical trials, helps patients identify important questions about treatment options and decisions based upon personal needs
- CancerSupportSource® - a tool that assesses distress in key areas (such as sleep, nutrition, worry about the future) and provides referral and follow-up care for all patients
- Cancer Experience Registry - a unique online community that brings people impacted by cancer together to make their voices heard, connect with each other, share experiences, learn from and help others
- Cancer Transitions – an evidence-based programs for cancer survivors who have completed their treatment (in partnership with LIVESTRONG)
Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation for Young Adults
Contact: WebsitePopulation served: Adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors
Mission:
To guide young adults with cancer to social support programs and services that can help them manage their mental healing as well as their physical battle.
- Survivorship program in Northern Michigan consists of 6 days of adventure-based learning at no cost
- Travel Assistance for young adults to attend an approved survivorship program in the US
- Annual Base2Summit Scholarship for a Michigan resident who is accepted to an accredited school of higher learning; see website for details
- Lists a variety of survivorship resources related to support, finances, legal, etc.
Chemo Angels
Contact: WebsitePopulation served: Pediatric (age 4 and up) and adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the US
Mission:
To offer support and encouragement to cancer patients in treatment
- Volunteers send cards and uplifting messages to cancer patients via postal mail
- Website provides links to patient resources.
Childhood Cancer Canada
Contact: 416-489-6440 or 800-363-1062Population served: Children with cancer and their families in Canada
Mission:
To create victories for Canadian children with cancer through investment in national, collaborative, lifesaving research, empowering education and community programs.
- Provides information and support for families of newly diagnosed children plus special events
- Provides scholarships for childhood cancer survivors
- Offers a benevolent fund to assist with funeral expenses
Childhood Cancer Guides
Contact: Website or info@childhoodcancerguides.orgPopulation served: Children with cancer and their families, survivors, health professionals
Mission:
To serve the childhood cancer community by publishing books that provide information, support and resources.
- Books feature stories from parents, children with cancer, and survivors of childhood cancers
- Covers various types of childhood cancers and their treatments, emotional support, helpful resources
- Website provides free monthly newsletters and articles.
Children's Cancer Cause
Contact: 202-552-7392 or info@childrenscause.orgPopulation served: Childhood cancer survivors and their families, individuals interested in childhood cancer issues and policies
Mission:
To achieve access to less toxic and more effective pediatric cancer therapies; to expand resources for research and specialized care; to address the unique needs and challenges of childhood cancer survivors and their families; to ensure the needs and perspectives of children with cancer are integrated into the highest deliberations on health care and cancer policy.
- Offers advocacy training, educational materials, workshops, and webinars
- Develops initiatives to address the medical and psychosocial care needs of pediatric cancer survivors
- College Scholars Program offers annual scholarships to childhood cancer survivors interested in gaining cancer advocacy experience. See website for details.
CureMatch
Contact: 858-859-2873 or info@curematch.comPopulation served: Pediatric and adult cancer patients, healthcare professionals
Mission:
To provide a report to a patient’s oncologist of ranked drug therapies targeting cancer at the genomic level.
- Patients who have had genomic sequencing of a sample of cancer/blood can provide the results to CureMatch. Their software will then analyze the data, compare it to other sources of information, and provide a report to the oncologist.
- The price of the report is free for children with cancer under age 18.
CureSearch for Children's Cancer
Contact: 800-458-6223Population served: Children with cancer and their families
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
To fund and support targeted and innovative children's cancer research with measurable results, and be the authoritative source of information and resources for all those affected by children's cancer.
- Website offers information about tests and procedures, treatment options, medications, side effects and many other issues.
Get Palliative Care
Contact: Website OnlyPopulation served: Patients with life-threatening illness and their caregivers
Mission:
To increase the availability of quality palliative care services for all people living with serious illness.
- Provides information about palliative care: specialized medical care which provides patients with relief from symptoms, pain and stress
- Explains how palliative care helps people with specific diseases
- Provides a directory of hospitals with palliative care teams
- Offers videos, blog, printed material and other resources including a quiz to help individuals know if palliative care is right for them.
Give an Hour
Contact: Website onlyPopulation served: U.S. troops and families affected by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and other post-9/11 conflicts
Mission:
Give an Hour™ asks mental health professionals nationwide to literally donate an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families. Individuals who receive services will be given the opportunity to give an hour back in their own community.
- In addition to direct counseling services, the providers are working to reduce the stigma associated with mental health by participating in and leading education, training, and outreach efforts in schools and communities and around military bases.
Grahamtastic Connection
Contact: 207-324-0888 ext. 210Population served: Critically ill children, age 4 to 18 years, living in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut or New York
Mission:
To provide free laptops, tablets, and robotics to seriously ill children for educational purposes.
- Provides laptops and other technology to children during treatment so they can continue their education and connect with their teachers as well as with family, friends, and medical providers
- Professional from child’s medical team must submit request.
HelpPRO
Contact: 800-652-0155 or websitePopulation served: Anyone seeking mental health clinicians in the U.S.
Mission:
To improve the public's access to the services of mental health clinicians and organizations. Our vision is that every person in America can readily find mental health services to meet their needs.
- Therapist Finder carefully identifies users’ needs and interests and matches these with our therapists’ capabilities. Matching process increases the likelihood that users and therapists will make positive, lasting connections from their very first meeting. Database contains detailed information on thousands of mental health professionals, their services and their organizations across the country.
Hopecam
Contact: 703-364-5609Population served: Children in treatment for cancer in grades Pre-K through 12
Mission:
Overcome the social isolation of children in treatment for cancer through technology
- Connects homebound children to their classmates and family at no cost to the participant or school via web cameras, internet and laptops.
- Child must be in active treatment and in grade Pre-K through 12th grade
Make-A-Wish America
Contact: 800-722-9474Population served: Children with life-threatening medical conditions that have reached the age of 2½ and are under the age of 18 at the time of referral. Children must be referred within one year of the end of treatment. Children must not have already have had a wish granted by any other wish granting organization.
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
The mission of Make-A-Wish America is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
- Every wish experience is driven by the wish child’s interests, creativity and personality.
- Healthcare professionals, parents, legal guardians, family members and potential wish recipients can initiate the referral inquiry process.
- The child's treating physician will be contacted to determine whether the child meets our eligibility criteria at the time they are referred.
Melonhead Foundation
Contact: 888-635-6621Population served: children with cancer and their families
Mission:
To support the needs and provides financial assistance to children with cancer and their families who are seeking alternative methods of healing.
Momcology
Contact: Website or info@momcology.orgPopulation served: Caregivers to children with cancer, healthcare professionals
Mission:
To help empower, inform, and heal caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer through peer support and evidence-based programs.
- Provides online communities for parents seeking peer connections
- Retreat program offers a weekend of self-care, peer connecting and the opportunity to develop the tools to obtain balanced living in the aftermath of a pediatric cancer diagnosis
- Caregiver Coffee Breaks empower a parent to build an in-person or virtual peer support community
- In-hospital support groups available in certain geographic areas
- Connects caregivers to patient family engagement opportunities and approved caregiver studies.
National LGBT Cancer Network
Contact: 212-675-2633 or WebsitePopulation served: Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals in the US
Mission:
To improve the lives of LGBT cancer survivors and those at risk by educating the LGBT community about increased cancer risks and the importance of screening and early detection; training health care providers to offer more culturally-competent, safe and welcoming care; and advocating for LGBT survivors in mainstream cancer organizations, the media and research.
- Resource library contains up-to-date research articles, webinars, videos, fact sheets, etc.
- Maintains directories of LGBT-welcoming cancer screening facilities and cancer treatment facilities in the US
- Provides LGBT cultural competency trainings for health and human service providers.
Pablove Foundation
Contact: 323-657-5557Population served: Kids with cancer
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
To fund pediatric cancer research and advances in treatment, educate and empower cancer families, and improve the quality of life for children living with cancer through hospital play, music and arts programs.
- Childhood Cancer Research Grant- awards minimum two research grants $50,000.00 each to fund senior postdoctoral fellows/junior faculty (M.D. or Ph.D.) or to provide seed money to established investigators for innovative basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological research directed to pediatric and adolescent cancer.
- Pablove Shutterbugs- teaches children living with cancer to develop their creative voice through the art of photography.
Patient Resource Cancer Guides
Contact: (913) 725-1600Population served: Patients and caregivers
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
To empower people who are suffering with life-altering diseases by giving them the most comprehensive and up-to-date guides to treatment and facilities for their disease free of charge.
- Provides free educational materials, written for ease of understanding, in print and online.
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Contact: 800-253-6530Population served: Children and adolescents with brain cancer or brain tumors and their families, caregivers, and survivors in the US
Mission:
To serve the more than 28,000 U.S. children and teens battling brain tumors by investing in the most promising research and providing practical, informational and emotional support to families.
- Offers information, education, support and resources
- The Imaginary Friend Society is a short film series to help young patients make sense of the many different aspects of cancer. It provides kid-friendly videos covering a wide range of cancer-related topics – everything from defining cancer itself to chemotherapy and MRIs.
Pediatric Oncology Resource Center
Contact: Website onlyPopulation served: Parents, friends and families of children who have or had childhood cancer
Mission:
Provides online information for parents of children with cancer and for survivors of childhood cancer.
- Website is designed for parents and maintained by parents
- Offers information and resources for pediatric cancers, from diagnosis to long-term survivorship
- Provides scholarship listings.
Rally Foundation
Contact: 404-847-1270Population served: Children with any type of cancer and their families, supporters, researchers
Mission:
To empower volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research, to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures.
- Become a Rally Researcher- Supports research projects affiliated with Children's Oncology Group or supported by the National Institute of Health and the National Cancer Institute. Awards one year research grants through a rigorous competitive peer review process.
- Rally Family Emergency Fund- Offers financial assistance for children under age 21 in current cancer treatment. Fund has an annual cap of $500 and a lifetime cap of $750. Funds may be used to cover a patient's cancer-related medical bills or other family costs related to treatment, e.g. transitional housing.
- Become a Rally Kid- Personal stories of cancer patients and survivors, which are inspirational and encourage everyone to Rally in our efforts to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.
- Rally Athlete Training Team- Provides independent athletes with personalized fundraising pages and the opportunity to run for a Rally Kid.
Shining Stars Foundation
Contact: 970-726-8009Population served: Children ages 8 to 18 with pediatric cancer or other life-threatening illness and their families, primarily in Colorado; other regions served include Arizona, Illinois, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Indiana
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
To transform lives through outdoor recreational and social programs for children and their families challenged with pediatric cancer or other life-threatening illness
- Provides a wide variety of year-round recreational and social activities free of charge
- Services are delivered through overnight, week-long programs and single day events
- Special focus is placed on children living with a physical or mental disability as a result of their treatment and/or disease.
Sofia's Hope
Contact: (305) 798-6725Population served: Childhood cancer patients and survivors, and their families; healthcare professionals
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
To raise childhood cancer awareness, to offer programs that enhance the quality of life of children with cancer, and to fund childhood cancer research.
- Childhood cancer survivors or their siblings may inquire about possible scholarships for a college education. Call or check website for details.
- Child-life specialists and social workers may refer children with cancer and their families for a variety of local programs and activities in the South Florida area
- Helps to fund pediatric cancer research.
Songs of Love Foundation
Contact: Website or 800-960-7664Population served: Children and teens age 21 or younger, worldwide, battling a life-threatening or life-limiting physical, mental or emotional medical challenge
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
To provide uplifting songs for children and teens currently facing tough medical, physical or emotional challenges.
- Creates an original, personalized song, free of charge, based on the child’s interests and favorite music.
Starlight Children’s Foundation
Contact: 310-479-1212Population served: Children and teens with chronic or life-threatening medical conditions in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, New Zealand; teens ages 13-20 with medical issues worldwide and their teen siblings
Mission:
Partners with experts to create programs that help brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families.
- Partner facilities offer in-hospital programs such as parties and entertainment
- Check with your child’s treatment center to see if a Starlight Comfort Kit is available (backpack filled with toys, games, books).
Team IMPACT
Contact: (617) 801-0248Population served: Children in the US ages 5 to 16 diagnosed with serious and chronic illnesses (including cancer) that has resulted in treatment or extended hospital stays within the past 3 years, who could benefit from a boost to improve their quality of life both socially and psychologically
Mission:
To connect children facing serious and chronic illnesses with college teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes
- Staff and team members build relationships with the children, and offer support and encouragement to the children as they face medical challenges.
Teen Cancer America
Contact: 310-208-0400Population served: Teens and young adults with cancer, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals
Mission:
To improve the experience, outcomes, and survival of teens and young adults with cancer by providing facilities and programs designed especially for them in hospitals across the USA.
- Partners with hospitals around the country to provide strategic guidance to establish specialized facilities and services for the teenage and young adult cancer community
- Offers stories, videos, a newsletter, and list of resources through the website.
The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation
Contact: 212-838-3029 or 800-365-1336Population served: Transplant patients and families, caregivers, survivors in the US
Mission:
To improve the quality of life for cancer and transplant patients and their families by providing vital financial assistance, comprehensive resources, educational information, physician referrals, and emotional support programs.
- Patient Navigators provide guidance and support to anyone faced with a cancer diagnosis or needing a bone marrow or hematopoietic cell transplant
- Lifeline Fund provides financial support to help cover the costs of donor searches, medications, home and child care services, medical equipment, transportation, cord blood banking, housing costs and other expenses associated with transplant
- Carelines provides social media tools for crowdfunding, journaling and a volunteer task calendar for anyone with a cancer diagnosis or receiving a bone marrow, stem cell or cord blood transplant
- Scholarship Grants help make educational aspirations a reality for bone marrow, stem cell or cord blood transplant survivors
- Clinical Care Counseling provides confidential individual and family supportive counseling, financial guidance and resource referrals for cancer, transplant patients, and family members
- Ask the Expert enables individuals to anonymously pose questions concerning transplantation and to have them answered by transplant specialists
- SupportLine links transplant patients and their families with volunteers who have gone through the transplant experience
- Support Groups provide patients, families and caregivers the opportunity to share experiences and draw support from one another
- Medical and Educational Handbooks provide comprehensive transplant information and resources
The Feather Foundation - Hope for Parents with Cancer
Contact: (862) 702-9559 or WebsitePopulation served: Parents with cancer in the US
Mission:
To provide emotional and practical support to parents who have cancer.
- Provides emotional support through online groups, guidance and tips on parenting with cancer and self-care
- Offers resource list of other assistance available for parents with cancer
- Parents with cancer who reside in New York or New Jersey may have a social worker or health professional inquire about possible one-time financial help toward childcare-related costs.
The National Children’s Cancer Society
Contact: 314-241-1600 or 800-532-6459Population served: Children with cancer and their families, caregivers, survivors, health professionals
Mission:
To provide emotional, financial, and educational support to children with cancer, their families, and survivors.
- Transportation Assistance Fund alleviates the financial burden of travel and lodging for families who have a child with cancer, when a child needs to stay near the hospital for treatment and nonprofit lodging is unavailable.
- Emergency Assistance Fund provides limited funds for emergency expenses to families who have a child that has been inpatient or away from home for an extended period.
- Online community provides a private network for parents, caregivers, and survivors of childhood cancer to connect, share, and offer support to one another.
- The "Beyond the Cure" Survivorship Program (BTC) prepares survivors and their families for life after cancer. The Late Effects After Treatment Tool (LEATT) provides a personal online assessment of potential late effects based on their specific diagnosis and treatment.
- The "Beyond the Cure" Ambassador Scholarship Program awards college scholarships to childhood cancer survivors to help them achieve their future goals.
- Mentorship Program pairs a younger child in treatment (ages 10-17) with a scholarship recipient who becomes a trusted ally as they face the challenges of childhood cancer.
- Provides resources and free publications to families and healthcare professionals
- Global Outreach Program partners with pharmaceutical companies to distribute donated cancer treatment drugs and medical supplies around the world.
Warrior Horses
Contact: WebsitePopulation served: Children and adolescents ages 2 -19 years with cancer in the US
Mission:
To bring joy and a unique experience to pediatric cancer patients by matching them with a "warrior" horse.
- Matches pediatric cancer patients with a horse that participates in the show ring. Patients may visit their horse in person or virtually, and follow the horse’s journey in competitions.
WidowedParent.org
Contact: Website onlyPopulation served: Widowed mothers and fathers with children in the home, professionals
Mission:
To support widowed mothers and fathers with children in the home.
- Hosted by the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the website offers information for parents and children about dealing with grief plus an online list of resources and supports.