Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF)
Contact: 610-649-3034Population served: Children with cancer and their families, caregivers, young adults, healthcare professionals and researchers related to childhood cancer
Mission:
To raise money for and awareness of childhood cancer causes—especially research into new treatments and cures—and to encourage and empower others, especially children, to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer.
- Childhood Cancer Symposium is a free annual conference for families of kids with cancer.
- Travel For Care Fund offers assistance to eligible families who need financial assistance for travel for childhood cancer treatment at medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada. May include help with transportation, lodging, and meals. Applications must be received on behalf of a social worker or another medical representative.
- Childhood Cancer Treatment Journal- ALSF provides a free treatment journal (hard copy or online) to families of childhood cancer. Helps parents stay organized and keep track of important information.
- Hero Ambassador Program involves family members of childhood cancer heroes who choose to get more involved with ALSF.
- Parent to Parent Network provides the opportunity for families to connect with one another through emails, phone calls, or in person.
- Childhood Cancer Database Project aims to better understand how childhood cancer affects families. The goal is to measure the personal and economic impact of childhood cancer and find ways to support families through the journey.
- The ALSF SuperSibs program provides tools to help siblings, online activities, the opportunity to be an ambassador, and parent resources.
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.
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
- Connect Education Workshops in which leading experts in oncology provide up-to-date information in one-hour workshops over the telephone or online
- Door to Door Program for patients with multiple myeloma provides grants to cover transportation costs such as gasoline, taxi, bus or train fare to and from their doctor's office; must meet certain eligibility criteria
- 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.
- Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp - a free retreat for families with children coping with the loss of a loved one to cancer.
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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.
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 50 local affiliates and 100 satellite locations
- The Living Room - an online support community where you can connect with others 24/7
- Cancer Discussion Boards are an online resource available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and cover a variety of topics. Receive advice, support and offer tips to other people going through similar cancer experiences.
- Personal Webpage - create a private, personal webpage to help keep family and friends involved and informed. Blog, post photos or videos, and share your calendar with the people who are close to you; they can send comments and offer support or respond to your request for help as well.
- Group Loop – an online community designed to address the needs of teens (13-19) touched by cancer to connect to find support, education and hope while dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
- Frankly Speaking About Cancer – Offers workshops, publications and digital content
- Cancer Transition – an evidence-based programs for cancer survivors who have completed their treatment (in partnership with LIVESTRONG)
- Open to Options – helps patients identify important questions about treatment options based upon personal needs.
Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation
Contact: 800-489-9812Population served: Children with cancer and their families in Canada
Mission:
Dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with cancer and their families by funding research and providing support and resources.
- Provides Family Support Kit with information and support for families of newly diagnosed children
- Provides scholarships for childhood cancer survivors
- Offers a benevolent fund to assist with funeral expenses
- Provides support groups for parents and survivors
- Offers National Teen Network which allows diagnosed teens to get in touch with teen survivors who have experienced a similar type of cancer - parents can also speak to a teen or the teen's parents
- Offers national newsletters, eNews and Teleconference services
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.
Childhood Leukemia Foundation
Contact: 888-253-7109Population served: Children with cancer and their families
Mission:
To educate, empower and raise awareness and the necessary funds to support programs that benefit children living with cancer. Programs improve health literacy, increase self-esteem and empower cancer victims with hope. CLF believes that by working together, we can make a difference one child at a time.
- Hugs u wear- offers human hair wigs to young cancer patients who have lost their own hair due to chemotherapy treatments. The Hug U Wear is a 100% human hair wig that is sewn into a lightweight cap and comes with a detachable hat. The child can choose from several styles to help deal with the stress and embarrassment of hair loss.
- Wish Baskets- provides Wish Baskets to help lift the spirits of these young cancer patients during a particularly difficult time in their lives. The baskets are filled with age appropriate items such as pajama bottoms with a matching pillow case, an MP3 player, individual games and a $50 Gift Card to purchase another wish item(s) of their choice.
- Hope Binder- to help improve a patient's level of health literacy. Pediatric oncology patients and their families are often overwhelmed with the amount of medical and insurance information associated with a chronic illness such as cancer. The Hope Binder has 12 sections to reference and record, in their own words, medical information regarding the child's treatment. The binders also include an assortment of informational booklets regarding pain management and dietary tips, as well as, a 75 minute pre-paid telephone calling card to keep in close contact with friends and family.
Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy (CCCA)
Contact: 202-304-1850Population served: Childhood cancer survivors and their families, individuals interested in childhood cancer issues and policies
Mission:
To make a difference in the pace and efficiency of getting new treatments to children, to improve access to care, and to enhance the lives of survivors. Acts as a strong advocacy and policy voice for children with cancer in national debates on research, new therapy development, and health care reform.
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Offers advocacy training, educational materials, workshops and webinars.
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. 209Population served: Critically ill children, 18 years of age or younger, living in the U.S
Mission:
To provide free laptops, tablets, robotics and internet access to seriously ill children for educational purposes.
- Provides laptops and other technology to children when hospitalized or bed-ridden so that they can continue to connect with their teachers and classrooms, to obtain education materials and to submit homework assignments
- Professional from child’s medical team must submit request and parents must complete referral form.
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: 571-325-2003Population served: Children in treatment for cancer in grades Pre-K through 12
Other language(s): SpanishMission:
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
Kids Konnected
Contact: 949-582-5443Population served: Children and teens in the U.S. who have a parent diagnosed with a cancer or who have lost a parent to cancer
Mission:
Provides "friendship, understanding, education, and support" for children and teens who have a parent with cancer or have lost a parent to cancer.
- Support groups are headed by Youth Leaders and co-facilitated by licensed professionals; they help kids share their feelings and gain strength from one another
- Karen’s Kids is a bereavement program for kids who have lost a mom or dad to cancer; the five-week program takes a child through the steps of grieving and teaches them how to cope with their tremendous loss
- Hope the Bear Care Packages are individually tailored to each family; every package includes a “Hope” teddy bear for each child in the family, plus books, workbooks, brochures, and additional information to help the family better cope with cancer
- Junior Camp is for children from 7 to12 years old; Teen Camp is for those between 13 and 18. Camps provide a fun atmosphere and an opportunity to share and connect with other peers and adults who understand what they are dealing with.
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.
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 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
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.
Single Fathers Due to Cancer
Contact: Website onlyPopulation served: Single fathers due to cancer
Mission:
To help the thousands of fathers who each year lose their spouses to cancer and must adjust to being sole parents.
- Free online resources
- Information about local support groups
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).
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 improve the quality of life for children with cancer and their families worldwide.
- Pediatric Oncology Program (POP) provides financial and emotional support to families throughout the United States during their child’s cancer treatment. Financial assistance for lodging, meals, transportation, health insurance and medical expenses not covered by insurance. (See website for specific financial eligibility criteria.)
- The "Beyond the Cure" Survivorship Program (BTC) provides the most up-to-date information on survivorship to help survivors and their families adapt and celebrate life after diagnosis
- Online community provides a private network for parents, caregivers and survivors of childhood cancer to connect, share and offer support to one another
- Provides resources to healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of childhood cancer and the many challenges associated with survivorship.
- Global Outreach Program partners with pharmaceutical companies to distribute donated cancer treatment drugs and medical supplies around the world.
The National CML Society (NCMLS)
Contact: 877-431-2573Population served: Patients living with CML and their families
Mission:
To bring hope to individuals living with CML through educational resources, access to CML specialists, and a living, breathing network of others that can share their personal CML experiences and successes.
- CML Connection Program provides a patient support network
- Facilitates peer-to-peer matching
- Provides referrals for caregivers, counseling, patient assistance programs, respite, blood and marrow drives
- Offers Ask The CML Expert online portal
- Sponsors educational events, wellness programs and retreats.
United Healthcare Children's Foundation
Contact: 1-855-698-4223Population served: Children age 16 and younger, who have commercial health insurance.
Mission:
The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) is a non-profit charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of children’s lives through much needed medical grants. These medical grants help improve access to medical services and items that are not covered, or not fully covered, by a family’s current commercial health insurance plan. Besides being 16 years old or younger and covered by a commercial health insurance plan, a child must be diagnosed with a current or ongoing medical need, be receiving treatment by a qualified medical practitioner in the US and meet certain financial criteria to qualify.
Grants may be provided for:
- Help with medical services costs
- Help with medication costs
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Costs associated with transplant
- Air and ground transportation for medical appointments