It’s #GivingTuesday and we want you to know about a great cause… we’ll let award-winning actress and ambassador for Gilda’s Club NYC, Emma Stone, tell you all about it!
Watch Emma Stone speak about Gilda's Club NYC
Emma Stone, award-winning actress and Gilda’s Club NYC Ambassador, shares a special message calling for support so that Gilda’s Club NYC can continue to provide free virtual social and emotional support to cancer patients and their families.
Gilda’s Club New York City provides a welcoming community of FREE social and emotional support for anyone living with cancer – adults, teens, children and their families who are living with a cancer diagnosis, post-treatment, or grieving the loss of a loved one due to cancer.
Our innovative program is an essential complement to cancer care, providing support groups, educational lectures, healthy lifestyle workshops and social activities at our Clubhouse in the West Village and our Gilda Comes to You partners located at medical centers throughout NYC.
Over 10,000 individuals are reached annually by our unique program. Gilda’s Club NYC was founded in memory of Gilda Radner, the talented comedienne and first cast member of Saturday Night Live (SNL) who passed away in 1989 from Ovarian Cancer. Our iconic red door opened in 1995 to provide a place where cancer patients and their families and friends can learn to live with cancer, whatever the outcome. At Gilda’s Club NYC, we believe no one should face cancer alone.
GILDA’S CLUB NYC COVID-19 RESPONSE AND NEED In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Gilda’s Club NYC transitioned our free in-person cancer support program to a virtual program to continue to provide free services to cancer patients who are among the most vulnerable populations of this pandemic. Due to the increased demand for this program in the epicenter of the COVID-19 Pandemic, New York City, and an affected donor base, we need additional funds to serve our current and growing community.
Now more than ever, we need help in delivering our cancer support program in New York City: The COVID-19 pandemic is a threat to the cancer community we serve who are vulnerable and live with compromised immune systems. Cancer patients and their families already face enormous stress and financial strain and now their safety, ability to receive treatment and financial stability are further compromised. With our new virtual program, members are able to participate in support groups, networking groups, healthy lifestyle workshops and educational lectures, while safely remaining at home, receiving the psycho-social support that is so vital when living with cancer.
▪ The demand for our program in recent weeks has increased by 70% for individual counseling.
▪ Participation and attendance in online workshops and lectures have increased significantly.
▪ Cancer patients in NYC are experiencing increased levels of anxiety, isolation and fear.
▪ Our virtual program serves men, women, teens, and children – anyone living with cancer, family members, friends, and caregivers.
▪ Our members reflect the diversity of New York, aged 5-91, with populations such as LGBTQ, minority groups, young adult caregivers, all living with specific types of cancer (prostate, gynecological cancers, melanoma, advanced stage) and/or loss.
▪ The need for teen counseling has also increased due to heightened levels of fear, living with a loved one who is more vulnerable than ever before.
▪ We have added new bereavement support groups for members dealing with the loss of a loved one to COVID-19 in response to the need from members who have lost family and friends.
The COVID-19 pandemic is also a threat to our sustainability. We are a lean organization that relies on private funding from foundations, individuals and corporations for nearly 100% of our budget. During the past month, donor giving has been drastically subsiding as the crisis threatens the financial stability of those that we depend on to fund our program. Without this funding, our ability to provide our free cancer support program to our members is at risk.
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Sandy Lo is an author, blogger, journalist, and digital strategist. Her personal story is inspiring. Sandy started StarShine Magazine, an online publication in 2001, at the age of 18. She wrote her first novel in 2009, “Lost In You,” followed by the “Dream Catchers” Series. She was the first person ever to professionally interview Taylor Swift and has received personal endorsements for her books from members of boy bands Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees.
