Practical Solutions: housing, financial aid, legal assistance
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
The Gathering Place is glad to offer our participants one free legal consultation for concerns that come up related to your cancer diagnosis. These may include writing a living will, estate planning, or power of attorney. Contact Eileen Coan to set this up.
Legal Aid is a national organization that can be of great help as well. Their local affiliate in Cleveland, 1223 West Sixth St., Cleveland, OH 44113, 216-687-1900, http://lasclev.org/
National Legal Organizations
- Cancer Legal Resource Center , 866‑843‑2572, cancerlegalresourcecenter.org
- LawHelp.org, lawhelp.org
- National Cancer Legal Services Network, nclsn.org
- National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership, medical-legalpartnership.org
- Patient Advocate Foundation, 800‑532‑5274, patientadvocate.org
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
There are not nearly the financial resources available to match the needs in our area, which is an ongoing frustration for those needing help and for those trying to find help. We are lucky to have some resources in our area:
Cleaning For a Reason , 877-337-3348, www.cleaningforareason.org
HEAP: Home Energy Assistance - heating, gas, electric, utilities, 800-282-0880
The Ohio Benefit Bank: makes it simpler to complete applications for programs like food assistance, child care assistance, health coverage, and much more online. http://ohiobenefits.org/about.html
Chemotherapy : All pharmaceutical companies have some form of compassionate care, where you can apply to receive their drug at reduced or no cost. You apply for each drug to the manufacturer and you apply every year. Here is a link to a list of all the contact information for the major oncology drug companies:
Patient Access Network (PAN): Helps underinsured people with life-threatening/chronic diseases pay for out-of-pocket costs, 866-316-7263, www.panfoundation.org
Christians Overcoming Cancer, PO Box 307133, Gahanna, OH, 43230, 614-985-3750, http://christiansovercomingcancer.com/
Breast Cancer Financial Aid
Cancer Cares (Avon), 800-813-4673, Financial assistance for women
JD Breast Cancer Foundation, 216-791-9447, www.jdbcfoundation.org/
Karen P Nakon , 440-933-7621, www.nakonfoundation.com
United Breast Cancer Foundation, individual grants, Click here for application
WooWho Annual Grants, 440-376-7458, www.woowhofoundation.com
The Pink Fund, 877-234-7465, www.thepinkfund.org
Sharsharet: Helping Jewish women face their increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, https://sharsheret.org/
Other Cancers
Blue Note Fund for Colon Cancer, 877-422-2030, www.ccalliance.org
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, (216) 264-5680, http://www.lls.org/northern-ohio
Mission4Maureen, 440-840-6497, Brain tumors, http://mission4maureen.org/
Oral Cancer Foundation, 949-723-4400, http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/
Children &Young Adults
Jeremy Cares: college scholarships, sibling support, holiday giving,PO Box 84, Avon Lake, OH 44012, www.jeremycares.org
Rise Above It, Young Adults, PO BOX 40054, Bay Village, 44014, www.raibenefit.org
Stupid Cancer: Young adult cancer advocacy, research, and support, .http://stupidcancer.org/
Young Adult Cancer Survivors, 89 South Street, Suite LL02,Boston, MA 02111,617-938-3484, http://www.thesamfund.org/
First Descents: life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults (age 18-39) impacted by cancer, 303.945.2490, http://firstdescents.org/
College Scholarships
There is a national organization called Affordable Colleges Online, that has created a link specific to college students who have cancer or are survivors of childhood cancer. Click Here for their links.
The Audrey B. Mastroianni College Scholarship, through the United Breast Cancer, to help students who have suffered a loss of a parent or guardian due to breast cancer click here for application
Jeremy Cares: college scholarships for survivors of childhood cancer and their siblings www.jeremycares.org 440 933 9146, PO Box 84, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
MaryEllen Locher
Foundation (United States, Breast Cancer)
The MaryEllen Locher Foundation scholarships (formerly Children of Breast
Cancer Scholarships) are awarded to students who lost a parent to breast cancer
and to children of breast cancer survivors. The scholarship amount is at least
$1,000. The deadline is January 15. For more information or to make a tax
deductible donation, write to Children of Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund, PO
Box 4032, Chattanooga, TN 37405.
The
Barbara Palo Foster Memorial Scholarship (United States, Nursing)
The Barbara Palo Foster Memorial Scholarship provides a $2,500 scholarship to
college students who have lost a parent to cancer or whose parent is currently
fighting cancer. Applicants must be age 35 or younger at the time of
application and be currently attending or accepted to a 2-year or 4-year
college, university or training program (including graduate and professional
schools). Applicants must be seeking a college degree in nursing. Applicants
must demonstrate an interest in patient education, medically underserved
communities and/or women's health issues. Recipients are required to complete
25 hours of community service. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of
financial need, medical hardship, dedication to community service, commitment
to educational and professional goals, and a demonstration of how the applicant
has used their cancer experience to impact the lives of other young adults
affected by cancer. The deadline is in May 1. Send email toscholarship@ulmanfund.org to
request an application. This scholarship is one of several cancer
scholarships offered by the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation (United States)
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awards fivescholarships of up to $10,000 per year to graduating
high school seniors and current college students who are 25 years old or
younger and who have lost a parent to breast cancer. Candidates who are already
in college must have a college GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates
must plan to atten a state college or university in the state where they
reside. Candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents. The application
deadline is in mid-November. (The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation also
funds doctoral
dissertation awards, postdoctoral fellowships and grants for cancer research.)
For more information, write to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,
Attn: Grants Dept. -- College Scholarship, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite #250,
Dallas, TX 75244, call 1-972-855-1616, or send email to ccombs@komen.org.
LIFE Lessons
Essay Contest for Students
The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education is sponsoring a
scholarship for college-bound high school seniors and current college students,
ages 17-24, who have suffered the death of a parent or guardian. Candidates
must submit a written essay of up to 500 words or a short three-minute video
essay discussing how the death of their parent or guardian affected their life
financially and emotionally. Students must explain how the lack of adequate
life insurance coverage (or no coverage at all) impacted their family's
financial situation. There will be two grand prize winner recipients receiving
each $10,000 scholarship funds. LIFE will provide 59 scholarships totaling
$110,000. Typically, applications are solicited during the February to March
time frame and scholarship recipient are notified in the early part of July.
For additional information, visit the web site at www.life-line.org/scholarship or
send email to scholarship@lifehappens.org.
Pink Ribbon
Scholarship (United States, Breast Cancer)
Pink Ribbon Scholarships are awarded annually to a graduating high school senior
whose mother or father is a breast cancer survivor or died from breast cancer.
The application deadline is February 1. The scholarships are funded through
pink ribbon awareness products sold on the pinkribbon.com web site.
PinkRose Foundation (United States,
Breast Cancer)
The PinkRose Foundation Inc. provides $1,000 scholarships for college students
who have lost a parent or legal guardian to breast cancer. The scholarships
help the children embark on personal growth and start to overcome the grief
caused by breast cancer. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and under the
age of 25. US citizenship or permanent residency is required, as is a high
school diploma or equivalent. The deadline is August 31. Scholarship
applications can be obtained fromwww.pinkrose.org/scholarship.html.
For more information, write to The PinkRose Foundation Inc., PO Box 4025,
Dedham, MA 02027, call 1-781-710-6268, or send email to info@pinkrose.org.
Marilyn
Yetso Memorial Scholarship (United States)
The Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship provides a $2,500 scholarship to college
students who have lost a parent to cancer or whose parent is currently fighting
cancer. The parent or guardian must have been diagnosed while the applicant was
between the ages of 15 and 35. Applicants must be age 35 or younger at the time
of application and be currently attending or accepted to a 2-year or 4-year
college, university or vocational program (including graduate and professional
schools). Recipients are required to complete 25 hours of community service.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need, medical hardship,
dedication to community service, commitment to educational and professional
goals, and a demonstration of how the applicant has used their cancer
experience to impact the lives of other young adults affected by cancer. The
applicant must have been diagnosed with cancer since reaching age 15. The
deadline is in May 1. Send email toscholarship@ulmanfund.org to request an
application. This scholarship is one of several cancer
scholarships offered by the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
Vacations and Camps
Dream Foundation, 805-564-2131, Adult make-a-wish, http://www.dreamfoundation.org/
Karen Wellington Foundation, 7410 W Firelands Dr., Hudson, provides a spa/vacation for women with breast cancer KWFcleveland@gmail.com
The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation, treating families to WOW! Experiences®, giving children who will lose their Mom or Dad to cancer a timeout to create indispensable memories as a family… while they can.404.537.5253,https://jajf.org/
Rebecca's Gift provides healing family vacations after the death of a child, PO Box 450722,Westlake, OH 44145, (877) 677-6611 http://rebeccasgift.org/
Camp Good Days - for children with cancer, children who have a parent or sibling with cancer and/or children who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer, and programs for women and men who have or have had cancer. -several locations in New York, http://www.campgooddays.org/
HOUSING ASSISTANCE
While there is no special housing specifically for those with cancer, there is an option for staying close to the main hospitals during treatment.
Hope Lodge, 11432 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44106-2364, 216-844-HOPE (4673). All guests staying at Hope Lodge must be over the age of 18. All patients are required to have a caregiver throughout their stay at Hope Lodge. All patients must be in active cancer treatment.
The hospitals also have agreements with several local hotels for discounted rates. Ask the social worker at your hospital for their list of options.
TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE
While there is no special transportation specifically for those with cancer, there are several options in the Cleveland area for anyone with special needs.
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) offers Paratransit,a door-to-door service for a fee. Call 216.566.5124 or see their website http://paratransit.gcrta.org/ Their services require that you apply for a membership card and there is a fee for each ride.
Provide a Ride is another local agency that offers door to door service. for a small fee. Call 216 475-1001 or check their website for eligibilty. http://providearide.com/
Senior Transportation Connect is available Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm for Cleveland seniors 60 and over, with limited transportation options. STC will provide two one-way trips per week to those eligible. Medically-related trips are a priority and must be in Cuyahoga County. The fare is $1 per one way trip. Drivers are not permitted to make change or accept tips. Call 216.664.2833
Many communities have a senior transportation program through their office of aging. This can be used for doctor appointments and, in some cases, to come to The Gathering Place programs.
Miracle Flights - for children dealing with serious illness to get to treatment in other cities.5740 S. Eastern Ave Suite 240,Las Vegas, NV 89119, 702-261-0494,www.miracleflights.org
The resources and information given by our staff is NOT an endorsement of those individuals or practices. Staff members do not provide medical advice or assistance. We make every attempt to stock current, legitimate health-related materials. Opinions offered in writing or in lectures do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Gathering Place staff or Board of Trustees. We receive no fee for maintaining lists of resources and information. It is the responsibility of anyone utilizing this information to fully research the resources provided.