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Hello everyone!
With springtime comes change, and we're certainly feeling that here at The SAMFund. There is so much happening it's hard to fit it all into one newsletter! But I'll try...
First off, we're excited to announce that The SAMFund team is growing! Leonor Ciarlone joined us this week as our Community Outreach Associate, and with her professional background and enthusiasm for our cause, we know great things are on the horizon. We're also thrilled to welcome our newest Board member, Melissa Jacoby, who you can "meet" below!
On the program front, springtime marks the start of our new grants cycle. As we pay out the last remaining awards for 2011 alums, we're also gearing up to open the 2012 SAMFund grants cycle on June 5th at 12pm EST (applications will be posted on our website). In order to provide some extra guidance for applicants, we'll be hosting a free "SAMFund Grants 101" Webinar on June 4th (click here to register).
And speaking of Webinars, we recently received a grant from the Expect Miracles Foundation to continue the "Moving Forward With Your Financial Health"series for the upcoming year and to keep it free-of-charge for participants! Coming up on May 24th, we'll be presenting "Tips and Strategies for Reducing Medical Debt" and on June 11th, we'll have the first in a two-part series on family building, which will focus on biological options for building a family and ideas for financing them. The second part will focus on adoption and foster care, and we'll announce that date soon!
Finally, we've been working hard to develop a new SAMFund program to honor the legacy of our beloved Board member Jeremy Hill. It is very important to us to continue to provide unique types of support to the growing young adult survivor community, and the generous outpouring of volunteers and donations in Jeremy's honor will enable us to do so in a meaningful way. We'll be ready to send out more details soon, but for now just know that something *great* is coming!
As we continue to grow as an organization and expand our presence across the country, we are as grateful as ever for your ongoing commitment to and support of our work.
 Samantha Eisenstein Watson, Executive Director |
The SAMFund Coast to Coast
If you live in or near Chicago, Boston or LA, we'd love to see you at one of our upcoming fundraisers. If you aren't able to attend, please consider purchasing a ticket so that a young adult survivor can come for free!
Tuesday, June 5th: Join us in Chicago for "Suds for The SAMFund!" at Haymarket, a local brewery. Silent auction, brewery tours and reconnecting with our community of SAMFund alums, Board members, volunteers and supporters... what could be better?
Wednesday, June 13th: The SAMFund was chosen as the beneficiary of this year's SSYP Charity Golf Tournament in Hingham, MA. Join us for the day on the course or come for just the evening portion--either way, keep your fingers crossed for good weather and we'll see you there!
Saturday, June 16th: Get ready to get your groove on at "Surviving, Moving and Groovin' On" in Boston featuring Pesky J. Nixon and other local performers, as well as a great silent auction, lots of free food and a cash bar. This event will be especially meaningful as we will be raising funds to bring back the Andrea Coller Memorial Award this fall.
Wednesday, June 20th: The SAMFund is thrilled to be hosting its first West Coast fundraiser in LA at the Viceroy Santa Monica! Join us for a spectacular party by the Pacific and meet some amazing SAMFund alums, hear great music and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails with old and new friends. To purchase tickets, click here.
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National Cancer Survivors Day 2012
We all know exercise is good for us. But we don't always know how or where to start...
This year, in celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day, The SAMFund and 24 Hour Fitness are partnering to bring you
If you are in or near the Oakland, CA area, please join us for this free event celebrating life and active survivorship. With the help of our cancer community partners and 24 Hour Fitness, this event will provide the cancer community with an opportunity to come together, participate in special classes and learn about the amazing resources available to you. Don't miss it!
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 Welcoming Melissa Jacoby to The SAMFund Board of Trustees
Meet Melissa Jacoby, Esq., the newest member of our Board and our very first Boston-based Trustee! She currently serves as the Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at First Financial Trust and lives just outside of Boston with her husband Michael and their two sons.
Melissa says, "I was looking for a meaningful and rewarding way to give back... After knowing Sam for several years and meeting the other Board members, I knew this is where I wanted to focus my energy. To be affiliated with this caliber of selfless individuals and companies determined to make the daily struggles for someone who has survived cancer a little bit easier is a wonderfully humbling experience. I feel lucky and grateful to be associated with The SAMFund and look forward to the exciting and bright road ahead." |
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Survivor Spotlight:
This month, the spotlight shines on Kate H, a 2011 SAMFund alum who received a grant to assist with living expenses. She now works as a clinical social worker for uninsured individuals who are dealing with complicated long-term illnesses such as cancer, heart failure, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and other serious conditions. She provides counseling, mental health screening, resource referrals, and Disability/Medicaid application assistance...yeah, pretty much one amazing human being.
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"Since receiving my SAMFund grant, I have moved into a house with 3 roommates and am living on my own for the first time in my life...The SAMFund generously assisted me with paying rent for 4 months, which has made all the difference in the world for me. I have a small bit of savings that I was able to accrue due to the grant, which will be saved for an unexpected financial challenge. To be living on my own and have a small savings safety net is the most incredible feeling. I feel empowered and independent. None of this would have been possible without the SAMFund.
After many years of health issues and countless setbacks, I finally feel like I have my feet on the ground and my life is back on track. It has been a long journey to get to this point and I am feeling stronger than ever. This is all possible because of the SAMFund. Thank you!"
-Kate H, 24-year old survivor of Hodgkin's Lymphoma
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The SAMFund is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 20-6018710). Please consider making a tax-deductible donation by clicking here:
Or visit
our website
for info on other ways to donate!
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