Silvia Family Fund for Patient Assistance's Fundraising Page

Thank you for visiting our family's page regarding the Patient Assistance Program at Dana-Farber. We appreciate your interest in supporting Dana-Farber cancer patients manage a relatively normal lifestyle while receiving treatment.

In May of 2014 I was diagnosed and treated for "Squamous Cell Carcinoma" in the tonsil and lymph nodes. This is more commonly referred to as "Throat Cancer." Having felt in great health, this was shocking and set off a wave of emotions, from anxiety to fear, for my whole family.

It has been nine years since completing treatment. My recovery remains on track, I feel fine and am very active. But the summer of 2014 is still very fresh. This disease effects the whole family and is the focal point of everyone's life. Each family member does their part to chip in and provide what they can for everyone's behalf. I was blessed with a loving and supportive family, relatively good health and a network of friends willing to help at any moment.

This is not always the case. Through meeting and observing, many patients are not as fortunate. Treatments can be debilitating, side effects cause other health problems, daily scheduling and travel to DFCI can be unrealistic. Some affected, are the sole family providers with multiple dependents who rely on them for food, shelter and normal living costs. New, out of pocket expenses for transportation, lodging, childcare, OTC medicines add up. Many of these folks go weeks without working and are not able to keep up with household expenses due to lost wages and depleted savings. These patients do not have the financial resources to provide for their family or themselves.

With this in mind, Libby, Doyle, Isabel and I started the Silvia Family Fund for Patient Assistance at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Our goal is to raise money for the Patient and Family Programs and Services, specifically the Adult Patient Assistance Program. We continue to pledge money and hope to match it through your generosity. Led by Deborah Toffler, MSW, LCSW, Director of Family Programs and Services at DFCI, the Adult Patient Assistance Program provides direct support to patients and families who are facing financial hardship due to their cancer diagnosis. Funds may be used to assist patients with everyday expenses such as groceries, utilities, transportation, child care and short-term lodging. This immediate assistance gives patients and families the relief they need so they can focus on their treatment and care.

To date we are happy with the Fund's progress but recognize there is much work to be done. Over $600,000 has been raised from many generous donors. This money is being put to work as it is received. The Fund provides Head and Neck patients with gift cards for groceries, gas, transportation. In some cases, money for utilities, childcare, OTC meds and other domestic expenses. A crisis fund has been established for patients in critical financial need. All of this will enable these qualified patients to complete their treatment program and begin recovery.

Treatment schedules for patients can be demanding and for many don't have the means to fulfill these frequent appointments.  Others live out of the region and require lodging, while some need assistance commuting for treatment. Hotel space in the area is limited and expensive. Subsidized lodging has long waitlists and are hard to find on short notice.  Dana-Farber's Family Programs and Services Department is now providing discounted temporary lodging for patients and families with logistical challenges. Also, a new pilot program will provide transportation for those in need. In various ways the Silvia Family Fund will continue to support the lodging and transportation programs. Without these services, patients would have to seek treatment elsewhere.

It is important to know this program is self-funded and does not benefit from any general donations made to Dana-Farber, The Jimmy Fund or any other Dana initiative. Only monies directed to its specific purpose can be distributed to patient assistance.

You can donate to the Silvia Family Fund for Patient Assistance by clicking on the blue "Donate" button on the top of this page. Thank you for your time and consideration.

With our sincerest regards,

Libby and Sean

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Should you wish to make a gift by check, please make your check payable to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, listing "Silvia Family Fund" in the memo line.

Checks may be mailed to:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Attn: Elizabeth Patterson

Division of Development and the Jimmy Fund

10 Brookline Place West, 6th FL

Brookline, MA 02445

You can easily support the Silvia Family Fund for Patient Assistance with a gift from your Donor Advised Fund.  To request a gift from your DAF, please click the blue “Donate” button and select “Make a gift through a donor advised fund.”  You will be taken to our partners, DAF Direct, to complete your transaction. 

Does your employer/company provide matching gifts? To learn if your company will match your gift to the Silvia Family Fundfor Patient Assistance, please click the link below: http://www.jimmyfund.org/ways-to-give/giving/matching-gifts/  

Should you have any questions about making a gift, please contact Elizabeth Patterson directly at (617) 632-6597 or Elizabeth_Patterson@dfci.harvard.edu.