Special State Project

 Gilda's Club has been chosen for the 2010-2012 Special State Project of the NJSFWC! 

Gilda’s Club New Jersey

Our Mission: Gilda’s Club believes no one should have to face cancer alone.  We provide FREE support services to men, women, children and teens living with cancer.

Our Goal: To enhance the lives of those individuals and their families who are living with cancer.

Our History: Gilda’s Club was founded in 1990 and the first clubhouse opened its doors in 1995.  Gilda’s Club Northern NJ (Hackensack) opened in April, 2000 and Gilda’s Club South Jersey (Linwood) opened in January of 2003. Late last year, in view of our common interests and programs, Gilda’s Clubs nationwide merged with the Wellness Community (locations in Eatontown and Bedminster).  New Jersey is fortunate to now have four clubhouses among the 50 throughout the country.

Our Program: We provide any non-medical service that will support people living with cancer.  Our philosophy is that psychosocial support is a vital adjunct that is as important as medical care in improving quality of life and prognosis. This philosophy has been proven medically sound in recent clinical studies by the Institute of Medicine, the Mayo Clinic, Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and other medical and research centers.

Among our proven successful therapies are:  Support Groups, Networking Groups, Workshops, Special Lectures.  Further, we offer special programs as needed including Kid Support, Grief Busters, and Gilda’s Teen Club.

Why we need your help:

· Urgency of mission:  New Jersey has one of the highest rates of cancer, with 1,330 new cases diagnosed    daily.  That makes our free programs of critical importance, especially in an economy where people are hard-pressed to pay essential medical expenses. 

· Three out of four American families will help care for a family member with cancer in their lifetime.

We are completely responsible for our own funding, and 100% of any money you raise for Gilda’s Club New Jersey will stay in the state to pay for programs for New Jerseyans.

How you can help:

In addition to fund-raising, there are many ways active clubs can work with Gilda’s Clubs facilities around the state to enhance and participate in our programs:

• Help us to jump-start our planned mobile initiative, “Gilda’s in a Box”, to take our programs to communities without a nearby Gilda’s Club.
• Assist with outreach at information tables in local hospitals, oncology centers, health fairs and community gatherings to bring our program to an ever-larger circle of people.

• Reach out to medical professionals: by delivering educational literature demonstrating the importance and availability of free psychosocial support and talking to them about our programs.
• Become a Gilda’s Club Advocate – by sharing the benefits of our programs with health care organizations, family and friends – especially men, who are still under-represented in our support groups.
• Volunteer in our clubhouses:  there are many volunteer opportunities, from helping with special events, to serving as receptionists, photographers, writers, gardeners, extra hands at special events, and many more.  Whatever your talent or interest, we can put it to use.
• Collect and/or donate items for use at one of the many Gilda’s Club events and workshops.