Peoria-Area Community Impact Guide 2023-2024

ILLINOIS CANCERCARE FOUNDATION Illinois CancerCare Foundation is all about providing HOPE to our local loved ones fighting cancer. As we work to eliminate cancer with our nationally recognized cancer research, we also work daily to make sure no cancer patient in central Illinois fights this battle alone.

8940 N. Wood Sage Road Peoria, IL 61615 Phone: (309) 243-3437 Email:

Hope@IllinoisCancerCareFoundation.org Website : IllinoisCancerCareFoundationorg Facebook : @IllinoisCancerCareFoundation Instagram : @ilccfoundation

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Greg Gerstner, MD, President Janaki Nair, Esq, Vice President Nadia Rehman, MD, Secretary Paul Fishkin, MD, Treasurer Jamie Harper Julie Lagacy Karrie Redeker Daniel Moon James Weekley

KEY STAFF Tonda Thompson, Executive Director Tori Worsfold, Program & Development Manager Rebecca Bonfoey, Accountant Marcy Wilson, Foundation & Marketing Administrative Coordinator HOW TO HELP You can support Illinois CancerCare Foundation with a financial gift, sponsorship, in-kind donation or by volunteering your time. Visit us online or contact our Foundation office at Hope@IllinoisCancerCareFoundation . org or (309) 243-3437

clinical research is how we will find a cure Our Foundation, in collaboration with Illinois CancerCare, ensures patients in central Illinois have access to clinical research trials which means access to the latest developments in their disease With over 100 clinical trials available, Illinois CancerCare regularly enrolls double the national average of patients, outperforming larger, well-known institutions The Foundation supports genetic screening programs to identify hereditary cancers, with special emphasis on families at risk for hereditary colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers These programs empower families to understand their risks, provide relief from uncertainty, and make informed decisions about their health care HOPE FOR TODAY Supported by gifts to the Foundation’s Volunteer Fund, over 100 local volunteers provide a special touch to patients and their families Many of the volunteers are cancer survivors who desire to encourage those in active treatment They do this with a helping hand to a vehicle, offering a warm cup of coffee, or giving specially selected items of comfort to patients during treatment Illinois CancerCare Foundation helps cancer patients get to and from appointments with our gas cards programs and transportation

assistance Local therapy dogs visit to lower anxiety in waiting rooms and comfort during lengthy treatment The Trust in Hope holiday program provides compassion and support to patients and their families by delivering Thanksgiving meals and personalized holiday gift lists to our patients’ homes In the last 14 years, 4,131 Thanksgiving meals have been delivered and 357 families with 644 children have received holiday gifts This past year, the Peoria location opened the PATH of hope tribute garden, a beautiful setting for celebration, remembrance, quiet reflection, relaxation, and hope. Surrounded by natural beauty, our patients, caregivers, staff and visitors find a place of peace and refuge within this healing sanctuary In the center of the garden is the Celebration Circle representing the circle of support around our patients and their caregivers The Celebration Bell can be rung at any celebration along one’s cancer journey whether that is after each treatment, at the end of treatment or when the patient is declared cancer free. The garden is filled with encouragement through engraved bricks and benches with personal messages of hope from foundation supporters, cancer survivors and dedicated staff Illinois CancerCare Foundation is here to fight alongside cancer patients today and ensure more cancer survivors tomorrow.

WHAT WE DO: Cancer care is comprehensive – it is as much medical as it is personal Both are important and both are addressed by the Illinois CancerCare Foundation To ensure that no patient fights cancer alone is to ensure the best medical care is provided alongside emotional support, financial support, and encouragement HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Statistically, 1 in 3 Americans will get a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime Cancer

64

peoriamagazine.com