St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness is committed to impact survivorship by promoting early awareness of early, funding research, and supporting survivors. SLOCA is the only non-profit organization in the St. Louis metro area whose sole focus is to increase awareness through direct contact, media, and community events.  Volunteers take part in health fairs, workshops, and medical education programs with students and healthcare professionals.   SLOCA also provides “sister boxes” to newly diagnosed patients in the St. Louis area.

HavenHouse St. Louis is a hospital guest house that takes care of basic needs for patients and their family members/caregivers who travel to St. Louis for medical care not available near home. By providing lodging, meals, transportation, laundry facilities, and other supports, we offer financial and logistical relief so our guests can focus on their surgery, treatment, or recovery without worry.

Kids Rock Cancer is an innovative program, using the proven healing power of music therapy, to help children cope with the emotional challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis. This type of therapy helps children combat feelings of anxiety, depression, uncertainty, and helplessness. Through sessions tailored to each child’s needs and feelings on that particular day, experienced music therapists help them channel their emotions—ranging from fear and pain to love and joy—into songwriting and music. The act of creating music has been known to lessen the need for pain medication and provide a sense of control over their situation.

Hope Lodge provides free lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers who must travel to the area for treatment. Our facility offers a comfortable, home-like environment with private guest rooms, shared kitchen and dining spaces, and supportive common areas. By alleviating the financial burden of lodging, we allow guests to focus on healing while fostering a sense of community among those facing similar challenges. Hope Lodge St. Louis is more than a place to stay—it’s a place of hope, support, and respite during the cancer journey.

www.cancer.org/hopelodgestlouis

St. Louis Men’s Group has been extremely generous in supporting programs at David C. Pratt Cancer Center for years. Most recently, they have provided funding for behavioral health assistance and transportation for Adult, Pediatric and Young Adult Cancer patients. Mental health access is extremely difficult for the general population. Most mental health providers are stretched well past their caseload. When an Adolescent and Young Adult patient needs mental health assistance, asking them to wait two to three months for an initial evaluation becomes a barrier. In addition, asking an AYA to pay even a copay or pay for transportation to their appointment for mental health counseling becomes a deterrent. They are less likely to seek out mental health help.

With the generous support of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer funds will be used to enhance the support services that we offer to families by promptly providing a practical tool kit for communicating with children about an adult’s cancer.Valeda's Hope provides recliners and comfort items to women that will undergo a double mastectomy due to the diagnosis of breast cancer. Valeda's Hope also provides mobile mammograms to underserved women at the local libraries in partnership with Siteman Cancer Center. Valeda's Hope will continue to win lives where we can. We can't do this work without the St. Louis Men's Group Against Cancer.

Food Outreach provides free medically tailored nutrition services to nearly 2,000 clients across the St. Louis region who are battling the dual challenges of food insecurity and chronic illness. Our mission is to provide nutritional support and enhance the quality of life of men, women and children living with HIV or cancer. We envision a system where individuals do not have to choose between nutrition and treatment for their chronic illness; rather, they are prescribed nutrition for wellness.

The December 5th Fund provides families with meaningful moments of joy and relief. Inspired by one family’s last great day together, we create Great Days which are personalized experiences that allow families to step away from the challenges of treatment and focus on what matters most. While families enjoy their day, our volunteers take care of household tasks, making sure they come home to a stress-free environment. Through our Helping Hands Support Plan, we extend that care beyond a single day, offering ongoing household aid for up to six months. By alleviating daily burdens, we give families the gift of time, allowing them to create lasting memories together.

Provides compassionate and holistic care, we strive to bring comfort and healing to those we serve. Over the years, the ST. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer has played a vital role in supporting our efforts to improve to improve the experience of cancer patients and their families. Contributions have helped enhance patient comfort, provide meaningful therapeutic support and reduce the emotional burden of treatment. With a special focus on programs for adolescents and support for both insured and underinsured patients, their partnership continues to have a lasting impact on the well-being of our oncology community.

www.givetossmhealth.org

Friends of Kids with Cancer funds one art therapist at each of our three hospital partner treatment centers at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Mercy Children’s Hospital, and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. During psychotherapeutic sessions, the art therapist encourages free expression with multiple art materials, listens to and observes the patient’s decisions and identifies how negative situations affect the child during treatment and encourages positive behaviors to help the individual express his/her feelings in a healthy way. Something as simple as choosing to paint with blue can have a profound impact on a child who feels as if their life is spiraling out of control.

The mission of Reel Recovery is to help men cope with the impact of cancer by introducing them to the healing powers of the sport of fly-fishing, while providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal experiences of cancer with others who share their stories.

The Gateway to Hope (GTH) ensures access to affordable, quality breast healthcare and empowers individuals to lead healthy lives. Its Treatment Navigation program removes barriers to care through culturally sensitive support. Patients are paired with trained Navigators who provide personalized guidance, from appointment preparation and insurance enrollment to self-advocacy and care coordination. For those with metastatic cancer, end-of-life support is also available. Additionally, the program offers up to $1,000 in financial aid for essential living expenses, reducing stress and improving treatment adherence. This comprehensive approach enhances patient outcomes through tailored support and financial relief.

www.gtnstl.org

Research shows that allowing kids to be kids while fighting major illnesses improves medical outcomes. We also know that pediatric cancer is a family diagnosis and that siblings of children fighting big battles are at higher risk for mental illness as they age. Our activity grant program is open to all registered Bennett Project families with children – either cancer warriors or their super siblings – aged 18 and younger. We also continue to serve our bereaved families, who are also eligible for these grant funds. All families registered through our program are referrals from the social workers at the three St. Louis based pediatric oncology centers.

Camp Kesem, SLU, one of 62 chapters around the country, is an organization driven by passionate college student leaders dedicated to supporting children through and beyond their parent’s cancer journeys. Funds received from STLMGAC are used for St. Louis children to camp for fee.

The Gateway Region YMCA offers free 12-week cancer survivor physical activity program through the Greater ST. Louis area. Funds from the STLMGAC support our Annual Cancer Survivor Retreat at YMCA Trout Lodge in Potosi, MO. Cancer survivors are invited to spend two days and one night enjoying guest speakers, workshops, outdoor activities and bonding with fellow survivors.

Joshua's Great Things is committed to helping families affected by pediatric brain cancer.  We help families who have a child in treatment for brain cancer by providing gift cards for some of their basic needs.  We work with social workers and families to decide what will best meet their needs during the challenging times, letting them choose gift cards for groceries, gas stations and/or restaurants.  We understand how hard it can be, and we want families to be able to make the most of their time together.  We have helped over 350 families in the St Louis metro area, including Missouri and Illinois, who are affected by pediatric brain cancer.

The Sisters of St. Joseph provide an invaluable source of comfort and support for patients and families navigating the challenges of cancer, including Sisters themselves who are facing serious diagnoses. Through their active ministry of prayer and presence, they offer a powerful reminder of the strength found in faith and compassion. While medical treatment is essential, the spiritual and emotional support offered through prayer and human connection can have a profound impact on the healing journey.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis provide a home- away-from-home for families of seriously ill children seeking medical treatment in a St. Louis-area hospital. RMHC St. Louis currently operates three Ronald McDonald Houses and four Ronald McDonald Family Rooms. In 2024, Ronald McDonald House provided low- or no-cost housing for 540 families of children and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms had a total of 56,904 visitors.

The Hamsa Wellness Community, a cancer care program at the St. Louis Jewish Community Center (the J), provides support through culturally relevant connections with peers, health professionals, and resources. Open to both J members and the public at no cost, regardless of faith or gender, our program offers hereditary cancer education to help individuals at risk detect cancer early, improving outcomes. Our education covers hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, as well as prostate, pancreatic, melanoma, male breast cancer, and cancers related to Lynch syndrome, emphasizing the importance of knowing both sides of your family history. We also utilize the J’s fitness resources to offer non-medical support to those coping with the side effects of cancer and its treatment. As a community partner of the national non-profit Sharsheret, the Hamsa Wellness Community ensures access to their free, individualized, and confidential resources in the St. Louis area.

https://jccstl.com/jewish-life/the-hamsa-wellness-community/

The generosity of the Men’s Group continues to address numerous needs of patients through our Sindelar Cancer Center and de Greeff Hospice House.

Camp Rainbow offers weeklong overnight camping experiences for children with serious illnesses, providing a safe, supportive, and fun environment at no cost to families. The camp is powered by a small team of dedicated staff, hundreds of volunteers, and the generous support of over 75 local businesses that donate goods and services. Since its founding in 1988, Camp Rainbow has served more than 10,000 children and hosted up to six different camp programs each year.

Supported by STLMGAC since 1993, CSC provides support & networking groups that link people diagnosed with cancer, their family and friends with others on the same journey, insuring no one has to face cancer alone. The weekly, bi-weekly and monthly groups are led by licensed clinicians and free of charge. New in 2023, The Cancer Support Community’s Fund for Empowerment will underwrite 11 support and networking groups as well as individual support sessions. Participants share that they gain peace during uncertainty, connection during times of loneliness and inspiration when hope seems lost.

www.cancersupportstl.org