Mission Treatment requires more than medicine — families need a roof over their heads and food on their tables to survive. If a family can’t meet these basic needs, cancer treatment takes a back seat.
Family Reach works with patients, providers, and community organizations to challenge the systems that force families to choose between their health and their home. Together, we’re making financial treatment a standard of cancer care.
Family Reach has spent nearly three decades helping people with cancer meet their basic needs — food, housing, and transportation — but 2023 marked one of the toughest years we’ve seen so far. There were days when stories about patients sleeping in cars and requesting tents flooded our inboxes before we had even sat down at our desks.
With this growing need, especially among under-resourced communities, we grounded ourselves in putting people first and redefining our approach to truly meeting patients where they are. This meant investing in our ecosystem of nonprofit and healthcare partnerships to create more diverse, accessible, and trusted pathways to support.
This innovative and collaborative ecosystem allowed us to launch new financial resources, facilitate more conversations about basic
needs, and deepen our reach within Black and Hispanic/Latino communities, who face the highest rates of financial distress during cancer treatment.
When you’re addressing a long overdue issue in healthcare, you have to surround yourself with brilliant, brave, and big-hearted people who aren’t afraid to go the distance. Thank you to everyone who helped us achieve critical milestones in 2023.
It was a great year with great challenges — yet together we continued to bridge the gap between health and home for people with cancer nationwide.
Carla Tardif Family Reach CEO
Nationwide Support: Reaching Diverse,
Under-Resourced Communities Facing Cancer
Health Equity: Strengthening our Ecosystem to Meet Patients Where They Are
Awareness: Advocating for the Cancer Community
“The system isn’t fair. Nobody asks for cancer, but it feels like you’re being punished financially.”
— Annalisa, a young adult diagnosed with head and neck cancer
In 2023, new and existing partnerships increased our reach in communities with the deepest financial needs.
More than half of the families we supported in 2023 identified as Black or Hispanic/Latino.
These communities face the highest rates of financial distress during cancer treatment, and we’re reaching them more intentionally through our hospital partnerships and equity initiatives.
86% of families supported were living on less than $60,000 a year, with an average household size of four people.
Many people have to stop working or reduce hours during treatment, dropping their income significantly. Nearly half (46%) of those we supported were living at or below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Data
Data
Zoom in:
We help people of any age — “I’m a single adult with no other income except a small retirement annuity. The kindness and financial help was so uplifting.”
Through our patient insights, Family Reach is evaluating and addressing the health-related social needs imposed by a range of cancer diagnoses.
Of the families we supported in 2023: 58% 64% 57% 67% faced food insecurity were behind on utility bills
didn’t have a reliable way of getting to treatment
On average, 56% of patients traveled to treatment at least once a week
had lost or were at risk of losing their home
On average, families were two months behind on rent/mortgage
“I am thankful for the treatment but it impacted my ability to earn money at the same time. I was overwhelmed by making ends meet on top of the many other emotions.”
— Kristin, reflecting on her multiple myeloma diagnosis
After working with Family Reach in 2023:
88% of patients and caregivers said their awareness of financial resources increased
85% felt it was important to discuss financial concerns with their healthcare team
82% reported a decrease in financial distress
“I think Family Reach’s Conversation Guide: Asking for Financial Help During Cancer Treatment should be available in every cancer treatment center across America.
Having the knowledge and awareness to address financial concerns gives the cancer patient the power to start the conversation... [it] opens many doors for you during one of the most challenging times of your life.”
— Darcy,* breast cancer
*Name changed for privacy
“I got current on my bills thanks to help from Family Reach…the timing couldn’t have been better. Today I am thankfully in remission and rebuilding my strength physically, emotionally, and financially.”
— Kristin, sharing the impact of financial support
Through partnerships with patient advocates, healthcare teams, and nonprofit organizations, we gathered critical patient insights and deepened our reach within communities with the greatest financial needs.
We gathered insights from our Family Reach Advocates, a council of dedicated patients and caregivers, to inform our programs and messaging in 2023.
August 2021 September 2023 October 2023
Berlynn contacted Family Reach after her son was diagnosed with cancer
Received additional support — this time during her husband’s treatment — when Family Reach distributed funding to Hawaiian families after the wildfires
Attended Cooking Live Hawaii event and shared her story with our community
November 2023
Participated in a family photo session
Joined the Family Reach Advocates
“I had to quit my job to be with AJ. I didn’t want to ask for help, but I knew I had to. Family Reach gave us exactly what we needed.”
“I didn’t even have to ask. Once again, the assistance helped pay for the things we need each day — car repairs, groceries, and our home.”
“How can I stay involved? You have no idea how this makes me feel. I’m so happy to be part of Family Reach.”
Philadelphia has some of the highest rates of cancer diagnoses and poverty in the United States. In 2023, Family Reach continued working on-site at treatment centers in the city to provide resources and assistance that help patients meet their basic needs.
We’re learning that this approach builds trust, quickly identifies patient needs, and increases equitable access to financial support.
Who we supported patients received on-site support in 2023
525
61% 70% of those supported identified as Black and/or Hispanic/Latino were living on less than $40,000 a year
Transportation and food were the highest reported needs
In 2023, a person living in Philadelphia earning the minimum hourly wage ($7.25) had to work 86 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom apartment. 1 This made living in the city extremely challenging for many locals, but for Lucas,* a retired handyman with leukemia, it was impossible.
Alima partnered with Lucas’ oncology social worker to cover the immediate expenses of a hotel, taxis to chemotherapy, and groceries. Since he didn’t have an address to send the assistance to, Alima sent a check to his social worker, who helped Lucas cash it.
“Lucas lost his home following his cancer diagnosis and was living in a hotel. By the time we were connected, he was days away from living on the streets,” shared Alima, our On-Site Resource Navigator. “He needed stable housing — that was certain — but he also needed transportation to the hospital and food to eat.”
Once Alima secured the temporary accommodations, she connected with a local housing coalition. “We got Lucas into an apartment that his SSI payments covered,” said Alima. “Knowing he had stable housing for the remainder of his treatment was a huge relief for all of us.“
In 2023, we partnered with seven local nonprofit organizations in Black and Hispanic/Latino communities to deliver our financial support. These partnerships allow us to meet patients where they are, through organizations they know and trust.
View page 8 for partner locations!
Who we supported patients supported through community partners in 2023 312
86% were living on less than $40,000 a year
Food and utilities were the highest reported needs
Denise,* a single mom of three, was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer just three days before Christmas.
When she contacted one of our community partners, a nonprofit supporting Black and Hispanic/Latino women facing breast cancer, she was months behind on her electricity bill, and the utility company had turned her power off. The family was living in the dark.
Our community partner immediately contacted Family Reach for support with this emergency case. Emily, one of our Resource Navigators,
called the utility company and paid Denise’s outstanding and upcoming bills. Within hours, Denise’s power was restored.
“Your Resource Navigators are amazing,” our community partner shared. “They communicated so quickly and got the family’s power back on ASAP. Thank you.”
*Name changed for privacy
To date, we’ve worked with over 1,000 treatment centers, allowing us to reach patients and caregivers through their social workers, resource specialists, and other healthcare professionals.
We updated our financial assistance application and eligibility guidelines in 2023 to improve the user experience.
Easier-than-ever application: “[Family Reach] always responds so quickly after I place an application and the referral process is seamless.” — oncology social worker
Straightforward guidelines: “Really helpful that patients can use the money for any of their [basic] needs rather than prescribed uses, as some other organizations require.”
95% of healthcare professionals say our eligibility criteria are clear
Thousands of cancer patients turn down clinical trials because they’re worried about missing work and affording the associated travel, lodging, and food costs. In 2023, Family Reach acquired More Moments More Memories and together we launched the Clinical Trial Access Program to help more patients access cutting-edge treatments.
Who we supported
patients enrolled on a clinical trial received financial support 292 56% 67% 72%
identified as Black and/or Hispanic/Latino were living on less than $40,000 a year needed support with transportation
The astronomical cost of housing and transportation was completely out of my budget. The assistance helped me cover those costs, and in February 2023, I was declared in remission. I am eternally grateful … I am living an active, healthy life, and I thank those who made this possible for me.
—Mary, who traveled 500 miles to access a life-saving clinical trial
In partnership with:
Partnership highlight:
The American Cancer Society worked with Family Reach to support 133 patients in three weeks through our Clinical Trial Access Program.
Family Reach published five studies in 2023 highlighting the financial needs of real families facing cancer.
Dig into the data at familyreach.org/ publications-and-presentations
“Our research was sought out among hundreds of posters at the ASCO Quality Care Symposium — the oncology community is eager for data on the non-medical, financial side of cancer and we’re empowering them with the knowledge.”
— Andrea Incudine, Senior Director of Operations & Data
Family Reach executives were invited to speak at healthcare’s largest events, securing the attention of more than 40,000 people through on-site engagements and post-event media coverage.
“Every time we’re in the room — whether it’s the White House Cancer Moonshot or a panel for healthcare professionals — our priority is to make sure basic needs and patient perspectives are part of the conversation.”
— Carla Tardif, Family Reach CEO
Family Reach and Iron Chef Ming Tsai invited supporters to wine, dine, and hear from the families we support at Cooking Live in Boston and Honolulu.
Sponsors like these fuel our events: Cooking Live Hawaii 2023
Total: $8,390,136
80 cents of every dollar went directly to programs that support families facing cancer. Zoom in:
$9,606,775
$250,000 - $500,000
AbbVie Foundation
Amgen
David Ian Giving Fund
Eli Lilly
Gilead Sciences
Janssen
McKesson
Seagen
$100,000 - $249,999
Anonymous
2seventy bio
Douglas M Noble Family Foundation
Pfizer
Stacy Madison
Stratton Charitable Foundation Trust
$50,000 - $99,999
Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Anonymous
B&W Quality Growers
Colleen Ballinger
Costco
Daiichi-Sankyo
Eisai
Jesse and Mindy Rogers
Mark and Cindy DeLeo
Sanofi
Tom Barrieau
Yellowstone Club
Community Foundation
$25,000 - $49,999
Ambrose Packaging
Bob and Frances Bean
Caleb Chan
Candice Hamilton
Cencora
DCU for Kids
Foundation for Financial Planning
GenMab
Hayes Family Fund
Jen Rubio Butterfield
John and Sandra Thompson
Mark and Deborah Pasculano
MFS Investment Management
OverSimplified Media
Peter and Ellen Vaream
Peter and Lynne Cameron
Peter Merrigan** and Taurus
Investment Holdings
Phalen Family Fund
Robert Lang and Jeanne
Limoges-Lang
Robert Small
Susan Kosasa
Takeda Oncology
The Discovery Land
Company Foundation
The Henry and Lindsay
Ellenbogen Charitable Fund
The Paul & Phyllis Fireman
Charitable Foundation
Tom and Angela Civik
Ty Curran
Vicki L Borges and Ginny Tiu
$10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous
Boston Bruins Charitable Foundation
Stephen C Chapin Memorial Fund
John Krasinski and Emily Blunt
Keith Horita
The TJX Foundation
Elizabeth Grossman
Baron and Dede Guss
Chuckra Chai and Mon
Siriwatwechakul
Foundation Medicine
Gary Oda
Stanford and Kathy Carr
TA Realty
Timothy Moore*/**
Steven and Elissa Lunder
Phillip and Liz Gross
Bill and Lisa Lahey
Brad and Lauren Koenig
Brendon Giblin
Ken and Caretha Coleman Fund
Lawrence Hamann
Lisa and Dmitri Shklovsky
Richard Sakoda
Sandy and Nancy Montag
The Morgridge Family Foundation
The Tina Snider Foundation
Tracy & Allan Foster
Charitable Fund**
Wasserman Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
Bennett Rosenthal
Bob Armstrong
Brandon and Wendy Johnson
Chip Rives
Chris Schott
Damon Lilly
Daniel Colin Johnson and
Susan McNally Johnson
David and Kiersten Lowe
David Grayzel
Derrick Ang and Junlin Ho
Enrico Gaglioti
Eric Tonningsen
Ernie Boch
Franklin M. Berger Foundation
Haymakers for Hope
Hope and Doug Turner
Howard and Stephanie Krass
IBM Corporation
James Piechota
Jay and Carol Virshbo
Jeff Kaplan
Ken Goldman and Susan Valeriote
Kevin Colleran
Kyle Gardner
Lee and Jennifer Applbaum
Leopold and Amelia O’Donnell
Patrick and Jennifer Fay
Steve Collis
Yousuf Zafar and Fatima Rangwala**
$2,500 - $4,999
Cahill Family Fund
Catherine J Malatesta Foundation
Dennis and Lisa Cameron
Fumiko Chino
Gerald De Angelis
Hesler Family Fund
Jacqueline Rush Lee
Jessica Jacobs
Joe Branca
Julie Nixon
Karel Foti
Kathleen Burke
Laurie Weiskopf
Madge Meyer
Maria Kawananakoa
Michael and Kerry Smith
Missing Peace Foundation
Moune and Bobbin Tabalno
National Comprehensive
Cancer Network
Niraj & Jill Shah Charitable Fund
Norm Cantin and Patricia Chadwick
Onco Health
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
Richard Morello and Dlynne Plummer*/**
Rick and Terri Pedigo
Robert and Kathy Stahl
Robert and Patti Bradley
Sharon Rembowski
Shelley Shaw
Love, Tito’s
Tracy Pozil*
Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation
William and Jennifer Mintzer
$1,000 - $2,499
Alessandra Di Bacco*
Alex Cook
Ameriprise Financial
Amy Thorndike
Angele Russell
Anthony Della Salla
Anthony Lofaso
Arndt Oesterle
Association of Oncology
Social Workers
B&T Fund
Ben Schwering*
Bignell Family Fund
Bill and Nadia Lane
Blake and Shawn Woods
Boston Mutual Life Insurance
Bright Funds Foundation
Chris Parkin
Christiane Hyland
Clifford Lau
Cushman & Wakefield
Daphne Psacharopoulos
David Okabe
Debra Bernstein
Denise Allen
Denise Doyle
Doug and Veronica Bacon
Edward Cerasia II*
Elizabeth Carten and Robert Hamilton
Elizabeth Nietupski
Emily Fields
Exelixis
Forresters IP
George and Rosemary Pfreundschuh
GRAIL
Gregory and Marquitta Alia*
Gregory Simon
Harry Nudelman
Ilene McDonald
Intel Foundation
Irena Paprocki
Irene Dopkowski
James and Andrea Colangelo*
James Lang Manion
Jared Caldwell
Jia and Bo Wu
Joe Profeta
John and Jennifer Winterhalter*/**
John and Laurie Cowden
Joseph McClellan
Josephine DelVecchio
Kenji Freedman and J.
Lalaneya Hamilton
Lance and Lisa Hatfield
Laura Veldhuis and Ben Shapiro
Leah Binder
Lisa V and Bill Schultz
Lorraine Dean*/**
Madeline Osman
Markus Paul Foundation
Martha Brainard
Melanie Cheng
Melissa and Jim Ribaudo*
Melissa Walsh and Jen Morrison*/**
Miceli Family Charitable Trust
Michael Kendall
Mitch Thompson
Myles Inouye
Nicholas Alberto
Nicholas and Megann Schiffer
Nicole and Todd Ackerman
Pamela Broderick
Patricia Falconer
Paul Arriola
Paul Hook
Payton Smith
PhRMA
PIM Brands
Richard and Julie Miller
Robert and Margaret Ackerman
Robert Harris
Robert Loeb
Roger and Amy Aines
Sarah and Christopher Mills
Sarah Ellis
Sarah Suddock
Scott Ramsey
Sinesia Karol
Sparks Family Trust
Stephen and Iris Tsai*
Steven Solomon
T. Rowe Price
Taulane Family Gift Fund
Teresa Jurgenson
The Carney Family Foundation
Thomas and Barbara Lake
Timothy Thompson
Touch Dynamic
USLI
Vera Lucia Costa
Wells Fargo Bank
Will Golden -Goldy- Memorial Fund
William and Karen Capuzzi
Winston Stalvey*
More Moments More Memories
American Cancer Society
Anothony Rizzo Family Foundation
JUST TRYAN IT
NEPM Foundation
Never Had A Bad Day
Tyler Robinson Foundation
* Key Holder Monthly Donor
** Family Reach Board of Directors
familyreach.org | @familyreach
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