The mission of Gilda's Club is to provide meeting places where people with cancer and their families and friends join with others to build social and emotional support as a supplement to medical care. Free of charge and nonprofit, Gilda's Club offers support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social events in a nonresidential, homelike setting.

Description:
Gilda Radnor's dream was to create a free community for people living with cancer and their family and friends. Today, that dream is fulfilled at Gilda's Club Rochester New York located at 255 Alexander St. Rochester, NY 14607 as well as in numerous communities across the United States and Canada.

The clubhouse is a place where people with cancer and their families and friends can come to find inspiration in a home-like, community atmosphere with others who are living with cancer. It's a special place for men, women, children, families and friends with every type of cancer. Gilda's Club's door is open to anyone touched by cancer.

The welcome to Gilda's Club Rochester New York begins with a New Member Meeting for people with cancer, their families and friends. Here people tell their stories or just listen as others share, and learn about the various resources and activities available to all members of the club. Following the New Membership Meeting, each prospective member schedules a Customized Membership Plan with a Gilda's Club staff member to shape their social and emotional support.

History:
Gilda's Club Rochester New York grew out of the commitment of Cancer Action, Inc, a cancer support community dedicated to helping people living with cancer and their families in the Rochester area since 1959. Patti Messina, an oncology nurse at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital and a Cancer Action board member, heard of Gilda's Club in 1998 through her work. She believed that the concept and mission of Gilda's Club were a perfect fit with those of Cancer Action and brought the idea of Gilda's Club to Cancer Action's Executive Committee.

Things happened very quickly after that as calls & visits took place between Cancer Action staff and volunteers and Gilda's Club Worldwide representatives. A trip to Buffalo to attend a kick-off party for Gilda's Club Western N.Y. followed by Cancer Action staff visits to Gilda's Club NYC and an affiliates meeting in Nashville led to a contract being signed. Cancer Action had the luxury of already owning a building to house a Gilda's Club and after extensive renovations in the spring of 2000 to transform our building into a warm & welcoming clubhouse, Gilda's Club Rochester officially opened it's doors on September 21,2000.

Contact person: Mary Casselman, Program Director, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (585)423-9072

Address:

255 Alexander Street Rochester, NY 14607 (See a map)

Overall Experience   
All of my volunteer experiences have been wonderful.

I have been involved in many activities through Gilda's club including "Light the night", Noogiefest, and support group participation. All of my experiences have been extremely enlightening and fullfilling as well as emotionally gratifying. Along with the wonderful staff and volunteers, my volunteer experiences have allowed me to meet a lot of great people,and I've had a lot of fun! I look forward to many more rewarding opportunities! posted by treegirl on January 27, 2005