Partnering with Lotsa Helping Hands

Muscular Dystrophy Association

myMuscleTeam is a care-coordinating service offered by MDA that enables those coping with neuromuscular disease to quickly and easily organize a personal assistance network of family and friends.

The site allows you to set up your own private and secure Web page from which you can:

• easily update family and friends about important developments;
• request and organize assistance for tasks such as yard work, meal preparation or transportation to medical appointments; and
• schedule trusted family members and friends to provide a few hours respite for primary caregivers.

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education. The majority of contributions to MDA come from individual donors.

To learn more about MDA and the more than 40 diseases it covers, please visit www.mda.org. General correspondence may be addressed to mda@mdausa.org. To learn about MDA services and volunteer opportunities in your area, call (800) 572-1717.

The ALS Association

The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. ALSA covers all the bases - research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy - in providing help and hope to those facing the disease. The mission of The ALS Association (ALSA) is to find a cure for and improve living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research.

Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease by advancing of research; enhancing care and support for all affected; and reducing the risk of dementia through promoting brain health education. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's.

For more information about resources in your community or personal support from professionals who understand the disease and its impact, call us toll-free, day or night.

American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the nation's oldest voluntary public health organization. Originally founded to combat the spread of tuberculosis -- the white plague -- the Lung Association now pursues a vision of a world free of all lung disease. We work to prevent lung disease and promote lung health with research for cures, advocacy to improve air quality and education to help sufferers and caregivers manage their chronic lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Working through volunteers and staff nationwide we are "Improving life, one breath at at time".

American Parkinson Disease Association

APDA meets its unique dual mission to “Ease the Burden – Find the Cure” through a national network of 50 chapters, 60 Information & Referral (I&R) centers and approximately 1,000 support groups. It is the only Parkinson’s disease (PD) organization that equally funds scientific research to find the cause(s) and cure, while providing patient and caregiver support and education.

APDA has been a funding partner in most of the PD scientific discoveries. Its Scientific Advisory Board, a panel of prominent clinicians and scientists, reviews all applications and recommends funding the most promising research.

APDA is the nation’s largest grassroots Parkinson’s organization. Volunteer chapters raise awareness and funds for research. I&R centers provide patient/caregiver services and physician referrals, educational materials and programs. Support groups address the needs of patients, families, the newly diagnosed, young onset, and caregivers. The APDA National Young Onset Center is the country’s only full-time center addressing the specific challenges of young people with PD.

APDA National Headquarters is located at Parkinson Plaza, 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, N.Y. 10305.

Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc.

The Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation is the oldest and largest patient advocate and support organization for bone marrow diseases, providing life-saving hope, knowledge, and support to hundreds of thousands of patients and their families around the world. Our services are free. Contact us at AA&MDSIF, P.O. Box 613, Annapolis Maryland 21404-0163

ARCH National Respite Network

The ARCH program was begun in the early 1990s with funding from the Children's Bureau in the US Department of Health and Human Services to support a national network of federally funded respite and crisis care programs for children with disabilities, chronic illness and at risk of abuse and neglect. During its tenure as a national resource center, ARCH staff developed an array of resources for families and respite providers, including the national respite locator service, guides for starting respite programs in communities, and fact sheets on a variety of topics related to respite and crisis care not only for children and their families but also for families who are caring for the elderly.

When federal funding was no longer available, ARCH continued to make these resources available with the support of several hundred members of the ARCH National Respite Network who contribute to the organization each year.

BMT Infonet

Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network is dedicated to providing transplant patients and their loved ones with emotional support and high quality, easy-to-understand information about bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell, and cord blood transplants. Since 1990, our networks of medical experts and transplant survivors have helped more than 100,000 transplant patients cope with the prospect of a blood stem cell transplant. Our goal is to empower patients with credible information and emotional support, so that they can take a more active role in decisions affecting their health and treatment options.

Brain Tumor Society

The Brain Tumor Society's vision is a world without brain tumors. We support brain tumor patients, survivors and their caregivers by providing access to supportive services and informational resources. Our social worker responds to individual inquiries and coordinates one-on-one peer networking through our Connection Of Personal Experiences (COPE) Program. We provide free informational materials to all those affected by a brain tumor diagnosis. We fund carefully-selected scientific research to enhance treatments and, ultimately, to find a cure. Our mantra is: There is Hope. There will be a Cure.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength

Breast Cancer Network of Strength, formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization®, provides immediate emotional relief to anyone affected by breast cancer.

The mission of Breast Cancer Network of Strength is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone.

YourShoes™ is Breast Cancer Network of Strength’s peer support program that includes a 24/7 breast cancer support center staffed by trained breast cancer survivors providing peer support through a toll-free hotline, e-mail and support groups.

The organization raises money to fund YourShoes, outreach programs, breast health awareness workshops, wigs and prostheses banks for women with limited resources, and advocacy on breast cancer related policies.

Caring Connections

Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is a national consumer engagement initiative to improve care at the end of life supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Since 2004, Caring Connections has provided free resources and information to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis and connect them with the resources they need, when they need them.

Colon Cancer Alliance

The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA), founded in 1999, is a national patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer (CRC). CCA is the official patient support partner of Katie Couric's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance. Made up of colon and rectal cancer survivors, caregivers and people with a genetic predisposition to CRC, CCA is committed to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer through patient support, education, research and advocacy. The organization provides educational information free of charge to the public in an ongoing effort to educate men and women of all ages of the importance of early detection and screening. The Colon Cancer Alliance is working to focus more private and public research funding on colorectal cancer and to pass legislation ensuring access to screening. CCA is also working to ensure that more clinical trials are available for those who want them.

Connecting With Seniors

Connecting with Seniors Inc. offers support to those Caregivers who feel alone or overwhelmed, helping them find resources to better cope with the day-to-day care of loved ones. Our goal is to partner with local businesses that provide services to Caregivers and continually assess the needs of Caregivers in order to connect them to the best resources available in the area. Caregiver support programs and informational seminars provide Caregivers easy access to the many local services and events.

Empowering Caregivers

Empowering Caregivers was created to provide a safe, nurturing place for all family caregivers as well as professionals. Expert columns feature well-known individuals in the fields of caregiving, self-help and empowerment. Resources include a monthly newsletter; journal exercises for the Empowering Caregivers Community, providing scheduled chats and forums/message boards; and a caregiver's spotlight, honoring a caregiver each month. The site is an opportunity for all caregivers to move into forgiveness, to heal and open to the most important healing power there is: "LOVE".

Family Caregiver Alliance

Founded in 1977, Family Caregiver Alliance was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. FCA now offers programs at national, state and local levels to support and sustain caregivers. FCA is a public voice for caregivers, illuminating the daily challenges they face, offering them the assistance they so desperately need and deserve, and championing their cause through education, services, research and advocacy.

Geriatric Oncology Consortium

The GOC is a national non-profit organization tasked with the mission to be the premier provider and resource for geriatric oncology research and education, and to fill the urgent need to address cancer treatment in the elderly through a national, community-based program. The GOC also conducts patient and caregiver educational programs to educate and enhance clinical trial participation among older adults with cancer. The GOC also develops and conducts clinical trials designed to optimize cancer therapies for the older adult population. For more information please visit www.thegoc.org.

Gilda's Club Worldwide

Gilda's Club is a cancer support community for men, women and children with any type of cancer, and their family and friends. Membership is offered, free of charge to people at any stage of their experience with cancer from initial diagnosis through long-term survivorship and bereavement. Through participation in support and networking groups, lectures, workshops as well as social events members build social and emotional support and learn to live with cancer - whatever the outcome. There are twenty Gilda's Clubs throughout the US and Canada and seven more in development.

The Healing Project

The Healing Project was founded in 2005 by Debra LaChance, a breast cancer survivor committed to helping others confronted with life-changing illnesses. The Healing Project is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the health and well being of individuals suffering from life-threatening illnesses and chronic diseases, developing resources to enhance the quality of life of such individuals, and assisting the family members and friends who care for them.

Heroes for Children

Heroes for Children is a nonprofit organization providing financial and social assistance to families, within the state of Texas, of children (ages 0-22 years) battling cancer. To date, no request has been denied. Heroes for Children helps families pay for rent, utilities, medical bills, and more. Often, a parent has to leave work to care for their child, which creates financial stress. Our goal is to ease this stress and enable the family to focus on the most important part of treatment - the child. Heroes for Children was founded in memory of Taylor Anne Brewton and Allison Leigh Scott, both of whom were diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Taylor lost her courageous battle at the age of four, while Allie's battle ended before her first birthday. Taylor and Allie's tremendous courage and amazing spirit touched the lives of many in this community and across the country. Taylor and Allie's spirits live on through our organization. For more information either click on the link below, write to Heroes for Children, 1701 North Collins, Suite 240, Richardson, TX 75080, or call us at the numbers listed below.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services. The Society's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Living Beyond Breast Cancer, founded in 1991, is a national nonprofit education and support organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life.

LBBC's programs and services assist women at all stages of diagnosis or treatment. Programs and services include: large-scale interactive conferences; teleconferences; the Survivors' Helpline (888.753.5222), a toll-free information and support line; lbbc.org, an informational website; free quarterly newsletters; publications for medically underserved women; low-cost informational recordings; networking programs; workshops and trainings for healthcare providers; and the Paula A. Seidman Library and Resource Center.

The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT

The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT (TLA) was first established as the Alberta Tuberculosis Association in 1939. During the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, it educated the public about TB, conducted mass chest x-rays and provided rehabilitation services for TB sanatorium patients. Recognized as one of Alberta's oldest health charities, The Lung Association has expanded its initiatives over the years to include education, research and lung health awareness. Today, The Lung Association focuses its efforts and resources on all aspects of lung health including asthma, COPD, flu and infectious diseases, sleep apnea, environmental issues, tobacco control and continued work in TB. They work tirelessly to raise and allocate funds for critical research, advocate in public policy, provide patient support, and be the primary information source for the lung health of all.

National Alliance for Caregiving

Since 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving has provided a forum for opinion leaders to work together, on behalf of family caregivers, to find solutions to the complex challenges they face in caring for a loved one who needs hands-on assistance. Through its pioneering research and collaborative programs, innovative approach to problem solving, and expertise in the core issues, the Alliance has earned the trust of professionals, policy makers, the media, and consumers in the United States and around the world.

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

NCCS is the oldest survivor-led cancer advocacy organization in the country and a highly respected authentic voice at the federal level, advocating for quality cancer care for all Americans and empowering cancer survivors. NCCS believes in evidence-based advocacy for systemic changes at the federal level in how the nation researches, regulates, finances, and delivers quality cancer care. In 2004, NCCS launched Cancer Advocacy Now!(tm), a legislative advocacy network that seeks to involve constituents from across the country in federal cancer-related issues. Patient education is also a priority for NCCS. We believe that access to credible and accurate patient information, such as NCCS's award-winning Cancer Survival Toolbox(r), is key to demanding and receiving quality cancer care.

National Family Caregivers Association

National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) empowers family caregivers to take action that will improve their life and the life of their loved one by providing them with support, education, and a public voice. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships and life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all those who care for a loved one with a chronic illness, disability, or the frailties of old age.

National Health Council

The National Health Council is the only organization of its kind that brings together all segments of the health care community to provide a united voice for the more than 133 million people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers. Made up of more than 100 national health-related organizations, its core membership includes 50 of the nation’s leading patient advocacy groups. Other members include professional and membership associations, nonprofit organizations with an interest in health, and major pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology companies. The National Health Council brings together diverse stakeholders within the health community to work for health care that meets the personal needs and goals of people with chronic diseases and disabilities.

National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., a major voluntary health organization, seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.

National Marrow Donor Program

National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) connects people who need a life-saving bone marrow or cord blood transplant with the doctors, donors and information they need to help them live longer and healthier lives by:

* identifying volunteer donors and cord blood units for patients,
* providing resources and education to patients and their doctors, and
* improving patient transplant outcomes through innovative science.

National Marrow Donor Program Office of Patient Advocacy (OPA) assists patients, families and health professionals by providing free one-on-one support, financial resources and transplant education. Patient information for adults and children is available in several languages and formats.

National MS Society

The mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to end the devastating effects of MS. Founded in 1946, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society offers more services for people with MS, supports more MS research, provides more professional education programs, and furthers more MS advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world. For more information or to contact your local chapter call 1-800-FIGHT MS (800-344-4867) or visit www.nationalmssociety.org.

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Every day, women, families and friends concerned about a diagnosis of ovarian cancer turn to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition for reliable information. Through the services of NOCC, they learn of the importance of early detection, of the various treatment options, about the most current research findings, clinical trials and where to go for help. Program activities are carried out in local communities nationwide by a growing grassroots network of committed volunteers organized into licensed Divisions across the US. With millions of contacts from consumers annually, the Coalition strives nationally to advance a mission of education, awareness, advocacy and support.

National Stroke Association

National Stroke Association is the only national organization in the United States that focuses 100% of its efforts on stroke. NSA achieves its mission to lower the incidence and impact of stroke by developing compelling community outreach programs, calling for continued improvement in the quality of stroke patient care, and educating both healthcare professionals and the general public about stroke. Established in 1984, NSA has never lost sight of its vision to reach as many individuals as possible and be a beacon of hope for stroke survivors.

Project Compassion

Project Compassion creates community and provides support for people living with serious illness, caregiving, end of life and grief in the Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. Through Support Teams, Project Compassion's volunteers provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support for people who need help with caregiving so individuals and families will not have to cope alone. Project Compassion offers team members, leaders, and coaches the orientation, continuing education, coaching, leadership training and support they need to sustain this effort over the long haul. Since 2002, 100 Support Teams with 825 volunteers have provided over 20,000 hours of volunteer support for 300 individuals. Since 2003, Project Compassion has assisted organizations across the country with creating caregiving Support Team initiatives.

Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) was established in 1987 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia in honor of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. RCI works to establish local, state and national partnerships committed to building more effective long-term care systems and providing greater recognition and support for America's unsung heroes - the millions of caregivers, both family and professional, who provide us all with models of selfless service and hope for the future.

Stephanie Robinson Foundation

The Stephanie Robinson Foundation is committed to helping make a difference in the lives of leukemia/lymphoma patients and their caregivers. We make that difference by focusing our efforts in five key areas. These areas include:

Planning - getting organized / minimizing distraction, keeping the focus on matters of the heart, mind and soul;
Emotional Support - creating a support team and a way of communicating with friends and family;
Inspiration - stories, songs, books to encourage / inspire / maintain a strong mental state;
Resources - helpful website links for educating patients / caregivers to other resources that may be helpful;
Financial Support - monetary grants to help with necessary living expenses.

Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association

ThyCa:Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association is a national nonprofit organization of thyroid cancer survivors, caregivers and health care professionals, advised by thyroid cancer specialists. ThyCa educates and supports patients and families through our award winning web site, support groups, person-to-person support, newsletters, downloadable low-iodine cookbook, other materials in English and Spanish, workshops, and the Annual International Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Conference. ThyCa also sponsors year-round awareness programs for early detection, Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, and thyroid cancer research funds and research grants.

Well Spouse Association

The Well Spouse Association is a national, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that offers support to spouses or partners of people with chronic illness and/or disability. The WSA has support groups in local areas, and also offers a quarterly newsletter, Mainstay, as well as mentoring, respite weekends and an annual national conference. All these are available for WSA members who pay their annual dues. In addition we host the Online WSA Forum on our website, which does not cost anything to join, whether or not you are a member.

Young Survival Coalition

The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the only international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 and under. The YSC also serves as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer.

Unlike their post-menopausal counterparts, young women diagnosed with breast cancer face higher mortality rates, fertility issues and the possibility and ramifications of early menopause. The YSC seeks to change the face of breast cancer by: advocating to increase the number of studies about young women and breast cancer; educating young women about the importance of breast self-examination and early detection; and being a point of contact for other young women with breast cancer.

The YSC seeks to improve the quality and quantity of life of all young women affected by breast cancer.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and ranks third in National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals nationwide. BIDMC is clinically affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center and is a research partner of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox. For more information, visit www.bidmc.harvard.edu.

CarePages

CarePages are free, easy-to-use Web pages that help family and friends communicate when a loved one is receiving care. It takes just a few minutes to create a CarePage, share it with friends and family, and build a community of support.

CarePages help Families:
   *  Create a virtual meeting place on the web
   *  Share news and photos as often as needed
   *  Receive emotional support during a time of need

American Health Assistance Foundation

The American Health Assistance Foundation is a non-profit organization that funds research seeking cures for Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma, and provides the public with information about risk factors, preventative lifestyles, available treatments and coping strategies.