Special Love has gathered additional resources to help families find the support and assistance they need during their child’s cancer journey.
These resources are support for everyone affected by the cancer journey. This means the child, the siblings, the parents and the family. They include financial support, emotional support, trips, events, and more.
If you don’t see a resource here that you would be helpful, please click here.
If you would like to request an update on one of the resources, please click here.
Local (VA & MD) Special Love Partner Resources:
A Kid Again
Location: Everywhere, (regional)
Provide adventures that are fun, accessible, stress-free outings for families raising a child with a life-threatening condition. They are held at destinations like theme parks, sporting events, entertainment centers, and museums, and everything is provided: admission, food, and parking.
Abby’s Legacy Foundation
Provides financial support to families for housing, medical expenses, travel, end-of-life support, gift cards.
Ask Childhood Care Foundation
Location: VA
Provide financial assistance only for those receiving treatment in certain VA hospitals; Education Support Navigators for those residing in VA; Summer Camps; Social Events; Provide support to Young Adult Survivors-education, college, employment and retreats.
Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation
Locations: DC, MD, VA
Provide respite stays in Ocean City, DE, and NC (beach and mountain) for families in treatment. These getaways also include gift certificates, coupons, and passes to nearby restaurants, stores, arcades, etc. to enjoy during your stay. They believe that the gentle cadence of normal family life has a powerful influence on the healing process.
Casey Cares Foundation
Location: MD
Casey Cares provides family activities, financial assistance, care packages, birthday gifts. Their signature program is providing PJs to patients at local hospitals. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Casey Cares is a non-profit that works with families in eight states throughout the Mid-Atlantic, parts of the Midwest, Florida, and in Washington, D.C.
Claire Parker Foundation
Provides care boxes for inpatients and also bereavement support and financial assistance.
Cool Kids Campaign
Location: MD
Provide fun events and programs for families; Offer tutoring for kids; Onsite club in Towson, MD where families can connect. Monthly movie nights. Smile boxes. Holiday events. Vacation condos for getaways.
DC Candlelighters
Location: DC, MD, VA
DC Candlelighters is an all-volunteer organization providing emotional, educational, practical, and financial support to families of children fighting cancer. They provide various activities like Bingo, Teas, Spa Day, Game Day, etc. for families living within 50-mile radius of Washington, DC.
Ellie’s Hats
Provides care packages of hats and other items. Also provides financial assistance for housing, utilities, transportation.
Hogfarmers Charitable Foundation
Location: DC, MD
Provide financial assistance, visits in the hospital, toys, games, etc.
Hope Faster
Location: VA
Provides an avenue for a sports team to raise funds for child diagnosed with cancer.
HopeCam
Location: Reston, VA
Using the technology of tablet computers, web cameras and high-speed Internet connections, Hopecam connects these children helping to overcome their social isolation. We provide equipment, IT support and work with the school to secure and facilitate their participation.
Ishan Gala Foundation
Location: VA
Provide financial assistance for families. Offer gifts and assistance during holidays. Birthday gifts, care packages, and milestone gifts.
Life with Cancer
Location: VA
Life with Cancer helps you meet the challenges of living with cancer by providing you and your loved ones with education, information, and support, free of charge, no matter where you live or receive treatment. Includes virtual options too.
Mattie Miracle Foundation
Location: DC, MD
Provides grants to families for psychosocial support. Also, small grant program to families for special family outings.
Momcology Group
Location: DC, MD, VA.
An online support group where you can share information about your situation and receive support from other moms.
Our Amazing Fighters
Location: VA
Provide programs for families, such as meals, free babysitting, and more. They also offer gift box (personalized), blankets, end of chemo parties, Christmas gifts, getaways and financial assistances.
Roc Solid Foundation
Location: VA
Provide “ready bags” for families with items needed during hospital stays. Provide backyard playground equipment.
Sweet Julia Grace Foundation
Location: VA, WV
This non-profit helps to fill in the gaps, grant wishes, and meet non-medical needs for children who are seriously ill, have special needs, or are in a medical crisis. They provide financial assistance, iPads, provide meals for families via UberEats, aquatic therapy, all tertian wheelchair, and family gatherings.
Team Mathias
Location: VA
Provides care packages, events, and supports for families in VA.
The Truth 365
Location: VA
The Truth 365 is the Emmy Award-winning documentary and social media campaign that gives a voice to children fighting cancer and their families. It was launched in 2012 by the Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation in collaboration with several childhood cancer foundations, families, and advocates.
Yellow Door Foundation
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Yellow Door was born to provide free, long-term “sanctuary” lodging for the families of pediatric patients undergoing cancer and transplant treatment at UVA Children’s hospital. Our single-family apartments offer families convenient, comfortable “homes” as they fight to maintain as normal a life as possible when confronting severe pediatric illness.
Wolfpack
Wolfpack provides financial assistance to help with housing, medical bills, food and transportation.
A Kid Again
Location: Everywhere, (regional)
Provide adventures that are fun, accessible, stress-free outings for families raising a child with a life-threatening condition. They are held at destinations like theme parks, sporting events, entertainment centers, and museums, and everything is provided: admission, food, and parking.
Abby’s Legacy Foundation
Provides financial support to families for housing, medical expenses, travel, end-of-life support, gift cards.
Ask Childhood Care Foundation
Location: VA
Provide financial assistance only for those receiving treatment in certain VA hospitals; Education Support Navigators for those residing in VA; Summer Camps; Social Events; Provide support to Young Adult Survivors-education, college, employment and retreats.
Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation
Locations: DC, MD, VA
Provide respite stays in Ocean City, DE, and NC (beach and mountain) for families in treatment. These getaways also include gift certificates, coupons, and passes to nearby restaurants, stores, arcades, etc. to enjoy during your stay. They believe that the gentle cadence of normal family life has a powerful influence on the healing process.
Casey Cares Foundation
Location: MD
Casey Cares provides family activities, financial assistance, care packages, birthday gifts. Their signature program is providing PJs to patients at local hospitals. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Casey Cares is a non-profit that works with families in eight states throughout the Mid-Atlantic, parts of the Midwest, Florida, and in Washington, D.C.
Claire Parker Foundation
Provides care boxes for inpatients and also bereavement support and financial assistance.
Cool Kids Campaign
Location: MD
Provide fun events and programs for families; Offer tutoring for kids; Onsite club in Towson, MD where families can connect. Monthly movie nights. Smile boxes. Holiday events. Vacation condos for getaways.
DC Candlelighters
Location: DC, MD, VA
DC Candlelighters is an all-volunteer organization providing emotional, educational, practical, and financial support to families of children fighting cancer. They provide various activities like Bingo, Teas, Spa Day, Game Day, etc. for families living within 50-mile radius of Washington, DC.
Ellie’s Hats
Provides care packages of hats and other items. Also provides financial assistance for housing, utilities, transportation.
Hogfarmers Charitable Foundation
Location: DC, MD
Provide financial assistance, visits in the hospital, toys, games, etc.
Hope Faster
Location: VA
Provides an avenue for a sports team to raise funds for child diagnosed with cancer.
HopeCam
Location: Reston, VA
Using the technology of tablet computers, web cameras and high-speed Internet connections, Hopecam connects these children helping to overcome their social isolation. We provide equipment, IT support and work with the school to secure and facilitate their participation.
Ishan Gala Foundation
Location: VA
Provide financial assistance for families. Offer gifts and assistance during holidays. Birthday gifts, care packages, and milestone gifts.
Life with Cancer
Location: VA
Life with Cancer helps you meet the challenges of living with cancer by providing you and your loved ones with education, information, and support, free of charge, no matter where you live or receive treatment. Includes virtual options too.
Mattie Miracle Foundation
Location: DC, MD
Provides grants to families for psychosocial support. Also, small grant program to families for special family outings.
Momcology Group
Location: DC, MD, VA.
An online support group where you can share information about your situation and receive support from other moms.
Our Amazing Fighters
Location: VA
Provide programs for families, such as meals, free babysitting, and more. They also offer gift box (personalized), blankets, end of chemo parties, Christmas gifts, getaways and financial assistances.
Roc Solid Foundation
Location: VA
Provide “ready bags” for families with items needed during hospital stays. Provide backyard playground equipment.
Sweet Julia Grace Foundation
Location: VA, WV
This non-profit helps to fill in the gaps, grant wishes, and meet non-medical needs for children who are seriously ill, have special needs, or are in a medical crisis. They provide financial assistance, iPads, provide meals for families via UberEats, aquatic therapy, all tertian wheelchair, and family gatherings.
Team Mathias
Location: VA
Provides care packages, events, and supports for families in VA.
The Truth 365
Location: VA
The Truth 365 is the Emmy Award-winning documentary and social media campaign that gives a voice to children fighting cancer and their families. It was launched in 2012 by the Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation in collaboration with several childhood cancer foundations, families, and advocates.
Yellow Door Foundation
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Yellow Door was born to provide free, long-term “sanctuary” lodging for the families of pediatric patients undergoing cancer and transplant treatment at UVA Children’s hospital. Our single-family apartments offer families convenient, comfortable “homes” as they fight to maintain as normal a life as possible when confronting severe pediatric illness.
Wolfpack
Wolfpack provides financial assistance to help with housing, medical bills, food and transportation.
Financial Assistance:
Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation
The Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation, founded in 1992, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for cancer and transplant patients and their families by providing vital financial assistance, comprehensive resources, educational information, physician referrals, and emotional support programs.
B+ Foundation
B+ has four areas of focus: financial assistance, childhood cancer research, awareness and spreading positivity. They also provide a School Re-Entry guide in English and Spanish. As well as peer support groups and school support services. Financial assistance requires information from a social worker.
HealthWell Foundation
HealthWell Foundation is a leading non-profit dedicated to improving access to care for America’s underinsured. When health insurance is not enough, they fill the gap by assisting with copays, premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Just TRyan It
Just TRyan It works directly with pediatric oncology social workers at our area hospitals to provide families in cancer treatment with financial assistance, education and navigation. Their grants are paid directly to a family’s vendor (the mortgage company, landlord, utility, etc) within a 24-48 hour period of time.
National Children’s Cancer Fund
They offer a wide selection of resources with some tailored for survivors/young adults. The Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program offers funding for college. Offer a helpful tool to assess late term effects of treatment for long-term survivors. Resource list of long-term follow up clinics (nationwide). They also help alleviate the financial burden of travel and lodging for families who have a child with cancer.
Pinky Swear
Pinky Swear’s mission is to help kids with cancer and their families with financial and emotional support.
Patient Advocacy Foundation
PAF is a non-profit that provides direct case management services and financial assistance to patients and caregivers. These include helping people navigate the health care system, working with health care providers, payers, and employers to assure that patients have access to affordable care, financial and co-pay assistance and teaching self-advocacy to patients and caregivers.
Rally Foundation
They work on providing financial emergency assistance. Their funds are issued by a grant program with a lifetime cap of $750. Funds will be used to cover patient’s cancer related medical bills or other family costs related to treatment (i.e.: utilities, mortgage, rent, transitional housing, etc.). Also, have the Rally Kids Program: Rally Kids will have many special opportunities like professional sports games, participating in our signature events and being a spokesperson for childhood cancer.
Ski Fast Foundation
This support is designed to financially support sarcoma warriors as they strive to return to their pre-diagnosis extracurricular passions in either sports, the arts, music, science, etc, both during and post-treatment. The purpose of the financial support is to assist the warriors’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being by enabling them to achieve their future goals whether it be through attending sports or academic camps, planning travel for study or competition, or through personal trainers, tutors, teachers or specialized programs that target their goals. This fund may also be used for applicants needing prosthetic or specialized equipment.
The Ruth Cheatham Foundation
The foundation provides scholarships to survivors. In addition, every TRCF scholar has access to subject-specific online tutoring, survivor support groups, Support Boxes for school, Care and Comfort Kits, and career readiness workshops. Each of these support programs helps to combat the long-term effects of this devastating disease!
Nationwide Resource Portals
Provides free comprehensive support to pediatric cancer families through through mental, behavioral, educational, and social services. Wesbite has a comprehensive resource guide of services including education, financial, transportation, etc. However, the foundation does NOT have programs at our local area hospitals.
This is a one stop shop of resources for Survivorship issues, created by patients, caregivers and professionals. Currently working on an update of 150+ more resource links to be added end of year 2025.
Professional oncology social workers provide free emotional and practical support for people with cancer, caregivers, loved ones and the bereaved. Provides counseling, resource navigation, educational workshops, financial assistance and publications.
Cancer Support Community
This global network of 175 locations includes CSC and Gilda’s Club centers, health-care partnerships, and satellite locations that deliver more than $50 million in free support services to patients and families. Provides free online/chat and phone support; Offers a Pediatric Online Navigator tailored to children with cancer and their caregivers to assist with resources, programs, and financial assistance.
The Childhood Cancer Better Together Portal
Better Together is a searchable website focused on the needs and challenges of childhood cancer survivors. Serves as a starting point for families.
Provides a searchable website of various organizations that provide support for childhood cancer.
Peer Mentor Reference:
Cancer Hope Network provides highly personalized and supportive connections at any point in your cancer journey. By connecting you and you loved ones with trained peer mentors who’ve walked a similar path and are ready to offer support, encouragement, and understanding.
The Patches of Positivity Program delivers monthly patches, cards, and animations to children, teens battling cancer and their siblings throughout the year, offering ongoing love and support. This consistent outreach serves as a reminder to Warriors and their families that they are never alone.
Zach’s Bridge connects trained peers with caregivers to guide and provide curated resources, thoughtful conversation and shared experiences for advanced and bereaved pediatric cancer parents and caregivers. Their goal is to ease the journey and give the entire family comfort and time to focus on what truly matters to them.
Support:
Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network
The Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network provides answers, advice, and a caring companion throughout your transplant journey. Their website includes extensive information about what to expect before, during and after a transplant.
CancerConnect
The CancerConnect Community is a fully moderated, peer-to-peer support group for cancer patients and caregivers. Connect with other patients in your community and from leading cancer centers to learn, share information, and support each other.
Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation
Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation’s mission is to improve the treatment, quality of life, and long-term outlook for children and families affected by a brain or spinal cord tumor. CBTF offers monthly online chats for caregivers, brain tumor survivors, and for bereaved caregivers. These chats are moderated by CBTF social workers but topics follow the needs expressed by the families and survivors who join them.
Imerman Angels
Imerman Angels partners individuals seeking cancer support with a “Mentor Angel.” These one–on–one relationships inspire hope and offer the chance to ask personal questions and receive support from someone who is uniquely familiar with the experience. They help navigate the system, determine the family’s options, and create their own support systems. Support is also provided to those who have lost someone to cancer and is looking to speak to someone who has had the same experience. All Mentor Angels are properly screened and trained.
Jesse Rees Foundation
NEGU connects with families, brings awareness to their stories, offers them a network of helpful resources, and sends the entire family encouragement throughout their journey. ClubNEGU is free for all Courageous Kids, their Super Sibs and parents. Each ClubNEGU family receives fun boosts of hope, joy, and love each month. They also have access to our free smart phone app iNEGU, national resource guide, and get their story shared on social media.
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
PEATC empowers families and individuals with disabilities through education, training, and helpful resources for IEP/504/working with schools. They accomplish this by offering services and support for families and professionals, research-based information and training, opportunities for strategic partnerships, and advocacy for systemic improvement. The overall goal for supporting families is to maximize their capacity, strengths and unique abilities.
Basic Resources:
ALSF is a nationwide childhood cancer foundation that aims to change lives of children with cancer by providing funding for research as well as raising awareness and supporting families. They provide funding or: travel for treatment, sibling support (a mail program that sends age-appropriate mailings to siblings over a two-year period), a free photography in hospitals, a treatment journal, and clinical trials navigation.
Caring Bridge
Caring Bridge is an online tool to help you stay in contact with friends and family through an online journaling program. Their website allows you to share news quickly and easily, while ensuring that your privacy is always protected. They also provide a planner that helps loved ones coordinate care and organize daily tasks, such as bringing a meal, taking care of pets or driving to appointments. Keep your loved ones updated on your child’s journey.
Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA)
Provides a search tool to locate camps for pediatric cancer patients, siblings and families. Includes over 137 member camps in the U.S. and Canada.
Ronald McDonald House
RMHC provides essential services (such as housing & transportation) for families with children being treated in the hospital. RMHC removes barriers, strengthens families and promotes healing by keeping families with sick children together and near the care they need. Local locations are near Children’s National in Washington, DC and Inova Children’s. Must get referral from social worker.
Support Now
Support Now provides an all-in-one platform to manage fundraising, meals, support services, and communication. There is no cost and 100% of donated funds goes to the receipt. Through a single online experience, supporters can direct their compassion in meaningful ways. Think of it as CaringBridge + MealTrains+GoFundMe and more!
Triage Cancer
Triage Cancer® is a national, non-profit organization that provides free education on legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, through events, materials, and resources. The Legal & Financial Navigation Program offers one-on-one help with issues such as work, health and disability insurance, finances, and estate planning. Cancer Finances is an online toolkit to help people manage finances after a cancer diagnosis.