Arizona nonprofits receive grants from Community Thrives
Sue Della Maddalena was 31 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer.
She wasn’t supposed to survive. Doctors said she had less than a 10 percent chance of survival after the cancer spread to her spine. That was more than 20 years ago.
“I should statistically be dead,” she said. “The two things that made it possible for me to be here today are, I had very good medical care and the Cancer Support Community.”
Phoenix’s Cancer Support Community was one of seven Arizona nonprofits that received grants from A Community Thrives. The grants were awarded by the USA TODAY NETWORK, of which The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com are a part.
This year, A Community Thrives granted $2 million to support 136 organizations in 92 cities across the country, and an additional $2 million-plus was crowdfunded to support 1,525 participating organizations. In Arizona, more than $130,000 was awarded.
Other organizations that received grants were:
❚ Alwun House Foundation received $30,000 after pitching a Green Art Park for downtown Phoenix’s Garfield neighborhood as a green space and place for musicians and artists to perform.
❚ Liberty Wildlife, which will use $20,000 to help hire a person to manage its unique feather repository program.
❚ Raising Hope Dogs will use $10,000 to support its mission of providing comfort animals to low-income families living with autism.
❚ The Gilbert Historical Society receives $10,000 to help with ongoing efforts to rebrand downtown Gilbert as an entertainment and dining destination.
❚ Musica Nova Orchestra received $8,000 in support of its efforts to provide access to musical performances to low-income students.
❚ St. Dominic Savio Academy in Chandler, which helps children with autism from the time of diagnosis to young adulthood. The group received $3,000.
The money given to the Cancer Support Community will fund its Survivorship on the Go program, which includes a mobile vehicle for support groups, workshops and wellness classes.
The group is in the process of finding the right vehicle for the program and raising funds to prepare it for the road.
“We are working with several dealerships to source a van or RV that meets our needs and will be the right fit for participants,” said CEO Debbie DiCarlo. “We are simultaneously raising additional funds; the project has a wide scope and will be permanent, so we need a lot of support.”
Maddelena helped found Arizona’s branch of the National Cancer Support Community organization. Locally and nationally, the group offers yoga, support groups, meditation, education and family-friendly events for cancer patients and survivors.
“So much of what we do helps to eliminate stress, anxiety, and depression but it also helps to eliminate symptoms,” said DiCarlo.
Said Maddelena: “What this organization does is create a sense of community for you. You can come and talk about what’s going on with you very openly and honestly and you’re given tools to help you in your fight for recovery.”
The application period for 2020 grants is expected to begin early next year. Read more about A Community Thrives at www.act.usatoday.com.