Two Washington, DC-based organizations, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts and Touch4life, were selected in the Fall of 2024 as ASTRO’s Survivor Circle grant winners. For over 20 years, the grant has been awarded annually to selected organizations for the services they provide to cancer patients, their families and caregivers, in the state or region hosting ASTRO’s Annual Meeting. The two organizations each received a grant of $12,500 and were recognized at the 66th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, last year. Recently, both organizations updated ASTRO on how they employed the grants to deepen their impact.
Smith Center for Healing and the Arts
Smith Center for Healing and the Arts used the grant to bolster their support programs that serve hundreds of cancer patients and caregivers undergoing treatment for cancer. Due to the tremendous needs of their community, they expensed the full grant award by the end of April 2025. The grant provided support for groups including Black women with breast cancer, young adults with cancer, LGBTQ cancer survivors, and those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Over the 2024 calendar year, the center’s cancer support programs served 1,000 unique individuals through 6,875 visits — a 23% increase over the prior year’s attendance. Attendees consistently rate the programs and facilitators very highly and overwhelmingly report that these programs increase their knowledge and skills, help them on their cancer journey, and facilitate a deeper community connection.
The Smith Center’s two-to-ten-week program series for small groups (8–20 participants) are consistently in high demand, often filling to capacity. In 2024 and continuing into 2025, programs included Mind Body Stress Reduction (MBSR), Survivorship 101, Holistic Pain Management, Mind Over Matter, Meaning-Centered Group, Facing Fatigue: Coping with Cancer-Related and Chronic Fatigue, SC Writes, and Grieving Together. This year, several new programs were offered including Advancing Antiracist Patient Engagement in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, Ancient Sound Healing, Talking with Kids About Cancer, Brain Health, Navigating the Cost of Breast Cancer, Whole Person Care, Tools for Adversity, and Spiritual Life Review.
With community partners, essential support has been made available to the populations they serve. Social activities unrelated to cancer but within a compassionate community have been especially valuable. Hosting several social gatherings this year has been a highlight.
Testimonials from Cancer Support Program participants include:
"That was so amazing. Thanks much for hosting and creating the space I definitely needed tonight! Appreciate the affirmations and validations I received. I haven’t been able to feel the “look forward” emotion for a while (I think from having had to cancel so many things last year that I was excited about and now just not trusting that it won’t again be taken away, just kinda numb there for now.), but I am grateful to have the opportunity next month to be in this space again." - Young Adult Cancer Survivor Group Participant
“Through the programming offered by the Smith Center (all free of charge/donation-based), I have begun writing for pleasure again and have subsequently found a cancer support group that doesn't make me feel like a cancer patient." - Creativity Program Participant
Touch4life
Touch4Life applied the Survivor Circle grant toward the successful integration of a Volunteer Coordination and Supervision program into operations. This strategic initiative significantly enhanced capacity to support a wider array of activities, fostering a more diverse environment for participants. The implementation of this program not only streamlined volunteer management but also created a robust framework for volunteer supervision. This synergy has played a crucial role in promoting increased engagement and participation among volunteers and participants alike.
The initiative began with the implementation of PointApp, including setup and training for the team, a new tool that has been instrumental in streamlining the onboarding process for volunteers. By leveraging this technology, volunteers have a positive and engaging experience from the outset. Currently, approximately 47% of volunteers are actively engaged in various activities. The integration of skilled volunteers has been instrumental in allowing Touch4Life to expand its offerings, subsequently enhancing the health intelligence (HealthIQ) of participants. With more diverse activities available, participants benefit from a broader range of knowledge and resources, fostering improved health outcomes and community wellness. Each volunteer contributed an average of eight hours of service during the term of this initiative, demonstrating a robust commitment to Touch4life’s mission. This engagement not only empowers initiatives but also enhances the overall impact on the community.
Strategic investment in Volunteer Coordination, Supervision and Tracking through the PointApp has yielded impressive results in volunteer engagement and economic impact. Touch4life is optimistic that these enhancements will continue to strengthen their mission and improve community outcomes for all participants. The formalization and scheduling of a volunteer framework resulted in Touch4Life realizing a $5k+ saving in expenditures. This figure underscores the significant value that volunteers bring to Touch4Life and the importance of ongoing investment in volunteer management systems.
Touch4life’s efforts have fostered interactive connections with volunteers and community members through hands-on activities tailored to meet cultural sensitivities. They have actively collaborated with diverse community groups to ensure an approach that is culturally appropriate and directly relevant. By scheduling visits to local events or inviting community members to participate in programs, they create a reciprocal relationship that enhances engagement. Additionally, they distribute informative handouts that community members can share, amplifying reach and impact.
Community engagement activities like health fairs have yielded significant success. The hands-on approach has effectively disseminated key information about breast health, genetic factors and overall wellness, significantly elevating the HealthIQ of women in the communities they serve.
The grant funds facilitated essential community engagement efforts, resulting in increased awareness and advocacy for health resources. Touch4Life remains committed to employing a multifaceted approach to foster a network of informed individuals who can champion health advocacy within their communities.
The Survivor Circle grant has allowed these two impactful organizations to meet needs of specific population groups who face challenges with a cancer diagnosis on top of that. As ASTRO brings its Annual Meeting to Boston this fall, we encourage cancer support organizations in the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island to consider applying. Applications are now open and due April 17, 2026.
If you enjoyed these testimonials, read further to learn more about the 2025 Survivor Circle grant recipients, based in California, and be encouraged by the work that Carter’s Foundation and Latinas Contra Cancer are doing in Riverside and San Jose, California, respectively.
