Last fall, at the 67th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, two California-based organizations, Latinas Contra Cancer and Carter’s Foundation were each awarded the Survivor Circle Grant for $12,500. These two special organizations enthusiastically shared how they have used the grant to support their missions thus far.

Based in Santa Clara, California, Latinas Contra Cancer (LCC) oversees a Patient Navigation and Patient Emergency Fund Program, actively operating and serving community members of Santa Clara County facing cancer diagnoses and related health challenges.

LCC’s Patient Navigation program currently supports a full client load, providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services in Spanish and English. Services include:

• Support with emergency screenings and appointment scheduling (exams, mammograms, Pap tests, HPV screenings, and other cancer-related screenings
• Translation and accompaniment at medical appointments
• Case management, navigation of financial assistance and free or low-cost health services
• Support of related social determinants of health including housing and food access

Demand continues to grow, reflecting both the increasing need in the community and the trust LCC has established over its 22+ years of service. The program is operating at full capacity, with new clients requesting services.

The Patient Emergency Fund provides small emergency grants to low-income clients facing critical needs. Fund usage to date includes support for transportation to medical appointments, funeral expenses, medical devices/clothes and crisis support. The program serves as a critical point of entry for members of the Latinx community facing significant barriers to accessing healthcare, including language gaps, lack of insurance, limited income, lack of transportation, food insecurity, fear of deportation, and limited experience navigating health and social service systems. Compounding the stress, the rapidly evolving Medi-Cal landscape, including enrollment freezes, dental coverage reductions, and upcoming premium requirements, is increasing client anxiety and the complexity of navigation support needed.

LCC’s team is actively working to educate clients and community members about these changes to help them protect and maintain their coverage. Their outreach approach remains community-rooted and culturally responsive. Staff and promotoras, vetted peers from similar backgrounds to those of LCC clients, engage clients through community events, health education sessions, and one-on-one navigation support. The program operates in both Spanish and English, ensuring accessibility for the populations most in need.

Growing community trust and demand for LCC services in the current environment present an opportunity to deepen impact and expand reach across Santa Clara County, with LCC acting as a leading resource for healthcare navigation among immigrant and low-income Latinx families. Continued partnerships with nonprofits, schools, churches, healthcare systems, and government entities support LCC's capacity to reach more community members.

• Increase cancer screening rates among uninsured and underinsured Latinx community members
• Improve treatment adherence and completion for cancer patients facing social and financial barriers
• Reduce emergency room utilization by connecting clients to preventive care and early detection resources
• Strengthen community trust in the healthcare system through culturally responsive, peer-based navigation
• Support clients in maintaining stable housing, food access, and financial resources during cancer treatment, factors directly linked to health outcomes

By providing culturally and linguistically appropriate navigation, LCC helps clients, many of whom have no primary care doctor, limited English proficiency, and little experience navigating health systems, access life-saving cancer screenings, treatment and survivorship support. Together, the Patient Navigation and Patient Emergency Fund Programs play a vital and measurable role in reducing health disparities among Latinx families in Santa Clara County.

The Survivor Circle grant helped Carter’s Foundation provide meaningful, practical support to children and families facing pediatric cancer and other serious medical challenges. Since last fall, the ASTRO grant has been instrumental in supporting two of Carter’s Foundation’s core direct-service programs: the Spotlight Kids Program and the Parent Pack Program.

Of the grant, 30% was allocated to the Parent Pack Program, and this portion has been fully utilized for this funding cycle. With the help of ASTRO funding, along with Carter’s Foundation reserve funds, the organization assembled 1,300 Parent Packs for the year to serve families during hospital stays. These packs include practical essentials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, and other caregiver comfort items. The production was intentionally front-loaded to ensure a full year’s worth of inventory. This allowed the Foundation to complete a major in-house volunteer assembly initiative and ensure consistent community outreach through hospital distributions throughout the year.

Spotlight Kid Courtney received a personalized Spotlight Kid package from Carter's Foundation

The remainder of the grant (70%) has gone toward the Spotlight Kids Program, and is actively ongoing. To date, the organization has spent close to $1700 toward personalized gifts, special items, and shipping costs for children in treatment through our Spotlight Kids Program, with $7000 allocated to continue serving additional children through the fall. The program continues to directly support community outreach through individualized care packages and experiences tailored to each child’s interests, age and circumstances. Purchases to date have included personalized toys, books, crafts, sensory items, blankets, clothing, along with shipping costs. These purchases directly support individualized Spotlight Kid care packages and special moments designed around each child’s interests and needs.

The Survivor Circle grant will continue to have a meaningful and deeply personal impact on the families served. Through the Parent Pack Program, caregivers of children in the hospital have received basic comfort and hygiene essentials during one of the most stressful periods of their lives. These items may seem small, but they help parents feel more prepared, supported, and cared for while focusing on their child’s treatment. This funding has expanded Carter’s Foundation’s ability to support families across multiple hospital interactions and admissions. The Spotlight Kids Program contributes to moments of joy, normalcy and encouragement for children undergoing treatment. Because each Spotlight Kid package is personalized, the impact goes beyond material gifts – it shows each child and family that they are seen, known, and cared for as individuals.

Carter’s Foundation believes that remaining grant funds will allow them to continue serving additional children through the coming months and broaden the reach of their programs. Overall, Carter’s Foundation has been able to strengthen both practical support for caregivers and emotional support for children battling cancer, by creating a more compassionate community response for families navigating pediatric cancer and serious illness.

Just as these two organizations have shared, ASTRO hopes that Survivor Circle Grants will continue to enable other organizations to expand and deepen their reach. This year specifically, ASTRO invited organizations in areas surrounding Boston, including the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut to apply. Winners will be awarded during the Annual Meeting taking place September 26-30, 2026.