Family Grant Program

Family Grant Program is sponsored by Runway for Recovery. Offers financial and logistical support to families affected by breast cancer, including assistance with alternative healing, education, and other needs.

Family Grants - Runway for Recovery We come in when the "new normal" sets in. The Runway for Recovery Family Grant Program aims to help reduce the financial and logistical burdens of a cancer diagnosis and bolster families with psychological, social, and financial support. Our goal is to provide a continuum of support and help redefine a family's experience with a breast cancer diagnosis or loss.

We are committed to being flexible with families in order to address their specific needs. Our family grant application is currently closed. Our process will reopen on January 1.

Frequently Asked Questions You are eligible to apply for a regular cycle Runway for Recovery Family Grant if you reside in New England or Southern California (L. A. or Orange counties only), and you have had a parent pass away from breast cancer and/or are the caregiver for a child/children who lost a parent to breast cancer.

In addition, if you are a patient living with stage IV, metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and your family needs help with funding, you are also now eligible to apply to our program. We have special partnerships with Dana Farber, The Ellie Fund, The Joe Andruzzi Foundation, EmpowerHer, and The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange, CA.

Please be in touch with your social worker if your family is associated with any of the hospitals or organizations listed, and they will help you complete the application. Who Does Runway Fund?

Expand The best candidates for funding from Runway for Recovery are individuals who can make a clear and direct connection between their current financial and emotional difficulties, and their experience with losing a loved one to breast cancer or the impact of living with MBC. If you are not sure whether or not you would be a good candidate for funding, please email your specific questions to runway@runwayforrecovery.

org and we would be happy to give you feedback about whether it is appropriate for you to apply. If you have limited internet access, you may call our office at 978-255-4730.

Good candidates for a Runway for Recovery grant fit most of all of the below criteria: Live in New England, New York, New Jersey or Southern California (LA and Orange Counties) Have immediate financial needs related to support services for caregiver/children that are not being covered Are not able to get financial assistance from any other source Are struggling financially as a result of their family experience with cancer (e.g., lost wages, high medical bills, etc.) or its aftermath (e.g., limited ability to work) Are limited in their employment options after the family’s experience with breast cancer Are not sure where to turn and are looking for a starting point for familial support What Does Runway Fund?

Expand Summer camp fees & travel to/from camp Childcare services (daycare, babysitting services) (variable) Counseling Services for the caregiver/children Playgroup therapy sessions for kids Support Groups for Adults Tutoring/other academic support for children Extracurricular activities for children (i.e. sports teams, leagues, clubs, classes, memberships, etc.) Alternative Healing & Wellness Classes (acupuncture, yoga, meditation classes) Books, supplies for academic work Continuing Ed or Vocational Training for caregiver Continuing School Tuition House cleaners or professional organizer (one time or regularly) Other (Runway for Recovery understands that there may be large areas of need we have not identified in this list and very much invite applicants to suggest other areas) Please note that Runway for Recovery will award grants to recipients but will pay the third parties for the services directly.

What is Runway's Funding Schedule? Expand Family Grant applications are open two times a year until the maximum number of applications are received or close date occurs-- whichever occurs first.

July 1 - Applications Open; July 30 applications close August 1-31, Applicants Interview with Care Team (Runway Social Workers) September 1-30 Applications Reviewed by Board October 1-15, Grantee Notification Window November 1, Funding Begins January 1 - Applications Open; January 31 applications close February 1-28 Applicants Interview with Care Team (Runway Social Workers) March 1-31 Applications Reviewed by Board April 1-15, Grantee Notification Window How do I apply for a Runway Family Grant?

Expand Applying for a Family Grant includes two required steps: Step 1: Complete the Online Application Complete the online Family Grant application. Applications must be completed by the individual who is applying to receive funding. If needed, you are welcome to receive assistance from a family member, caregiver, patient navigator, social worker, or another support person while completing your application.

Step 2: Schedule and Complete Your 360 Intake During the application process, you will be prompted to schedule a 360 Intake with a member of the Runway Care Team. The 360 Intake is a required 30–45 minute Zoom conversation where we get to know you and your family, learn more about your current circumstances, and better understand the financial challenges you are facing.

This meeting is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the Family Grant process. All 360 Intake appointments are scheduled in Eastern Time (ET) . If you are scheduling from another time zone (such as Pacific Time), please double-check that the appointment time aligns with your local time before confirming your appointment.

Important: Your Family Grant application is considered complete only after both your online application and your 360 Intake have been completed. Learn about how the Family Grant program provides tangible relief and funding to families affected by breast cancer. The Runway community has been fortunate enough to meet over 850 men, women, and children who have been affected by breast cancer.

All the funds, over $3. 1M since our founding, goes to wrap-around services for families facing the unimaginable during and after a breast cancer diagnosis. We want nothing more than to continue changing the lives of those affected by this disease in big ways and small.

This is where you come in! Any donation truly helps and we are extremely grateful. You may donate online by clicking the button below or sending a check to: 29 Water Street, Suite 216 "Before I head to Boston for my annual bone scan, I want to thank you all, again, for the help with my debt and for giving me so much less daily stress.

I’ve actually felt like I could look in the mirror again and fix myself up again. You gave me self esteem to tackle each day and an almost light feeling instead of so heavy. I’ll never be able to express my gratitude in words because my heart is jumping thanks to all of you.

My angels." The Stories of Those Who We Fund Ben is one of our first family grant recipients. Of the many “buckets” of funding that we gave to him and his two small children, the payments to his daughter’s day care and the tutoring for his Kindergartener were the two most important ways we allowed him space to grieve the passing of his wife and off-set his monthly bills.

The Stories of Those Who We Fund After her mother passed away in March of 2020, Athena was adopted by her grandparents. With this adoption, Athena had to move away from Boston and thus, she lost the ability to attend her school through the Metco program. Further, she fell behind in her studies because of the immense grief she took on that spring.

Through our funding, she received daily tutoring to allow her to not only catch-up but excel in her academics. And she now receives tuition payments towards a school that is close by her new home. The Stories of Those Who We Fund While breast cancer primarily impacts women, we know that men can also be diagnosed with male breast cancer.

Runway chooses our language intentionally, as we want to fund any family that has a guardian pass away from the disease. And so it was our honor to be able to fund and support Fiona whose father passed away from breast cancer when she was a teenager.

In her early 20s, she applied for funding, and we loved funding groceries, car insurance payments, and student loan payments so that this special young woman could start her first job after college with our financial support — most likely in areas of her life that her Dad would have helped to support.

The Stories of Those Who We Fund While this mother was focused on her treatment, we wanted to ensure that her three-year-old, Leo, was safe, loved, and cared for. For nine months, we used her funding to cover the cost of a day care, groceries, and gas.

For many patients who have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, it is nearly impossible to continue to work, and this is where Runway can come in and support them and help cover bills so that they can focus on more important things. The Stories of Those Who We Fund This young woman applied for funding for her and her brother.

They were living with their grandmother after the passing of their mother, and they recognized the added costs that their grandmother was taking on. Erica wanted to be able to come home from college and see her brother, and so we covered gas cards, groceries, clothing, and extracurricular activities for both kiddos.