Our Mission
The mission of Gilda’s Club Evansville (GCEV) is to provide a home-like, non-residential meeting place where men, women and children living with cancer, and their families and friends, can join with others to build social and emotional support as an integral part of cancer treatment.
We are an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community (CSC), a global organization providing psychosocial cancer support to tens of thousands of people, through a network of nearly 50 US affiliates, a Research and Training Institute, and advocacy partnerships with medical and governmental leaders. Together, we share a vision that no one faces cancer alone.
The idea to establish GCEV (named for the late comedian, Gilda Radner) first originated in 2007 with Ann Moore shortly after she began her journey with pancreatic cancer. After learning about Gilda’s Club, Ann rallied family and friends to begin the process to establish GCEV. Ann lost her battle with cancer on July 3, 2009, but her passion and enthusiasm for GCEV lives on in a committed team of community leaders and visionaries.
Why Gilda’s Club?
People living with cancer have unique social and emotional needs. A groundbreaking report published in October 2007 by the Institute of Medicine, Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs, concludes that addressing psychosocial needs is not a nice-to-have; it is essential and should be an integral part of quality cancer care. No all-inclusive program exists in our community to specifically meet those needs.
GCEV looks forward to partnering with area medical facilities to provide social and emotional support programs as an integral part of comprehensive cancer treatment. Our goal? To improve overall wellness and quality of life for all those impacted by cancer.
The Gilda’s Club Program
Programs are always FREE. GCEV will provide a varied menu of cancer support services in a clubhouse setting, away from the sights and sounds of medical facilities. All programs are overseen by licensed and specifically trained mental health professionals.
1) Support services: networking and support groups, facilitated by trained mental health professionals.
2) Educational programs: lectures and workshops.
3) Healthy lifestyle activities: nutritional education (cooking classes), exercise and physical activities (yoga, tai chi), mind-body stress reduction programs, and expressive arts (pottery, knitting, drumming).
4) Social and recreational activities: potlucks, family fun nights, movie nights, and more.
5) Resources and referral: information online and in print from the Resource Library and personalized assistance from staff members.
Gilda’s Club encourages a sense of “expertise” among members, and emphasizes community-building, collective wisdom and shared experiences. It’s cancer support for the whole family the whole time. Children are included with tailored support programs and spaces just for them! Every member builds a customized membership plan based on individual interests and needs.
Our Progress
GCEV is still in development and currently raising funds to open our Clubhouse.
