“You are so much more
than a body— you are a mind and a soul.” Patricia Ostiller Executive Director, Cancer Support Community of Pasadena
New look, same mission In 2023, there are two major milestones ahead for the organization. The first is a name change—from Cancer Support Community Pasadena to Cancer Support Community Greater San Gabriel Valley— to better reflect their overall service area. The second is the
from local physicians, community centers, and past participants in CSCP’s programs. Ostiller notes that many participants don’t want to return to the hospital, where they might be reminded of treatments and nausea. This is why CSCP has been decorated in a home-like setting, with a living room and prints on the wall, creating a peaceful, soothing community environment. Virtual programs offer a convenient alternative to the onsite groups. About a week into the pandemic, CSCP shifted to Zoom. Now coming out of it, they offer a combination of in-person, Zoom, and hybrid options, in which some attendees are in person and others are on screen. The virtual groups help support two key audiences: patients who are too sick to drive to attend their support group, and caregivers who are unable to leave the person they are caring for. “If there is a silver lining from this pandemic, it’s the fact that we—like so many other nonprofits and businesses—learned how to provide support virtually, when we could not do it in person,” says Ostiller. “It was a little challenging for our licensed clinicians at first, looking into a camera when they’re used to being physically in the same room with people. But they quickly adapted and we had great attendance. The thing to remember is that we all felt isolated during the pandemic, but it was even more difficult for people facing cancer and who needed to be cautious because they were immunocompromised.”
move to a permanent facility in Sierra Madre that will become their new center of operations, enabled by donor contributions to make the down payment, and a loan by California Bank & Trust. The new building includes an “outdoor oasis,” where support groups can be held outside. Construction on an extensive interior remodel began in January 2023 to accommodate program delivery, with rooms for support groups, eight offices, a kitchen, an educational center, a living room and a conference room. The organization plans to be in the building and delivering programs as of July 1. “Sierra Madre has a traditional, peaceful neighborhood feel that will be good for our participants,” Ostiller says. “We’re excited to own an asset and not be leasing anymore, thanks to the generosity of the donors who stepped up. Above all, we want to be able to increase the programs we offer.”
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calbanktrust.com/ inyourcorner
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