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History
As an Oncology Nurse in Pittsburgh,
Cynthia Stanish recognized that there was a void that needed to be
filled to assist patients and their families to learn how to live
with cancer. The organization she envisioned would be positioned to
augment existing community based organizations and services in Western
Pennsylvania - not compete with them. Cindy and her
husband, Al, initiated a search to find a complementary organization to
serve the residents of Western Pennsylvania.
Their search took them to New York
City where they visited GILDA"S CLUB New York City. This
four-story brownstone house is the flagship home of the program created
in memory of Gilda Radner, comedian and original cast member of NBC-TV's
Saturday Night Live, by her husband, actor Gene Wilder and her
cancer psychotherapist, Joanna Bull. Finding a match in both
philosophy and programs, the Stanishes applied to become a GILDA'S Club
Worldwide affiliate.
GILDA'S Club Western Pennsylvania is a
501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and is an affiliate of GILDA'S Club
Worldwide. A board of Directors and an Advisory Committee
comprised of community leaders, as well as representatives of the
business, education, health care and nonprofit communities are
established with plans to enlarge each entity. A Medical Resource
Council is also being expanded to ultimately include physicians and
other health care professionals not only representing major hospitals
and cancer centers in Western Pennsylvania, but also representing a
cross-section of medical specialties.
GILDA'S CLUB Western
Pennsylvania is part of twenty-seven (27) current affiliates that are in
development or currently open. |
