The mission of the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation is to provide a variety of specialized services, at no charge, to any New Jersey family facing the challenges of caring for a child with cancer.

We accomplish this through: professional in-home counseling advocacy on behalf of the families material support such as food, clothing, toys, and household items emergency financial relief

Joey was just turning five months old when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. His young parents, Brian and Eileen, were both teachers at the time, but in order to provide the care that Joey’s condition required, Eileen had to give up her part-time job. And after Brian was laid off he had to accept a lower salary and a loss of medical benefits. As a result, this West Orange family began to suffer extreme hardship.

ECF sent a Caseworker who immediately began to attend to this family’s needs, but at one point Joey’s doctor did not allow the Caseworker to visit him in his home due to his fragile condition from chemotherapy and fear of infection. Caseworker services soon resumed, and fifteen months later, after surgery, diagnostic tests, and chemotherapy, Joey was finally off treatment and life started to become a bit more normal. At some point during their ordeal, Eileen wrote the following, “You guys are the greatest. I can’t wait ‘til we’re back on our feet again so we can help you out. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

And 24 years later, Eileen found us on Facebook, and is living up to that promise. Meanwhile, Joey is now a young adult in medical school. He is currently interested in orthopedic surgery.

Our income is well diversified, thanks to our fundraising efforts and the support of the community.

ECF’s team of Caseworkers are the heart of the services we provide. The bond they form with families is often very deep.

The distribution of groceries is just a small piece of what we provide from ECF’s four Regional Centers. We distribute holiday and birthday gifts, gift cards, toys, clothing, and attend to special needs.

For example, volunteers had a piano to donate, the Caseworker knew that Gianna’s family wanted one but couldn’t afford to buy it, and the Regional Director found a company to move it for free. Working together is what we do best.

In addition to generous financial support, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has been a driving force for the Southern Region’s annual holiday party.

Giza just turned two, and the bilateral retinoblastoma she was diagnosed with shortly after her birth is finally in remission. She had a total of eight tumors on her eyes.

Rebecca is Giza’s single, military mom. She is so grateful for the services provided by ECF that she recently brought her daughter to one of our fundraisers where she spoke about how ECF helped her, and continues to be there for them.

Juliana Emily Tyreek Mya Henry Giovanni Erick Iyonna Nicholas