Frequent Questions

The mission of Gilda's Club is to provide meeting places where men, women and children living with cancer and their families and friends can join with others to build emotional and social support as a supplement to medical care. Free of charge and nonprofit, Gilda's Club offers support and networking groups, lectures, workshops, and social events in a nonresidential, homelike setting.

1) Madison has a lot of nonprofits and it seems like the community also has a lot of cancer support services. How will Gilda’s Club be different?
Gilda’s Club is for anyone of any age with any type of cancer, and for those in their lives who are touched by it: family, friends and others.

• It has a clubhouse to provide a warm, welcoming environment for the program.

• Each member can select the parts of the multi-faceted program that will best meet his/her needs.

• Gilda's Club is open almost every day and evening.

• Gilda's Club offers support groups that focus on different types of cancer, as well as on special needs, e.g., spouses of people with cancer, teenagers, etc. It also offers informational lectures; workshops on crafts, exercise, nutrition, etc. and social, community-building activities such as potluck dinners and comedy nights.

• GC has Noogieland for children who have cancer or have cancer in their families.

2) Who is Gilda's Club named for?
Gilda's Club is named in memory of comedian Gilda Radner, who died from ovarian cancer in 1989. Gilda is best known for her work on NBC's Saturday Night Live. Her book, It's Always Something, describes her life with cancer.

3) What happens at Gilda's Club?
Men, women, children, and their friends and families meet to learn how to live with cancer, whatever the outcome.

4) What kind of activities take place?
Support and networking groups, lectures, workshops and social events, a children's program -- all adding up to a "support community."

5) Is Gilda's Club just for women with ovarian cancer?
No, it is for men and women of all ages, and with all types of cancer, and for adolescents and children; and their families and friends.

6) Is Gilda's Club residential?
No, but each freestanding clubhouse has a home-like atmosphere where members can relax and feel comfortable in a non-medical setting.

7) Is there any charge for membership?
There is no charge at Gilda's Club. It is our belief that it is not appropriate to charge for the exchange of emotional and social support that members freely give to one another.

8) Is there a pressure to be "positive" at Gilda's Club?
Absolutely not. Gilda's Club is based on respect for every person's way of living with cancer.

9) Where do volunteers fit into the program?
Every Gilda's Club employs top-notch professional and support staff. In addition to these staff, Gilda's Club relies on our cadre of volunteers to deliver many parts of our program. In addition to the above volunteer roles, Gilda's Club has the following volunteer positions:

• CMP volunteers are certified and licensed professionals who facilitate Customized Membership Plans (a one-hour dialogue to plan a member's use of the Gilda's Club program) on a regular basis

• Calendar volunteers conduct workshops or give lectures in their fields of specialty, such as meditation, tai chi, cooking and ceramics. Some professional volunteers donate their time during social events by providing comedy, music and dance.

• Noogieland volunteers assist with the children's program and are carefully screened and trained

• Development volunteers assist in grant writing, special events, clerical, and administrative tasks

10) Does the medical community support Gilda's Club?
Gilda's Club affiliates have the support of the distinguished medical community in the areas they are located. Gilda’s Club Madison Wisconsin has a growing Medical Resource Council. The members, so far, include Ellen Hartenbach, MD; Sherri Hansen, MD; Lucille Marchand, MD; Bill Rock, MD; Cathy Silver, RN; Terri Smith, RN; Diane Weiner, PhD; and Joel Wish, PhD.

11) How is Gilda's Club funded?
Individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundations provide enormous direct and in-kind support for Gilda's Club. In addition, each Gilda's Club holds special events to raise funds. All funds raised locally are used to benefit the local population. We do not receive any financial support from Gilda's Club Worldwide, but they have given us a lot of good advice, and the network of clubs support one another by sharing ideas, advice, success stories and lessons learned.

12) When do you expect Gilda's Club to open?
We are scheduled to break ground fall 2007 with the clubhouse opening fall 2008.

13) How much money do you need to raise to open the red doors to Gilda's clubhouse?
We need $3.5 million to build the clubhouse and fund operations.

14) Do you have any major donors – individual, corporate or a foundation?
We are looking for a lead donor who will inspire others to donate very generously.

15) What are your fundraising plans, and how are Barry and Cindy Alvarez involved?
Barry and Cindy Alvarez have visibility in this community (and beyond) that will put the spotlight on our efforts to open a Gilda's Club Madison Wisconsin. Since they have both been touched by cancer in their families, they can speak from experience about how important Gilda's Club Madison Wisconsin will be.

16) Is GCMW a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation?
Yes, Gilda's Club Madison Wisconsin, Inc. was formed in June of 2002. All contributions are tax-deductible.