We are a free cancer support community. People gather here to learn more about cancer, share their experiences with others, and true to our name-sake Gilda Radner, have a few laughs along the way.

No one chooses to have cancer, but you can choose how to respond to it. You might ask, what are my priorities? Goals? Choices? How will this affect my family? What should I say? Has anyone felt this way before?

Gilda's Club connects people who are asking some of those same questions as they learn to live with cancer. Whether you have cancer yourself, or you're experiencing cancer with someone you love, Gilda's Club is there.

We believe that when cancer happens, it happens to the whole family. Everyone is welcome here – the child/adult diagnosed, family, friends, neighbors – anyone who wants to come. We consider you all as cancer survivors.

We also believe that seeking support and information is as essential as medical treatment where ever you are in the “learning to live with cancer” process – beginning, post-treatment or further down the road.

Here, everyone on that “cancer journey,” comes together to learn about cancer, share helpful tips and recognize and release the many emotions that go along the way. We’re not a depressing place or just about sharing “sob stories.” We are about being real, in the moment, however that happens to be. And, because we celebrate the full-range of emotions, we promise you’ll have fun and share lots of laughs too.

Gilda's Club is a free cancer support community of individuals, families, and friends.

We serve anyone who has cancer in their family, no matter the type or stage of cancer - before, during, after treatment, long term survivor. And, children, family members, and friends are included too!

Our program has a variety of groups (for discussion time and networking with others in a similar situation), lectures and workshops (on all kinds of topics) and social activities (for just having fun and forgetting about cancer for awhile). We also have an extensive youth program with age-appropriate activities full of surprises and fun to help educate and support children and teens. We do offer childcare in Noogieland anytime you need it, as long as you let us know at least a day in advance.

More than just structured activities, though, we are a place where you may come to hang-out in our library, the game room or “It’s Always Something Room” – to be by yourself or to meet informally with others. The coffee pot is always on, and a plate of cookies ready for you, too.

3-year Children's Grief Pilot Project:

Currently, a comprehensive grief support program for children and their families does not exist in West Michigan - which leaves approximately 11,159 children each year without the support they need.

Current research shows that if a child’s grief is not addressed, it can lead to profound emotional, psychological, physical and social dysfunctions. As that child matures into the teen years, unresolved childhood grief can lead to things like experimentation with drugs and alcohol, difficulty relating to peers, unrealistic or over-compensated need to be perfect, inability to maintain close and intimate relationships, inability to secure and maintain steady employment, difficulty in raising children, and other similar issues.

Organizations like Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Hospice of Michigan and the school systems as well as grief professionals are actively collaborating with Gilda’s Club to help ensure this program’s success as the need is evident.

Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids had its beginnings in the early spring of 1996 through the efforts of Twink Frey, an active community philanthropist and breast cancer survivor. Twink heard about the concept of social and emotional support for people with cancer from a television show on Gilda’s Club New York City, the flagship Gilda’s Club. Twink recruited fellow cancer survivors, Deb Bailey and Susan J. Smith to help her in her efforts to establish a Gilda’s Club in the west Michigan area.

After meeting with and receiving positive feedback from local hospital administrators and the medical community, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids was incorporated and a Board of Directors was appointed in July 1997. The property that now houses the Club was purchased in May 1998 and fundraising began in early 1999. Renovation on the property began in the fall of 1999 and Gilda’s Club official opened its doors to the community on February 15, 2001.

Leann D. Arkema is currently the President/CEO of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, having come to the Club in August of 1998. Prior to that, she served as Community Services Director and Campaign Director for Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers and Executive Director for St. Cecilia Music Society, one of the country’s oldest music organizations. Leann holds a Master of Arts Degree, with an emphasis on Non-profit Administration, from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Calvin College.

Ms. Arkema, who was born in Australia and grew-up in Patterson, New Jersey, now resides in southeast Grand Rapids. Leann currently serves as Treasurer for Senator Bill Hardiman. She is a graduate of Leadership Grand Rapids and has served on the board’s of the Pine Rest Foundation, The Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, the Wealthy Street Theatre, Embellish and St. Cecilia Music Society.

When she isn’t busy with work and community activities, Leann enjoys traveling, attending arts related events, working out, reading, and working on house projects. She also just recently returned from an extended trip to Australia, a life-long dream of hers to see the country of her birth that she left at 4 years old.

John Jackoboice (Chair)
Holly Jacoby (Vice-Chair)
Brad Freiburger (Treasurer)
Julie Regan (Secretary)
Judy Bereza,
Joel Brandt,
Patti Broman,
Don Burke,
Rehman Robson,
Shirley Daniels,
Philip DeBoer,
Len Dyer,
Jim Garlock,
Sharon Grider,
Scott Grinwis,
Hester Hendricks,
Jim Hesseman,
David Huhn,
Marvis James,
Doug Klein,
Lorissa MacAllister,
Pedro Martinez,
Bill McGee,
Tom Merchant,
Julie Ridenour,
David Sebastian,
Kim Thomas,
John Zimmerman

Leadership Advisory Board:

Debra A. Baily,
Gordon Downey, MD,
Twink Fry,
Joyce Hecht,
Kathy Humphrey,
E. Raymer Lovell, Jr., MD,
Kathleen P. Maine,
James E. McKay,
Susan J. Smith,
Michael J. Vanderveen,
Carroll Velie...

Medical Advisory Board:

Alan Campbell, MD,
Gordon O. Downey, MD,
James Fahner, MD,
Dennis Hammond, MD,
Gary Humphries, MD,
Gayla Jewell, MSN, RNC, NP,
Marianne Lange, MD,
F. Raymer Lovell, Jr., MD,
Mary Mencarelli, RN,
Kathleen Osborn, MD,
David Oviatt, MD,
Sandy Sefton, RN,
Enrico Sobong, MD,

100% of our income comes from individual or business/organization donations. We do not recieve any money from the government. Everyone gives according to what they can afford. Every dollar is of great significance and will help in a big way!

Community: We are not a counseling or therapy center. While we do have licensed professionals facilitating our groups and we will host facilitated family conversations, Gilda’s Club is about finding and being with others going through the same thing. You become a “member” of our community and all activities offered are free of charge. The beauty of being part of a larger community of people dealing with cancer is that not only will you gain information and support, you are also able to give information and support to others based on your own learning. Our community is about making connections with real people who dealing with the real issues and emotions of cancer.

1. Innovative Fundraising
2. Pioneering Programs
3. Organizational Sustainability
4. Community Leadership & Collaberation
5. Physical Expansion
6. Marketing