We invite you to read a note from Marci Schankweiler, our Founder & CEO.
In times of stress, we tend to focus on negativity. When we’re encountering threats or dangers, we can get tunnel vision and let the negative thoughts take all of our attention. But dwelling on the negative can lead to dangers of its own: from stress and anxiety to depression and hopelessness.
That is why a break from cancer is so important. In times of great hardship, respite helps us find the positive. Whether it’s a new hobby, journaling, creating art, or just getting the chance to spend time with the people we love, respite allows us step out of the tunnel of negativity and into the light.
I am a direct beneficiary of the positive effect that respite can have on someone going through hard times. And I’ve dedicated my life to helping give people the same experience that my husband Pete and I had of providing joy and respite amidst a battle with the unthinkable.
The end of our fiscal year in 2024 marked twenty-four years as an organization for us at FPS. In this time we’ve served 11, 252 individuals and 2,903 families with a Respite Experience. In just the past year, we served 717 people with Travel and Staycation Respite Experiences and provided more than 35,000 total touchpoints with patients, caregivers, families, and nominators.
FPS Respite Experiences are designed to be more than just a vacation, but a tool to transform the continuum of cancer care. Thanks to a continued emphasis on research and standardization, we’ve focused on precisely what patients need to heal beyond traditional treatment. In partnership with medical professionals and dedicated staff, we’ve been able to achieve amazing and evidence-based therapeutic outcomes, focused not only on the patient, but their caregiver and children as well.
As we continue our mission, we invite you to join us in celebrating the incredible journey we've embarked upon. Thank you for being a part of this mission and for your continued support of FPS as we work to find the positive.
Together, we are making a difference, one Respite Experience at a time.
With Gratitude,
Marci Schankweiler, CEO
From July 2023 to June 2024 we served 717 people and facilitated 126 Travel Respite Experiences!
Our program begins with a nomination from a member of the patient’s oncology team. We support patients between the ages of 21 and 55, regardless of cancer type, along with their caregivers and immediate family members.
Nominating professionals report at least a 45% improvement in the coping abilities of the patient, caregiver, and child after they return home from respite.
We hosted some amazing fundraising events this year to further the impact of FPS and raise money to provide Respite Experiences. Thank you to our committees, staff, Board, and supporters for making this our best year of events yet!
Our 23rd Gala, presented by Essent, was a powerful evening celebrating the impact of respite with our incredible FPS Community. Together, we raised more than $150,000 to support our mission. We are grateful to everyone who made the night possible, including our generous sponsors and our inspiring award recipients, ASTM International, Carol Blecher, and Aly Rice from Alliance Cancer Specialists. Special thanks as well to guest speaker Jen Coleman, who moved the room with her incredible story.
Our 13th Annual For Pete's Sake Walk was a beautiful day marked by excellent weather and our community coming together to ensure no family facing cancer walks alone!
We achieved a new milestone, welcoming a record-breaking 2,200 attendees and fundraising more than $190,000 for cancer respite! We are so grateful to our sponsors, walkers, and volunteers for making respite possible for countless families facing cancer. A special shout-out to our top five teams: Sharon's Golden Buddies, ASSA ABLOY Accentra, Billy's Benovelent Bunch, Fightin' Fadgens and Erin's Peeps!
Our NY Council celebrated the 10th year of our New York Happy Hour! Over 300 supporters gathered at Stout for a spirited evening sharing the impact of respite on families facing cancer. We are grateful for the support of our corporate sponsors who made this evening possible including Bank of America, Dealerweb Kramer Levin, JDance and LPS Capital. Thank you also to the many individual sponsors who gave generously and raised more than $100,000 to support this event and families facing cancer!
Each event was a celebration of our FPS Community, a community who recognizes the importance of togetherness and the need of respite for families facing cancer. The stories below were only made possible by the generosity of your support and commitment to our mission.
At the age of 28, Dylan was confronted with a diagnosis of colon cancer, a stark reality that has abruptly halted her young life. Amid the whirlwind of medical appointments and treatments, her nominator at Lehigh Valley Health Network knew she needed a pause – the gift of respite would grant Dylan the opportunity to cherish quality moments with her loved ones away from cancer.
In February 2024, Dylan and her mom, Lori, experienced FPS Respite at Woodloch Resort. She was so grateful for the experience and shared:
“I can’t thank you enough for my respite. I made new friends, went to a dance party and sang all night. This respite is one I’ll never forget. It’s changed my outlook on my cancer journey and taught me I’m not alone. Other people are experiencing what I am, and having such a supportive community makes me feel good.”
After returning home from respite, Dylan hosted a homemade jewelry fundraiser for FPS. She has since passed, but her legacy lives on through the impact she made by raising funds for other families facing cancer.
In 2013, when Phyllis was navigating a difficult cancer diagnosis, the FPS Community responded - providing her family with a Travel Respite in Maine.
Flash forward almost a decade later and this family is in the throes of cancer…again. Phyllis’ husband, Rhaun, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The couple has switched roles: the patient has become the caregiver, and the caregiver the patient.
In July, Rhaun, Phyllis and their child, Xavier, experienced FPS Respite once again to reconnect, recharge, and be together while they face this disease a second time as a family. When cancer doesn’t quit, the community of FPS rallies to ensure that love continues to lead the way.
April, a 36-year-old mother of two, is facing the challenges of breast cancer. Struggling to make ends meet while enduring chemotherapy, her treatments unfortunately coincided with her sons' birthdays, preventing them from celebrating. Her life has been dominated by medical appointments, with no time for fun and increasing anxiety. Recognizing her need for a break from financial worries and cancer, her nominator at Perelman Cancer Center nominated her for respite.
In June 2024, April and her family took a much-needed break from cancer, escaping its shadow for a brief period. Reflecting on the experience, she shared:
"There was no need to worry about any doctor's appointments this week, and I could finally relax in the peace and quiet of Woodloch. It was nice to get away from the city noise and have a change of environment. I had never experienced making s'mores, enjoying a bonfire or watching a theme show before this respite."
These are just a few of the 126 respites you made possible this year. And with your help we are on our way to serving even more families facing cancer with unforgettable experiences.
We pride ourselves on being excellent stewards of our donors' dollars. Therefore, we support a culture of complete transparency in our operations and fiscal spending. We are one of only 200 organizations nationwide to hold the PANO Standards for Excellence Accreditation and we hold the Guidestar Platinum Seal. We are rated a 4 star charity by Charity Navigator and a top-rated nonprofit by GreatNonprofits!
We remember those who are no longer with us and are thankful for our supporters who make such meaningful gifts in memory of loved ones.
We celebrate the generous members of our community who turn their birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones into opportunities to give back!
Your steadfast support, through donations of time, resources and talent, has been crucial in providing transformative Respite Experiences for our FPS Families, proving that cancer does not define them. As we reflect, we sincerely thank you for your commitment to our mission. Every story underscores the significant difference that transformative Respite Experiences make on the hundreds of FPS Families we serve. If you'd like to contribute to our mission, please visit give.takeabreakfromcancer.org/donate!
Sincerely, The FPS Board of Directors and Staff