With any cancer diagnosis come feelings of hopelessness and social isolation. For over 20 years, Gilda's Club South Florida has built a vibrant community of cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones. It's our goal at Gilda's Club to make sure cancer patients don't have to do it alone.
We focus on providing psychosocial support to complement medical treatments to nurture every part of a patient as they learn, grow, and recover. Our program is made up of five core components: support groups, education, healthy lifestyle, social connections and resources and referrals. It is provided free of charge to anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis – men, women, teens, and children — along with their families, friends, and caregivers. As an affiliate of the worldwide Cancer Support Community, our program comes with more than 30 years of expertise behind it, a one-of-a-kind, evidence-based program of social and emotional support.
The goal of our program is simple: to support a holistic, patient-active approach to wellness to improve overall health outcomes. Our groups and events give our members the support they need to confront cancer. Our education programs aim to empower people impacted by cancer with the knowledge necessary to take an active role in their path to recovery. Our wellness programs are designed to strengthen both body and mind over the course of the cancer journey.
At Gilda's Club, you're more than your cancer. You're a member of a diverse and welcoming community of people who understand what you're going through. You're you at your very best.
Following her own cancer diagnosis, former Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner quipped, "Cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not belong to."
Today that club is Gilda's Club. When Gilda was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1986 she quickly realized the importance of emotional and social support. After attending The Wellness Community in Southern California, Gilda envisioned places of participation, education, hope and friendship to be made available to men, women and children with all types of cancer and their families and friends. After her death in May 1989 her husband, Gene Wilder, and Joanna Bull - Gilda's psychotherapist - founded the flagship Gilda's Club in New York City.
From the very first Gilda's Club in New York City founded in 1995, to today's network of more than 40 independent and locally-funded affiliates, Gilda's Club is where membership means connecting with people who truly understand.
In 2009, Gilda's Club Worldwide and The Wellness Community merged to become Cancer Support Community (CSC). Today, we provide the highest quality of social and emotional support for everyone impacted by cancer through a network of more than 44 local affiliates, 170 satellite locations, and robust online resources. While Gilda's Club South Florida is an affiliate of CSC, we are a separate 501©3 non-profit organization. Being an affiliate allows us to share knowledge, research, resources, and ideas, but it does not mean that we share funding.
Funds we raise here, stay here.
Gilda's Club South Florida, the second oldest Gilda's Club affiliate, opened its doors in 1997 in memory of Christina Perez and Jennifer Masi. Christina passed away from breast cancer at the age of 29 and Jennifer at the age of 14 from a rare form of cancer. Both their families came together to open Gilda's Club South Florida, with a shared vision of creating a "cancer support community."
After 22 years in its historic downtown Fort Lauderdale location on the Tarpon River, Gilda's Club moved its Clubhouse to 4850 W Prospect Road in Fort Lauderdale to accommodate the program growth. Gilda's Club South Florida currently has more than 4,500 adults, children, and teens participating in support groups, workshops, lectures, and social activities annually.
Click here to learn more about the new location and how you can help.