breast cancer
Israel Breast Cancer Emergency Relief Fund (IBCERF)
Description of the Project :
The first reaction to a diagnosis of breast cancer is shock. Initially it is impossible to think about anything other
than survival. Many women are fortunate to have the means to focus primarily on getting well. However few realize how extremely costly a serious illness can be. It is difficult to imagine the plight of a poor woman dealing with financial worries on top of the stress of being sick.
Breast cancer brings with it many extra costs; illness-related expenses, such as:
than survival. Many women are fortunate to have the means to focus primarily on getting well. However few realize how extremely costly a serious illness can be. It is difficult to imagine the plight of a poor woman dealing with financial worries on top of the stress of being sick.
Breast cancer brings with it many extra costs; illness-related expenses, such as:
- Lost income due to time off from work (for the patient and/or her family)
- Extra childcare or household help during treatment
- Transportation to and from doctor appointments or treatments
- Uncovered medical expenses such as second opinions, prescribed medications not covered by insurance, prostheses, special clothing, wigs, etc.
How the Project Works :
Even when social service assistance exists, it can take months for funds to come through, a luxury that poor women don't have. Social workers at Breast Centers confirm that there is a compelling need to help these women by providing direct and immediate financial assistance for non-medical expenses.
By quickly and compassionately delivering direct financial assistance, the Israel Breast Cancer Emergency Relief Fund (IBCERF) can ease some of the financial burdens that accompany breast cancer so that patients can concentrate on the more important challenge of getting well.
The fund is need-based and will be administered by ESRA, a non-profit organization (No. 580037455), which for more than 20 years has been involved, in Israel, in providing help for those in need, www.esra.org.il. It is an extremely efficient charity with only 8% of donated funds going to administrative costs. The Israel Breast Cancer Emergency Relief Fund will be under the umbrella of ESRA's Crisis Welfare Fund and applicants will be carefully screened by social workers at hospital Breast Centers as well as at ESRA.
About the Participants :
The following are just two of the many stories:
• A young Ethiopian widow with a ten year old has breast and stomach cancer. She wasn't able to work due to
her illness, and though she gets some help from certain charities, they are barely subsisting. Until recently (when one was donated) they had no washing machine and in her case she was soiling clothing often. It is difficult for her family, who is also very poor, to leave work to help her.
• A woman who was the main breadwinner for her family was diagnosed with breast cancer and cannot work. The family hovered near the poverty line even with her income, now they are destitute. Bituach Leumi (National Disability Insurance) has taken time to come through, and is hardly covering their basic needs, let alone extras.
Here are letters from two of our first recipients:
Hannah: "I received the check yesterday. I'm so grateful to you!! At last, after a year of suffering and pain from Lymphademia, from which I suffer, (due to the surgery to treat breast cancer) I went for a year when I could not afford to deal with it because I had no money to buy the elastic sleeve for physiotherapy. At last I am going to buy a fitted sleeve! That will help me a great deal with my medical condition ... "
Jennah: "I have no words to describe how much I thank you for your contribution ... to be ill and also suffer from poor financial conditions is extrememly difficult. When I received your donation, it helped me very much with a few things:
My sisters live far from me. Due to my medical condition I cannot travel by bus and need to travel by taxi so I have not been able to afford to travel to them. This contribution has helped me and my children get closer to my family.
I am a single mother and I have many expenses including buying medicines that aren't covered by insurance to help me with the side effects of the chemotherapy. This donation helped me purchase these drugs and it is easier for me to deal with breast cancer treatment.
In addition, at last I got my daughter her books for school and was able to pay money owing to the school. This donation helped me be more relaxed about the needs of my daughter and we are less worried now. It gives me peace of mind and strength to continue to cope. "
The Partners :
YOU, the Social Workers involved, and ESRA Welfare Committee.
Additional Information :
Click on the pdf attachment below to see the email sent out by IBCERF founder Shari Mendes, following the first allocation of grants.
The Costs :
Your donation, for which you’ll receive a receipt, can be made in the following ways:
Online: Please click on this link and follow instructions to pay via PayPal or via the ESRA office
Tax Exempt Donations in Israel: Mail checks to ESRA, POB 3132, Herzliya 46104 or telephone the office and make your donation by credit card (09-950-8371).
Tax Exempt donations from the United States of America can be given via:
P.E.F. Endowment Funds, Inc., Room 607
317 Madison Avenue,
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-599-1260.
Tax Exempt donation from the United Kingdom can be made through
New Israel Fund, 26 Enford Str., London W1H 2DD, England, Tel: 44-20-7724-2266, Fax: 44-20-7724-2299.
Checks should be made payable to “New Israel Fund” designated to ESRA’s IBCERF.
Tags: Crisis Welfare Assistance - ESRA’s helping hand to those in need in the community.
Description of the Project :
To assist immigrants from distressed countries and other persons in need who find themselves in temporary crisis due to health, unemployment or other difficulties and who can benefit from financial help.From June 2011 this fund also includes Breast Cancer Emergency Relief.
This aid, though the amount is not large, often enables the individual or family to overcome their immediate problem.
How the Project Works :
The Welfare Fund started operation in 1990. Every month we receive 40-50 applications, together with a social worker’s report, from needy families or individuals requesting financial aid. These are assessed once a month by ESRA's Welfare Committee, a team of volunteers including professionals, who discuss each and every application and decide to whom to allocate the funds.
Our criteria are:
Contact Anat at ESRA 09 950 8371. You will be sent an application form to be completed and returned to our office, together with a report from a social worker.
From the time we receive your application, you will receive an answer in approximately 6-8 weeks.
The normal amount of aid is NIS 1000, sometimes more in certain circumstances.
Our criteria are:
- CRISIS SUBSISTENCE AID
- EDUCATION
- GRANTS FOR UNIVERSITY & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
- HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
- EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID (not including medical equipment)
Contact Anat at ESRA 09 950 8371. You will be sent an application form to be completed and returned to our office, together with a report from a social worker.
From the time we receive your application, you will receive an answer in approximately 6-8 weeks.
The normal amount of aid is NIS 1000, sometimes more in certain circumstances.
About the Participants :
More than 8,000 people have been assisted since April 1990.
We help families who find themselves in severe financial difficulties and cannot get help from anyone else. Subsistence is given for health, education, scholarships, training for professionals and short-term supplementary income.
Breast Cancer Emergency Relief Fund aims to help breast cancer patients in need by providing direct and immediate financial assistance for non-medical expenses. By quickly and compassionately delivering direct assistance, we hope to ease some of the financial burdens that accompany breast cancer so that patients can focus on the more important challenge of getting well.
We help families who find themselves in severe financial difficulties and cannot get help from anyone else. Subsistence is given for health, education, scholarships, training for professionals and short-term supplementary income.
Breast Cancer Emergency Relief Fund aims to help breast cancer patients in need by providing direct and immediate financial assistance for non-medical expenses. By quickly and compassionately delivering direct assistance, we hope to ease some of the financial burdens that accompany breast cancer so that patients can focus on the more important challenge of getting well.
The Partners :
ESRA, and the generosity of the donors.
Additional Information :
“A Life Turned Round” is the story of Alice, one of the recipients of Welfare Assistance from ESRA. This article can be read on p.64 in Issue 155 of the ESRA magazine. Click here to read the article online.Below is a selection of “thank you” letters from recipients of aid, and other relevant offices.
I would like to thank the ESRA Welfare Committee for your kind assistance in the names of 4 students who are participating in our program of training in Excellent Leadership in Education amongst Ethiopian immigrants with a low socioeconomic background.
Dr. Shalva Weil, Program Manager, Hebrew University.
We would like to thank the ESRA Welfare Fund for what you have done for us. The money you gave us was sorely needed and helped us with important items, like clothes, shoes and school books. We very much hope that there are more good people like yourselves that will help us as you have. Rivka & Rachel, Kiryat Gat
We at the Orthodontic Department would like to thank the ESRA Welfare Fund ourselves and also in the name of Elinor G for the NIS 1000 donation which you made that provided the necessary orthodontic treatment for Elinor. There are not enough words to express the importance of this subject (this treatment was given to a very sick child).
A few months ago I sent your organization a request to assist me with financing my studies. This week I received a positive reply. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your great help. Alexander R., Ariel.
Meir Hospital would like to thank the Welfare Committee for the continuous assistance given to the children’s section. The toys, blankets and sweaters which you donate help us to give a personal warmth to the children. The smile that each gift brings is worth everything.
Thank you for your donation of NIS 1000 . We are new immigrants looking for relevant job opportunities, have language restraints and do not yet have a source of income. Sometime in the future we would like to be part of your social activities and community project. Raisa S., Sderot
Your quick and generous help of NIS 1000 worth of food vouchers will get us over a difficult period. Thank you so much.
Gila A, Ashdod.
Thank you for your many good deeds which we greatly appreciate.
Irit Hadani & the Social Services Staff, Municipality of Gedera.
A week ago I was in a very bad state. Just now I managed to sort out the payment in my daughter’s school only with the financial help received from the ESRA Welfare Committee. Many, many thanks. Milna GM.
The Costs :
The ESRA Welfare Committee is a volunteer body.The only costs involved, in addition to the grants themselves, are administrative.