Established in loving memory of Paulette A. Steeves—an incredible mother, friend, and inspiration to all who knew her. Her generosity and unwavering commitment to uplifting the women in her community lives on through this memorial fund.
Empowering Women Facing Blood Cancer
Eligibility Criteria
This fund is open to women facing financial hardships related to a diagnosis and treatment of their blood cancer including, but not limited to:
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- Leukemia (cancer of the blood and bone marrow)
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Lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system)
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Multiple Myeloma (cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow)
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Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
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Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs)
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Plasma Cell Leukemia (PCL)
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Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
Note - All recipients must reside in the U.S or a U.S. territory.
This grant prioritizes patients with the following attributes:
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Currently in active cancer treatment (see definition below)
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Total annual household income for this year is at 300% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
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​​​​​​​​If you are a #BloodCancerDiva in need, we invite you to apply using the link below:
The Paulette A. Steeves Blood Cancer Memorial Fund aims to ease the financial burden faced by women diagnosed with blood cancers.
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According to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, blood cancers are among the most expensive to treat, resulting in thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for patients and their families.
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During Paulette's journey, our family's financial challenges extended beyond medical bills. These challenges included cross-country travel to leading cancer research centers, managing the living expenses required to participate in effective clinical trials, and the significant costs associated with preparing for the treatment and recovery of a stem-cell transplant.
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With an increase in blood cancer diagnoses amongst young women, there’s a critical need to raise awareness about the profound and lasting economic impact of this form of cancer within our community.
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This memorial fund empowers women with blood cancers to focus on what truly matters—accessing the best treatments available and rebuilding their lives after diagnosis. Financial assistance awards can be used to address the cost of housing, utilities, transportation, food, and other non-medical expenses required to increase your chance of survivorship.
Active treatment includes any treatment that is intended to cure, slow the progression, or prevent the recurrence of an individual’s cancer, such as: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, biosimilars, stem cell and bone marrow transplant and CAR T-cell therapy.
Active treatment does NOT include reconstruction surgeries, long-term hormonal therapies*, palliative care, or hospice care, as these are not intended to cure, slow the progression, or prevent the recurrence of cancer.
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*Long-term hormonal therapies that are intended to cure, slow the progression, or prevent the recurrence of cancer will be considered active treatment if the patient has been on the treatment for less than a year.
Individuals who receive assistance from a Chemo Divas Foundation Inc. to meet their personal needs do not generally have to pay federal income tax on the value of the assistance they receive. Receiving the Chemo Divas Foundation Grant should not affect anyone's ability to receive financial assistance from the government or affect their income taxes.
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This application is available online 24/7. For questions or concerns on the grant application process, please contact info@chemodivas.org
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A special thank you to our Community Partner, Family Reach ,for their generous contribution to this memorial fund via their Cancer Equity Initiative! We are so grateful to Family Reach as well as the generosity of all of our donors. Thank you for helping us #CloseTheGap
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