Care and Connect
On March 1st 2025, in a room filled with 300+ Carley's Angels champions and the current and past CEO's of Princess Margaret, we announced the next ground breaking cancer care program funded by Carley's Angels. We are honoured and proud to announce that the next Carley's Angels gift of $300,000 will fund the kick starting of a program called Care and Connect.
A program at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center, born through the efforts of our beloved Cancer Experience Program.
A first of its kind program that aims to solve a problem that has existed since any patient hears the words “you have cancer.” The same words Carley heard and where her cancer journey began. A problem that has tried to be solved in a number of ways, none of which are as sustainable, scalable, and as cost effective as this.
Care and Connect works to connect all patients to integrative care resources already available at the hospital, all while providing care to the patients during the process.
What
Care and Connect ensures patients get the integrative care they need by pairing them with a highly trained lay navigator, a dedicated support person who:
- Connects them to Integrative Cancer Care programs within the hospital and community
- Attends appointments alongside them
- Provides mental health support during the process
These volunteers speak over 30 languages, are specifically trained in identifying patients in a mental health crisis. And the best part? You, Carley's Angels community, could be one of these volunteers, connecting you even more tightly to your gift and impact.
Why
Why is this program so scalable and cost effective?
We are paying for central resources, the infrastructure and one brilliant mind, who support hundreds of volunteers who support thousands of patients.
Why is this program important to patients outside of The Princess Margaret?
Because it’s a pilot. Our favorite kind of program to fund. One that, once we prove this model works, hospitals across Canada and possibly the world can benefit from the gift you the Carley’s Angels community have given.
Thank You
Finally, we'd like to give a heartfelt thank you to Miyo Yamashita, President & CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, for joining us at the Legacy Gala and accepting our cheque to kick-start the Care and Connect program.
We’re incredibly honoured to present this meaningful gift, made possible by the love and generosity of our community.
"This is more than a donation. It’s a gift. One that will continue to give back in more ways than one" - Miyo Yamashita, Carley's Angels Legacy Gala March 1st 2025.