For the past two decades, Wilton-based Circle of Care has been supporting families of children with cancer through programs and services such as day-of-diagnosis care packages, dream room makeovers, and emergency financial assistance to help families pay for non-medical expenses like housing, transportation, and food. The nonprofit works in partnership with Yale New Haven Hospital, CT Children’s Medical Center, Baystate Children’s Hospital in Western Massachusetts, and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY. Since its inception, Circle of Care has helped 3,600 families and provided over $5 million in services to families in need.
It all started when two Wilton mothers heard the words that no parent ever wants to hear: “Your child has cancer.” Circle of Care founders Liz Salguero and Dawn Ladenheim met in a support group and were shocked to discover that they lived in the same town, both had young sons with leukemia and were treated by the same doctor but had not yet crossed paths. Before their sons’ treatments had even ended, they set out to find a better way for parents to connect and navigate their journeys together.
In 2004 they started Circle of Care to help ease the childhood cancer experience for other parents like them. The organization has since grown to become one of Connecticut’s leading providers of non-medical assistance to families facing childhood cancer.
“Twenty years ago, we started with a simple idea of providing a day of diagnosis care package to families in the hospital,” Salguero recalled. “I had no idea how this organization would grow nor the impact we would have on so many people’s lives. Sometimes I am in awe of what we have accomplished. Other times I realize there is still so much more we can do.”
Circle of Care has refined its expertise in helping families over the years. The organization has been recognized as a leading authority on family support and childhood cancer. Most recently, Salguero received the Cancer Community (C2) Award presented by AstraZeneca and Scientific American, a national award that recognizes changemakers across the U.S. who are redefining cancer care and providing better access to resources. She has also received other awards for Circle of Care’s positive impact, including Moffly Media’s 2023 Light A Fire Award, and she was recently invited to join the Forbes Nonprofit Council.
Circle of Care will celebrate this milestone anniversary with a series of events open to the public this year, including a 20th Birthday Open House at its Wilton office this Friday, March 15; the town-favorite CARE to Run 5K in Wilton on May 5; and a 20th Anniversary Gala at the Loading Dock in Stamford on June 13.
For more information on how to get involved and support Circle of Care’s mission, visit the organization’s website.