American Cancer Society

In 1983, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Burlington, Vermont opened its doors with the goal of becoming a “home away from home” for cancer patients and their families, says Angela Putnam, Hope Lodge manager.  At that time, the Hope Lodge had five bedrooms and two bathrooms, with one additional area serving as the dining and living room and cancer resource library. In 2008, Hope Lodge again opened its doors—this time to a much larger home.

The new Lodge contains 16 bedroom suites, each with its own bathroom; moreover, patients and families can gather in spacious living and dining rooms and have access to an on-site Quality of Life Center providing information and resources as well as space for patient and caregiver support programs. Designed with environmentally sustainable features, the new Hope Lodge will also receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Argosy partnered with the American Cancer Society in 2005, issuing a challenge grant to raise funds for the new Hope Lodge. The Foundation’s support has helped the organization leverage additional funds. Together, these funds have allowed the American Cancer Society to finance the building and opening of the new American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, Lois McClure - Bee Tabakin Building.

“Even in a generous community like Burlington, fundraising can be a long effort for a project the size of the Hope Lodge,” says Peter Swift, M.D., a radiation oncologist with Fletcher Allen Health Care and member of the volunteer campaign committee. “After approaching the Argosy Foundation, I was thrilled at how quickly and intimately the importance of the Lodge was understood. It was understood immediately that the facility would not only offer housing for patients undergoing long, fatiguing, and socially disrupting treatments, but that it would serve as a safe, supportive respite for spiritual renewal. The Foundation’s support came rapidly, as a well timed lead donation, in the form of a challenge grant. The grant gave the committee confidence that indeed we would get the Lodge built.”

“After their ‘boost’ we met the Argosy challenge and maintained the momentum to push ahead to meet another challenge grant, from The Kresge Foundation,” explains Dr. Swift. “At another critical time the Argosy Foundation stepped in again to help us meet a fundraising deadline to be able to actually start the building process. I cannot thank the Foundation enough for their sharing our vision and their wholehearted support of a very worthy community asset.”

Putnam says Hope Lodge is important not only because it helps alleviate the costs associated with staying in a hotel, but also because of the relationships guests and their families develop. “It gives people who are going through the same experience the chance to be under the same roof, and they truly help each other through treatments and provide a sense of hope for one another,” she explains.

Donald J. Gudaitis, chief executive officer of the New England Division of the American Cancer Society, agrees with Putnam’s statement. "Our ambition for the Hope Lodge program is to provide cancer patients throughout the Northeast with a place of refuge—a place with the comforts of home, supportive friends, and freedom from the burden of lodging expense,” he says. “The new American Cancer Society Hope Lodge is an outstanding example of donors, volunteers, and caregivers working together to help friends, loved ones, and neighbors.”