For families in the FPS program, we offer ongoing support beyond the respite that assists them as their journey with cancer continues. This support continues to address our six health pillars through in-person events, online education, and access to additional resources, including bereavement care.

Game Night for All – Holiday Board Game Collection

FPS Game Night for All is a holiday initiative to collect new family board games during the holiday season. The goal is to bring joy, connection and moments of play to FPS families navigating cancer. Donated games are distributed throughout the holiday season and the following year during travel respites and staycations.

In-Person Events

We provide complimentary in-person events each year to bring together our FPS Alumni Respite Recipients and members of our donor and volunteer community! With over seven hundred attendees at these events, we ensure our families have adequate opportunities to continue to explore ongoing friendships and support and continue to promote the take a break mantra and experience a boost in psychosocial, emotional, physical and family health. We invite our healthcare professionals to these events as well, giving the oncology professionals a safe space to strengthen their relationships with their patients outside of the clinical setting. These events last year included Pancakes for Pete, the FPS Phillies Tailgate, FPS Walk! and our Respite Symposium Series taking place across our service area including in New York, Delaware and New Jersey. And we also offer one-off opportunities and community events as well! Check out our latest events by going to the events page on our website and you can click “Family Events” to filter.

Carry-On Club

We understand that for some, the acceptance and management of grief is part of a family’s respite journey. We are here to respond with kindness, dignity and support. Our resources impact spiritual, emotional, psychosocial, and family health. We offer peer-to-peer support with our Carry-On Club, a social club for surviving spouses and partners in our Respite Program. We offer seminars and events in addition to support and love to help our community members process their loss and grief. We also extend this support to other surviving spouses and partners beyond our community.

Family Newsletter

We produce an FPS Family Newsletter, which provides educational resources, uplifting stories, event invitations and health and wellness information for families. We also share materials and webinars via our private Facebook group, which targets patients and caregivers.

Most importantly, to assess the unique needs of each family, our FPS Alumni are put on a call schedule managed by our Program Team in which we connect with them at least four times a year in the first year of respite and bi-annually thereafter. This outreach process also involves a coordinated effort of volunteers. It provides a basis for us to recognize what other resources, if necessary, should be shared with a family in our program.