The Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area has begun construction on a new support center that promises to transform cancer support services in the Bay Area. During a milestone groundbreaking event attended by over 200 community members, local officials, and supporters, the organization celebrated the launch of its final Capital Campaign phase, "Rooted in Resilience." The new facility, to be built on six acres adjacent to the Lafayette Reservoir, will significantly expand the organization's capacity to provide comprehensive, no-cost supportive care programs.
With $2.6 million remaining in its fundraising goal, the campaign has already secured $30 million, including a substantial $5 million anonymous donation match. CEO Lucinda Bazile emphasized the center's broader significance, stating that the groundbreaking represents the beginning of a new era of compassion, innovation, and resilience in cancer support services. The center will feature innovative spaces including children and teen enrichment areas, support rooms, a demonstration kitchen, counseling rooms, art studios, a library, café, and healing gardens.
Local and state leaders celebrated the project's potential impact. Lafayette Mayor Susan Candell noted the center will provide much-needed support to those affected by cancer, while Congressman Mark DeSaulnier praised it as a beacon of hope and comfort for those facing cancer and their families. Since its founding in 1990, Cancer Support Community SF Bay Area has provided evidence-based supportive care programs including counseling, support groups, nutrition guidance, exercise programs, emergency financial assistance, and specialized programs for children and teens.
The new center will enable the organization to deliver in-person, virtual, hybrid, and on-demand culturally responsive programs. With advanced technology and expanded facilities, the organization aims to double its impact and reach more individuals and families across diverse Bay Area communities, continuing its mission of providing comprehensive, compassionate cancer support. The organization's website at https://cancersupport.net provides information about their existing programs and services that will be expanded through this new facility.
