Ulman Cancer Fund to Build First-of-its-Kind House in East Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD – February 3, 2016 – Among an audience of more than 700 supporters, patients and corporate partners at the organization’s annual Blue Jeans & Bowties Ball, the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (UCF) announced the official launch of a $3 Million Capital Campaign and the organization’s biggest project to date – building The UCF House.

The Campaign is the most ambitious fundraising initiative in the Ulman Cancer Fund’s 18-year history and includes a priority to serve an unmet need of patients in the community, providing free housing for young adult cancer patients and their families while receiving treatment in Baltimore.

“Young adult patients age out of many other facilities or don’t find critical peer support at non-age specific facilities. With treatment protocols that require them to stay near hospitals for long periods of time, housing can be crippling financially and prevents some young adults from receiving treatment at top-notch Baltimore hospitals. Our organization exists to remove barriers and drive change – for years we’ve wanted to make this home away from home for young adult cancer patients and their families a reality, and now it is becoming one” – Brock Yetso, President & CEO of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults

Through a strategic collaboration with East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI) UCF was able to acquire four attached row homes on East Madison Street, just north of the Johns Hopkins Hospital campus.

“We’ve been welcomed into the community by EBDI and we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the neighborhood’s transformation,” said Yetso.  UCF also has the support of District 45 legislators, Senator Nathaniel J. McFadden and Delegate Cory V. McCray, who are sponsoring a bond bill requesting funds for the project.

Delegate McCray commented:

“Fostering relationships between the public and private sectors is key to addressing challenges in our city, and I am encouraged and inspired by UCF’s interest in helping to strengthen our community.”

Visioning sessions with medical professionals, patients, and caregivers, and planning meetings with architects and builders led to the design of a unique, comfortable, supportive, and empowering space that will include eight family suites, a gym/wellness space, a relaxation space, resource library, outdoor space in the forms of a backyard and a rooftop deck. 

The UCF House will be conveniently located within blocks of Johns Hopkins and a short distance to other downtown Baltimore cancer centers.

Dr. Kenneth Cooke, Director of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, works closely with young adult cancer patients and is supportive of UCF’s efforts to open The UCF House. 

“Young adults fighting cancer face real challenges when it comes to finding affordable housing during treatment, in particular when they have to stay within a few miles of the hospital for 100 days after a bone marrow transplant. The UCF House will meet this need and offer a place where young adults can find much needed peer support and a sense of community.”

The House will cost approximately $1 Million to build and open, and $200,000 to operate each year. UCF has embarked on a Capital Campaign to raise $3 Million with three priorities – to build the House and raise funds to operate it for the first three years, grow the organization’s endowment, and enhance existing programming for young adults and families impacted by cancer.

At the time of this announcement, the organization has reached two-thirds of the campaign goal during a “quiet phase” thanks to generous lead gifts from The Kirk Family Foundation, The Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Foundation, The Bradley T. MacDonald Family Foundation, and The Family of Jamie L. Roberts.

Every UCF staff member has made a personal contribution to the Campaign, with total staff giving exceeding $100,000. 

At the event Saturday night, when the Campaign was officially launched, an inspired audience made gifts totaling over $100,000 towards the Campaign. The event raised well over $300,000 in proceeds.

The UCF House is expected to break ground before the close of the first quarter with a projected completion date before the end of the year. 

The Capital Campaign is now public and every dollar donated will help change a life.

About her family’s gift, Kellie MacDonald shared,

“As a family that has personally been impacted by cancer and benefited from the great work of the Ulman Cancer Fund, we’re thrilled to support this Campaign and The UCF House.  We have a rare opportunity to be involved in a labor of love to improve our city and change the face of cancer care for young adults in Maryland. Together we can make a difference now, and I encourage others to consider joining us as we bring support and hope to patients and families fighting cancer here in Baltimore.”

To learn more about how you can make an impact, please visit www.ulmancancerfund.org/theucfhouse or contact UCF’s Development Director, Katie Norton, at (410) 964-0202 x112 or knorton@ulmanfoundation.org.

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