Causes: Cancer, Health, Human Services, Patient & Family Support, Transportation Assistance

Mission: The mission of Compass to Care is to provide a free Non Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) solution to access life-saving cancer treatment and clinical trials for children fighting cancer and facing poverty or cancer-related financial toxicity (CRFT). By supporting families in financial distress and removing the transportation barrier to access cancer treatment, Compass to Care is focused on preventing missed medical appointments and improving outcome for children living in poverty or whose families are facing CRFT.

Results: Compass to Care alleviates the financial burden of childhood cancer-related travel costs so that families can focus on what’s most important: the health of their child. 2010 through 2012 served as the foundational years for Compass to Care. During that time, we were able to help 22 children get to the hospital for cancer treatment. As support for our mission has grown, so has the number of children we've been able to support. To date (2021), we have supported over 900 children as they have made more than 16,000 trips to treatment! Those 16,000+ trips mean that our children have traveled almost 2.7 MILLION miles - just to get to cancer treatment and back home again!

Target demographics: Children under the age of 18 who have been diagnosed with cancer, are currently in an active treatment regimen, must travel at least 60 miles to get to the medical center for care, and whose families demonstrate a financial need for assistance.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 170 children with cancer

Geographic areas served: We currently support children across the United States, with a particular focus on children in the Midwest.

Programs: Our sole purpose is to be a cancer travel navigator for children who have cancer and their families so they can get to the hospital for treatment that can save their lives.