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Always Be Kind 5K Run - June 29th
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The people you are helping

Thank you for supporting Always Be Kind.

Thanks to your generous donations, we are in our second year and are so proud of the impact we are making on people’s lives. I’m writing today to share a few stories of people we’ve been able to help.

One of the primary beneficiaries of our fundraising is Northwestern Hospital’s Oncology Patient Family Assistance Fund.These stories come directly from Northwestern. We have two main goals as an organization: to ease some of the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis and to spread the idea that KINDNESS can help us heal. You can always help in 2 ways: financial donations that will go to people who most need it. Or simply being kind, which costs nothing but can be priceless in terms of the impact your act of kindness may have on someone’s life.

Here are three stories of people who were helped through YOUR donations to Always Be Kind. We’ve helped hundreds more, but these stories give you an idea of the type of help Always Be Kind provides:

Help With Utility
Bills

A 42-year-old woman was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. This single mother lives with her son and recently left her job due to her diagnosis. Her family’s bills have been mounting because she does not qualify for disability. The patient received funding to assist with the final notice for her overdue electric bill, which greatly helped the patient maintain as much normalcy as possible for her high school son during his school year.

Help with Cost of Medications

A 38-year-old woman, was diagnosed with colon cancer. She lives on a very low income earned doing shift work when she is physically able. The patient is not eligible for insurance and receives financial assistance from Northwestern Medicine. The Oncology Patient and Family Assistance Fund helped cover the cost of the patient’s oral medication during her treatment. Without these funds the patient would not have been able to afford the medication needed to successfully continue her treatment.

Help with Lodging Costs

A 60-year-old woman, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma which had failed to reach remission. She and her husband live 330 miles from Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) and struggle to make ends meet on a fixed income derived from her Social Security Disability and her husband’s contract work. She needed to travel to NMH for re-staging of her cancer, but could not afford the cost of a hotel stay. The Oncology Patient and Family Assistance Fund enabled the patient’s social worker to secure funding for the patient to stay in a nearby hotel during her treatment.
Cocktails for a Cause

Check out our friends at
Vai's of Naperville!

For the entire month of August, Vai’s Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar has a featured cocktail inspired by Always Be Kind!

For every ‘Always Be Kind’ cocktail sold, $1 will be donated to our organization.

Check Them Out Here!
Our Mission by our Founder, Larry Ross

The Power of Kindness by Larry Ross

My name is Larry Ross. Last year, my life changed forever with a devastating injury I suffered during a routine  workout. After the surgeons put my arm back together, my wife and doctors told me of my cancer diagnosis. I  was scared out of my mind. But from the horrific moment of my injury, through my treatment, to today, the kindness extended to me by so many people was overwhelming. I believe THAT kindness is directly related to my cancer being in remission. 

While going through treatment I learned the financial and mental impact of cancer. While I felt so sick and some days were just awful, I still knew that not everyone in my same situation was as fortunate as me. With the help of my loving family and friends, I was able to handle the weekly expenses and mental strain associated with cancer.  Far too many people cannot say the same. I will NEVER forget my good fortune and want to repay it. I want to help as many people as possible to feel the good fortune that I felt. That is why my family and I formed Always Be  Kind – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises money for cancer patients and their families. 

What makes us different? We will solve the seemingly small problem of “we need $20 today for parking at the hospital and don’t have it”. Or “we have tuition to pay today but also have to pay for prescriptions”. Brutal choice for anyone. Sad situations like this start small but over time devastate a family’s budget and bring stress to those who can least afford an additional burden. We are the place to go for help. And we are just beginning. . 

How can you help? 

  • First, please know that kindness matters. No gesture is too small. Spread kindness. It matters.  Trust me.  
  • Second, if you can, please make a donation and know that the money will be appreciated and put to the best use. 

We will build Always Be Kind into an organization that helps many – not just with financial help but by spreading the idea that kindness can help to heal – I am living proof. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my family – thank you for supporting Always Be Kind.

DONATE TODAY

Northwestern Memorial Foundation's Patient Family Assistance Fund

The Patient Family Assistance Fund reaches some of the most underserved patients undergoing cancer treatment. It helps uninsured, underinsured and low-income patients in need who require financial support due to barriers to care, which can include difficulties accessing medication, expenses not covered by insurance, child care, housing needs and transportation to and from appointments. Please contact us if you want to get help from this fund. We will work with you and your Care Coordinator at Northwestern to ensure you get the help you need.
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Always Be Kind Family Assistance Fund

We started Always Be Kind with the purpose to alleviate some of the financial stress you may be feeling from the daily and weekly expenses associated with receiving your care. If you or someone you know needs help at any hospital or care center, please contact us and we will help you find the help you need at any facility of your choice across the country. We will help you navigate the process of getting financial help so that you can focus on your care. This is a general fund, so no request is too large or small as our core values is at the end of the day to help through random acts of kindness.
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The UChicago Medicine's Adult Cancer Patient Emergency Fund

The Adult Cancer Patient Emergency Fund is used to purchase parking passes, order nutritional supplies, pay for medicines, and more. There are many costs outside of direct patient care that can add up and cause an additional stress in an already stressful time. This fund helps to alleviate some of those stressors. We have built a partnership with a direct connection to the UChicago system where we can provide assistance in a rapid manner. Please contact us to start the process of getting help from the UChicago Medicine Adult Cancer Patient Emergency Fund.
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A word from our supporters
"I have known Kristen and Larry for decades and they are the most caring, loving, and generous people I know. Their desire, through Always Be Kind, to help patients with their struggles during a cancer journey is nothing short of inspirational."

Claudia Tellez, MD

Northwestern Medical Group Hematology and Medical Oncology

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Northwestern Memorial Foundation 30th Annual Cancer Survivors Celebration Walk & 5K

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Vai’s Naperville Raises over $1000 for ABK

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Thank you to our generous partners

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Please make all donations payable to:
Always Be Kind
3926 W. Touhy Ave
Unit 192
Lincolnwood, IL 60712

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Please allow up to 1-2 business days for a response to your inquiry. Emails sent during non-office hours will be responded to on the next business day. We thank you for your kindness.