The Sanborn Foundation - Providing financial assistance to Arlington MA residents affected by cancer since 1998

How can the Sanborn Foundation help me?

The Sanborn Foundation helps Arlington Massachusetts residents pay for expenses related to their cancer care and treatment. Since its inception, the Foundation has granted over $5,000,000 and helped hundreds of your friends and neighbors.

Do I qualify?

If you are an Arlington Massachusetts resident and have a letter from your medical provider verifying a cancer diagnosis, you are eligible to apply for a grant.

If you have additional questions, please review our frequently asked questions page or contact us for more information.

Do you provide transportation assistance?

Funded by a grant from the Sanborn Foundation, the Arlington Council on Aging Transportation Program provides rides for Sanborn recipients of any age to cancer-related medical appointments.

Learn more about arranging for a ride or escort to your medical appointments.

Recipient Stories

Portrait of Melisa Tintocalis, Chris Gauthier and family.

When their daughter Elise was first diagnosed with sarcoma at the age of nine, Chris Gauthier and Melisa Tintocalis heard about Sanborn through the friend of a woman who had been helped by the Foundation.

How do I apply?

The Sanborn Foundation uses an easy, online program to process applications and maintain individual recipient accounts.

If you need assistance, please contact our Outreach Coordinator, Sheelah Ward at 781-859-6079. Or, if you’re ready to apply now, click the button below:

Apply Online

Testimonials

The Sanborn Foundation has helped me greatly during a long treatment period. The reliable transportation to and from the hospital, which took the stress out of my treatment and the precise arrival time, no financial burden, and wonderful companionship of very caring people has made me very comfortable during this long recovery period. I am very grateful that Arlington provides this wonderful program.

We appreciate the profoundly generous support from Sanborn. How do people thank the Foundation?! No thank you letter will ever come close to expressing our gratitude.

I just want to say how incredibly grateful I am to the Sanborn Foundation for their help during my time of need. I was completely overwhelmed when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer. It’s been a whirlwind year – two rounds of chemotherapy/immunotherapy, two surgeries and then radiation, during which the COVID19 outbreak occurred. But the Sanborn Foundation has been so helpful with medical bills and other expenses. I just wanted to reach out and say how grateful I am for all that you have done.

Thank you for the generous support given to my sister. It made a huge difference, especially in her last months, knowing she wasn’t leaving a financial burden to her husband and children.

“Relaxation” frees the heart.
“Courage” opens the heart.
“Compassion” fills the heart.
Thank you so very much for giving me the gift of all three.
Please find a letter of sincere appreciation + gratitude. Please count on me to help give the Sanborn Foundation the recognition it deserves.
With many thanks,

Being awarded a grant took the weight of worry about financing my husbands care off of my shoulders. Thank you for the work you do and the care you show when you do it.

I still feel as if I’m waking up from a dream after talking with you (Sanborn Outreach Coordinator) yesterday. My husband and I are absolutely floored at the kindness and generosity of your organization. From the bottom of our hearts – thank you.

The funds from the Sanborn have meant a tremendous amount to me and my family. We have been able to focus on me getting better instead of on the financial stress, in addition to the overwhelming situation we have found ourselves in.

There really are no words to express our tremendous appreciation to you and your team and to the incredible generosity of Mr. George Sanborn. I read from your site that he originally wanted to build a hospital in Arlington. If he only knew the impact he has had. If I ever had another child – which I won’t – I’d name the baby George!

Thank you very much to the Sanborn Foundation for helping me out. I am glad you are there for me, if I need you.

Providing financial assistance to Arlington residents affected by cancer since 1998