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

Soon after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Amy Yelin learned about Sanborn from another Thompson School mom. Sanborn's support has included all of Amy's out-of-pocket expenses and co-pays, wigs and supplies related to lymphedema.

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

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.

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.

I wanted to send my deepest, heartfelt thanks for all financial support I was given during a very difficult diagnosis and recovery this year.
Eight months post-surgery, I am fully back to life… working, swimming, travel, time with friends and family.
The support I got from Sanborn was invaluable, and made an uncertain time just a bit easier.

M.S.

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 have been struggling with breast cancer off and on since 2009 and Sanborn has helped me tremendously along the way.

My illness kept me from working full-time. As a single parent, it has not always been easy to make ends meet, but you have helped to bridge the gap.

We are so grateful to the Sanborn Foundation for all of your help during my dad’s final months. Because of you, we were able to keep my parents together during this time. You have a wonderful organization and we will be forever thankful.

Thank you for making my friend’s cancer journey more bearable and less burdensome

Wow, it is so amazing and kind of the foundation to approve my grant. This will be so tremendously helpful- can’t even express how helpful…and it just fills my heart with appreciation and gratitude (sounds corny but true!)

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.

Thank you so much for all the support you have given to me. It has made my cancer journey more manageable and affordable, so I could use some of the symptom management services such as acupuncture.
I deeply appreciate your unique support to Arlington’s community and myself.

Sincerely,
A.B.

Providing financial assistance to Arlington residents affected by cancer since 1998