Recap on The Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology's COVID-19 Response

In May 2020, PHASE ONE Foundation provided a generous grant of $50,000 to the Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, to help them respond to the increased need for their services. This grant allowed the Center to continue their mission of supporting and empowering the overall psychosocial care of cancer patients, their families, and frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Upon receiving a community grant from PHASE ONE, the Center created several new programs that are now underway. All of their services are free and these new programs have been incredibly successful in easing the increased stress and heightened anxiety of cancer patients during such a tumultuous year. 

Educational programs in nutrition, spiritual care, qi gong, and meditation are offered as well as workshops on healing through art and preparing for surgery. This grant has also helped the Center continue to offer both the “Letters from the Chemo Chair” program, designed to comfort those going through chemo treatment alone, and the “Rippling Reflections” program, helping address the many challenges people with cancer face when tackling end-of-life issues. 

By building on the success of existing programs, funding from PHASE ONE helped the Center generate the financial ability to host all of their programs remotely. In addition to supporting cancer patients and their families, the Center has been able to provide support to frontline COVID-19 healthcare workers by establishing virtual support groups for nurses, respiratory therapists, and other team members.

PHASE ONE is proud to support the Simms/Mann-UCLA Center and we’re grateful that our gift was able to relieve some of the psychological stressors that 2020 brought with it. From helping the Center’s team get the equipment they needed to operate remotely, to providing one-on-one counseling with cancer patients, we are especially proud that these operations and new programs have made a difference in the overall well-being of so many who are affected by cancer.