“I cried tears of joy when I got the call saying that my student loans were being paid off. It was the best news I’ve heard since being told I was in remission 4 years ago. My monthly student loan payment was always a reminder that I had to withdraw from my second year in school after my diagnosis with Hodgkins Lymphoma. The Samfund played a major part in helping me get back on my feet again and I aspire to help ‘pay it forward’ in the future.”

"I needed to be able to pay my bills until June, when I would have my 4-year degree and be able to start looking for a career, not just a job to get me through. My fiancé really wanted to buy a house and that made money really tight. With the help from The Samfund, we were able to pull together enough for a down payment for our new town-home. Moving in to the new house has really helped my psychological health because it is hard to feel successful when cramped up in a friend's basement. I never realized how trapped that situation made me feel until we moved out."

“I want to thank everyone at the Graham Foundation that made this grant possible for me. I wholeheartedly appreciate your generosity for giving me this grant and the opportunity to catch up on my car payments. I was once told that it takes a village to raise a child. I add that, it also takes a village to help to repair a problem that may have raised in adulthood that was out of their control. Graham family, I would like for you to know that you repaired my problem, and again, I thank you.” 

"The grant enabled me to fix mechanical issues with my car so I could get to work. I am very thankful for the support of the Samfund and the Graham Family Foundation! It is wonderful that there are people and organizations in the world with a mission to help others progress after going through a rough part of their lives."

“The Samfund grant that I received was one of the greatest blessings I have ever had. It may not seem like a big deal to some people, but the grant was put towards my car payment, which in turn, gave me the opportunity to help support my family more since my father lost his job. It's an incredible, empowering feeling to be able to support the people that loved and cared for me throughout my diagnosis and treatment. I am forever grateful to the Graham Family Foundation and Samfund for helping me to move forward!”

“We just wanted to say THANK YOU in the biggest way. The money we received (for mortgage payment) helped us in our time of need. Our lives have been turned upside down, but we are getting back on track and looking forward to the future. The Lord has really blessed us. Thank you for having such a wonderful program. May God bless the Graham Family Foundation, the Samfund and all the people who support it.“

“I just wanted to start out with a hearty and honest 'thank you' for your assistance…I know everyone whose lives you've touched are likely as appreciative and grateful as I am. When I received the grant money, I put it to good use right away in my life. It was put toward my car repair bills. I had a lot of repairs and inspection to cover, plus regular upkeep. The constant travel due to my medical situation has required my car to be in near constant use in all kinds of weather and traffic. This has helped not only with the bills themselves, but with my overall health. I was having increased muscle soreness, lots of trouble sleeping, and worsened nausea and headaches, exacerbated by stress. I think in the face of disability and illness, many people forget that stress exacerbates almost anything, as much as it slows recuperation. Plus of course, I need my vehicle to get to and from my treatments and appointments.  In lowering my stress, you've helped ease my journey through this chapter of my life. Thank you very much, on behalf of myself and everyone you've helped, or will help.”

“Thank you so much for my Graham Family Foundation grant to cover student loan payments for three months. I am three years past recurrence and haven’t been able to return to full time work because I am still plagued with fatigue. At this point it seems entirely uncertain if I’ll ever be able to return to “normal”. My experience with a recent part time, temporary position really makes me fear what the rest of my future work prospects will be based on my physical abilities. Thinking about that and the tens of thousands of dollars left on my student loans and the two decades of payments remaining can really bring me down to a dark place or make me panic. This three months of support has lifted such a burden. I’ve been able to stop worrying about how I will cover all of my bills with my disability insurance and whatever fluctuating part-time income I might be able to bring in. I have been able to focus on doing what I can in the present and remaining hopeful for what the future might bring. It’s so wonderful to be able to move into a better frame of mind because I’m not constantly thinking about bills. Thank you again for the support you’ve given me and all the other young adult cancer survivors who’ve received respite as the result of your generosity.”

"We are doing GREAT since the Samfund and the Graham Family Foundation took an elephant off our shoulders. The grant I received prevented our car from repossession. We were 3 months behind and had no one to turn to. It was locked behind a chained gate from Oct 20th until they received your check. We originally had over a $1300 balance on our electric bill, and after visiting every church here locally, along with your help, brought it down to a $0 balance. That is the first time we have seen that in over a year. If it would not have been for this grant, the car would have been gone and the electricity may have been shut off. We cannot thank you enough for that grant. Aside from being "cancer free" this was another miraculous event that my wife and I are extremely grateful for."

"Thank you so much to the Samfund and Graham Family Foundation. I greatly appreciate it. I really needed that (four months’ car payment). Helps so much. Now the kids will have a Christmas."

“The Samfund and Graham Family Foundation Grant helped me with my rent payments for two months allowing me to catch up on my credit cards and pay off some medical bills. I am forever grateful to everyone involved for making this possible.”

“I want to start by saying how honored and grateful I am with the Samfund and Graham Family Foundation for granting me the help. I was so happy and in shock to receive the news from Michelle that I would be granted help for my car repairs and a computer. I was so honored and grateful for this opportunity that will help me worry less about the cost of repairs. I unfortunately haven't had the funds to do maintenance on my car since I received my transplant June 2016. From the constant doctor appointments to the hospital my vehicle took a toll from all the commuting. I depend on my car for my traveling to visits, going to school, and daily getting around for my daughters needs or mine. I barely have enough funds to get me through the month for daily living expenses and haven't had the sufficient funds for car repairs."

"Thank you all very much for everything you have done for me. This grant means more to me than any words can express. The last few years have been very difficult on myself and my family. This grant has allowed me to better provide for my children and take care of my monthly bills without being as stressed as I previously had been. Anyone that has been touched by cancer knows how much stress it can place on our day to day lives, thank you for being there for us during these difficult times and shedding some light on times that grew to be very dark."

“Thank you for your generous donation to the Samfund, which funded a grant I won for acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture, effective as it is, is expensive, not covered by insurance, and with my existing healthcare expenses, was financially out of reach. Pain medications stopped helping my intractable cancer-related neuropathy, and the side effects became unbearable. Desperate for relief, I applied for, and received, a Samfund grant that made it possible for me to try this alternative therapy. It has made all the difference in improving my pain, and quality of life. I’ve been off pain medication completely for a year, and am now enrolled in nursing school. Your grant has enabled me to maintain my drug-free pain management and overall recovery from recurrent Hodgkin’s disease. That is a gift worth more to me than any dollar amount. Many thanks, again, Graham Family Foundation, for your generous donation.”

First off, I would like to greatly thank the Samfund and the Graham Family Foundation for all their gracious donations to not only myself but other families. My family was greatly appreciative of all contributions made to us... With me not working the money came in handy for bills and mortgage, allowing us to keep our newly purchased house for at least a few more months. Once again on behalf of the family, we thank you all.

"With my financial constraints, for years, I have gone without a permanent crown over where a root canal was performed. Left lingering, unaddressed, it's one that only gets worse over time. Being a recipient of a Samfund grant made possible by the Graham Family Foundation, I am now finally able to get this dental situation resolved. Additionally, the payments to student loan debt have freed me to focus on resolving my other debts and expenses. My health was into a nosedive when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and since then it has been at times a very rough, stressful journey. But as I go forward, I have met so many caring people connected through these experiences in treatment, recovery, and survivorship. Thank you so much for the relief Graham Family Foundation!"

“With a three year battle of cancer, my medical debts continued to accrue over time. I was trying to stay on top of the current years out of pocket expenses, but was also behind in years 2014, 2015, and 2016. This grant has allowed me to eliminate the debt from the past years which was a huge goal and burden lifted off.“

“This grant came to me at a time in my life when I needed support the most. With this grant, I was able to meet one month of rent just when I was laid off at work and really needed those funds. The other portion of the grant allowed me to go to therapy which is helping me greatly with my concentration and guidance in this time in my life that I feel I am at a crossroads. I am very thankful to the Graham Family Foundation for this grant that provides assistance to young cancer survivors like me. I am really thankful for their generosity and I hope the Graham family continues to be blessed to be able to help others in the future.”