This program enables these women to hire the extra help they need during treatment. Help that is often provided by family or community. Lemonade Fund grants focus on financially vulnerable women and provide urgent, tailored assistance for non-medical essentials—such as childcare, eldercare, extra household help, transportation, and basic living costs—so they can focus on healing with peace of mind and dignity.
Primary goal of this program
The primary goal of this program is to counter the unique issues faced by single women who are newly diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer. We aim to ensure that single Israeli women lacking family or social support, can undergo treatment with compassionate assistance and without financial crisis.
Applicants who will benefit
Young single women living alone. (Students, lone soldiers, new immigrants)
Single mothers with young children
Elderly widowed, divorced or single women living alone
Why is this program so important?
Single women facing breast or gynecological cancer experience the crisis in its most acute form. Without a partner or family network on whom to rely, they carry the primary burden of treatment and daily survival – caring for children, homes, paying bills while losing time from work, transportation to hospitals, all while fighting for their lives. Many are sole breadwinners who must stop working for months during chemotherapy, post-surgery or radiation. Some now have additional biological treatments that extend the duration of their treatment. In Israel’s socialized health system, medical care is covered, but non-medical costs quickly become overwhelming. For these women, the choice often becomes impossible: delay treatment to keep a roof overhead OR proceed with care and risk financial collapse.
Recent grant recipient
Evelyn, 45, a single mother, is facing a critical challenge during her treatment for breast cancer. She has been the sole caretaker for her disabled five-year-old son since his birth. Due to the demands and side effects of her own medical treatment, Evelyn suddenly found herself unable to physically care for her son. She had to incur significant costs for childcare and help around the house. A grant from the Lemonade Fund provided Evelyn with the immediate funds required to hire the necessary specialized help, ensuring her son’s stability and allowing her to focus on her own recovery. Evelyn is no longer alone.