To: Lannia Syren Stenz, Executive Director, LauraJane Hyde, Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Ramlochan, Leann Arkema, President/CEO, Shelley Goren, CEO, and Kim Thiboldeaux, President/CEO
Keep the Gilda in Gilda's Club
The name on the door matters. Please do not take the Gilda out of Gilda's Club.
Why is this important?
Gilda's Club is a non-profit organization that exists to provide a place for people living with cancer, their families and friends to come for emotional support. It is named after the late, great Gilda Radner, who died from ovarian cancer in 1989. It was founded by her husband, Gene Wilder, Joanna Bull, Radner's cancer psychotherapist during the time she had cancer, and broadcaster Joel Siegel.
Now they want to change the name to "Cancer Support Community" as they feel younger people don't know who Gilda was and therefore there is no meaning in the name.
As a single mom who is fighting cervical cancer, I assure you, the name means something. I don't want to go to a "Cancer Support Community." I hear the word cancer enough on a daily basis. It is sterile and meaningless. It is not a home. It is not a safe place. It is not a place I feel I can turn to. Gilda's Club is. Gilda once said cancer gave her "membership to an elite club I'd rather not belong to." THAT is a concept we all can relate to. THAT is someplace that I know will understand.
There are many organizations, educational institutes, hospitals, and more named after people that the younger generations may not know. They are named after these people for reasons. Instead of striping them of their names, let us educate and keep the memory of those people alive. Gilda deserves it.
Please help us keep the Gilda in Gilda's Club.
Now they want to change the name to "Cancer Support Community" as they feel younger people don't know who Gilda was and therefore there is no meaning in the name.
As a single mom who is fighting cervical cancer, I assure you, the name means something. I don't want to go to a "Cancer Support Community." I hear the word cancer enough on a daily basis. It is sterile and meaningless. It is not a home. It is not a safe place. It is not a place I feel I can turn to. Gilda's Club is. Gilda once said cancer gave her "membership to an elite club I'd rather not belong to." THAT is a concept we all can relate to. THAT is someplace that I know will understand.
There are many organizations, educational institutes, hospitals, and more named after people that the younger generations may not know. They are named after these people for reasons. Instead of striping them of their names, let us educate and keep the memory of those people alive. Gilda deserves it.
Please help us keep the Gilda in Gilda's Club.