Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids provides free emotional healthcare to children, adults, families, and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause.

Founded with love by cancer survivors, the doors of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids were officially opened on February 15, 2001. However, the grassroots movement to bring a Gilda’s Club to the community began in the spring of 1996 by local philanthropist Twink Frey. As a cancer survivor, she knew personally the lack of social and emotional support resources available to her when she was going through her diagnosis, treatment and life altering “after effects.” She was joined by two other local cancer survivors – Deb Bailey and Susan Smith – and together, these three women set about the task of founding Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.