About Gilda's Club
Gilda's Legacy
Gilda's Club is named in honor of Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. Gilda dreamed that all people affected by cancer, as well as their families and friends, would have access to the same kind of emotional and social support she received during her illness.
The Clubhouse Network
The first Gilda's Club opened its signature red door in New York City in 1995. Additional clubhouses have since opened in dozens of large cities, small cities, and several points in between. Gilda's Club has helped change the lives of tens of thousands of members, restoring a sense of control and enriching the entire family. Gilda's spirit lives on at every Gilda's Club.
The Cancer Support Community
The headquarters organization for a network of more than 80 affiliates, the Cancer Support Community works with communities around the world to start and sustain local clubhouses.
Advocacy Role
Our long-term goal is to strengthen the global understanding that emotional and social support are as essential as medical care when cancer is in the family. Gilda's Club founder Joanna Bull is a frequent lecturer at cancer-related institutes and psycho-oncology meetings and conferences around the world, and has been an advisor to the National Cancer Legislation Advisory Committee.
Gilda's Club Founder
Joanna Bull, Gilda’s Club Founder
Joanna Bull, M.A., M.F.C.C., is the co-founder (along with Gene Wilder amd Joel Siegel) of Gilda's Club and is an Honorary Member of the Board of Directors of Gilda's Club Worldwide. Gilda's Club is named for Gilda Radner, with whom Ms. Bull worked as a cancer psychotherapist during the comedian's illness. Throughout her career, Ms. Bull has worked to establish free cancer support communities - first at the pioneering Center for the Healing Arts in Los Angeles - later at The Wellness Community in Santa Monica and Redondo Beach, California, and finally at Gilda’s Club. In addition to participating in the development and administration of such communities, she has trained and supervised therapists extensively in the concept, and has worked with hundreds of people who have cancer, as well as their family members, on psychosocial issues related to cancer.
Raised in Detroit, Ms. Bull attended the University of Chicago; she also studied at the Chicago Art Institute. Her Masters in Clinical Psychology was earned at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She is the author of Gilda's Club: Philosophy and Program, as well as numerous professional papers.
Our Team
Founding Board of Directors
- Joanne Franke, Chair
- Cynthia Mills, Vice-Chair
- Rosanne Smith, Treasurer
- Stephanie Jutsun-Pereira, Secretary
- Ken Davies, Board Member
- Roger Cole, Board Member
To contact a member of our board, please use our contact form.
Staff
- Peter Mayhew, CFRE, Development Director
We are building our Medical Advisory Council.
If you are interested in having more information regarding our Medical Advisory Council please use our contact form
Learn More...
- About Gilda's Club Southeastern Ontario, please visit our contact page. We'd love to hear from you!
- About becoming a Volunteer
