With one in three Michigan residents facing cancer in their lifetime, it affects every workplace. That’s 3.33 million people worried about keeping their jobs, making a living and enjoying their future. Add on their caregivers, spouses and children and you get millions more.
New Day is Michigan’s only nonprofit that provides both financial and emotional support to families navigating any type of cancer, anywhere in the state. We’ve been on the front lines of Michigan’s cancer crisis for 18 years, supporting more than 13,000 people and awarding over $10 million in financial support. Our network of 120 hospitals and cancer centers statewide, from rural clinics to major health systems, gives us insight into what families need. We have served people in 93% of Michigan’s counties, and we are working toward 100%.
The work we do is not only life-changing, but it’s also good business. Financial and emotional support during cancer treatment can help reduce absenteeism, lower medical costs and boost retention by enabling quicker recovery, faster returns to work and better health outcomes. 98% of our families report a reduction in financial stress, 80% had emotional relief, and 76% were able to maintain medical compliance because of New Day.
Medical and business leaders agree: Cancer support is essential
As Dr. Steven Kalkanis, EVP of Henry Ford Health and CEO of Henry Ford Medical Group, explains, “What New Day is able to accomplish for our patients is lifesaving, it’s rejuvenating, it’s a safety net, it’s hope. You see a dramatic change in the outlook for that patient, and it gives them renewed hope thinking, ‘I can beat this. I can fight it. I can keep going. I’m going to finish this treatment.’ And I can tell you from a medical standpoint, it actually makes a huge difference.”
Dr. Carl J. Koschmann, a Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, adds, “Having insurance and the programs that exist within the state are not enough. We just know we have to rely on organizations like New Day to fill in those gaps.”
Health-minded businesses are starting to pay more attention. In fact, the Economic Alliance for Michigan’s 2024 Oncology Symposium reported: “It’s crucial for employers to recognize the significant impact of financial stress on employees receiving medical treatment and to ensure that employees know about and have access to the support they need.” The Symposium also recognized that New Day is part of the solution for cancer patients facing financial challenges.
What sets New Day Apart
A personal and immediate approach to providing financial assistance, emotional support and resource navigation matters to families and their employers. Last year alone, New Day helped 1,741 people across the state facing 70 different types of cancer by paying 2,150 essential bills and worked with other social service organizations to ensure every family’s needs are met. We also prioritize the emotional health of the entire family. New Day has curated a trusted network of 40 licensed professional counselors who offer 1:1 mental health support to patients, caregivers and any immediate family members in need during treatment and up to one year after.
When facing a cancer diagnosis, support from employers is vital. To help their employees with cancer achieve the best possible treatment outcomes, businesses can set up a customized referral program through New Day to give their employees access to vital resources. Taking this step can make a meaningful difference for those fighting cancer, inside or outside of your company, and can strengthen the local impact and brand reputation of your company.
Why cancer support is an investment in Michigan’s future
The strength of our committed Board of Directors and leadership team has led to support from major foundations across Metro Detroit, including the A.A. VanElslander Foundation, the Carls Foundation and the Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation who together have contributed $4.3 million in gifts and pledges and have seeded an endowment.
We don’t just serve families facing cancer — we are families who have faced cancer. Every person on our team, from staff to executive leadership, has experienced cancer. Investing in New Day means working with people who understand what families are going through.
Survivors, their families, and those whose loved ones have been taken by cancer aren’t just inside our organization, chances are they’re inside of yours too. The next time you’re gathered with co-workers, look around the room or on that virtual meeting screen. Asking “Who hasn’t been affected by cancer?” might be a more enlightening way to think about it.
It takes a team to take on cancer. If you are a Michigan business leader looking to make a meaningful investment in the health of our communities, join us.
Our statewide reach, comprehensive approach, and proven track record means we aren’t just making a difference, we are an investment in Michigan’s future. Together, we can help families facing cancer across the state, and every dollar stays right here to strengthen our families, businesses and way of life.
Read this content in Crain’s Detroit Business.
With one in three Michigan residents facing cancer in their lifetime, it affects every workplace. That’s 3.33 million people worried about keeping their jobs, making a living and enjoying their future. Add on their caregivers, spouses and children and you get millions more.
New Day is Michigan’s only nonprofit that provides both financial and emotional support to families navigating any type of cancer, anywhere in the state. We’ve been on the front lines of Michigan’s cancer crisis for 18 years, supporting more than 13,000 people and awarding over $10 million in financial support. Our network of 120 hospitals and cancer centers statewide, from rural clinics to major health systems, gives us insight into what families need. We have served people in 93% of Michigan’s counties, and we are working toward 100%.
The work we do is not only life-changing, but it’s also good business. Financial and emotional support during cancer treatment can help reduce absenteeism, lower medical costs and boost retention by enabling quicker recovery, faster returns to work and better health outcomes. 98% of our families report a reduction in financial stress, 80% had emotional relief, and 76% were able to maintain medical compliance because of New Day.
Medical and business leaders agree: Cancer support is essential
As Dr. Steven Kalkanis, EVP of Henry Ford Health and CEO of Henry Ford Medical Group, explains, “What New Day is able to accomplish for our patients is lifesaving, it’s rejuvenating, it’s a safety net, it’s hope. You see a dramatic change in the outlook for that patient, and it gives them renewed hope thinking, ‘I can beat this. I can fight it. I can keep going. I’m going to finish this treatment.’ And I can tell you from a medical standpoint, it actually makes a huge difference.”
Dr. Carl J. Koschmann, a Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, adds, “Having insurance and the programs that exist within the state are not enough. We just know we have to rely on organizations like New Day to fill in those gaps.”
Health-minded businesses are starting to pay more attention. In fact, the Economic Alliance for Michigan’s 2024 Oncology Symposium reported: “It’s crucial for employers to recognize the significant impact of financial stress on employees receiving medical treatment and to ensure that employees know about and have access to the support they need.” The Symposium also recognized that New Day is part of the solution for cancer patients facing financial challenges.
What sets New Day Apart
A personal and immediate approach to providing financial assistance, emotional support and resource navigation matters to families and their employers. Last year alone, New Day helped 1,741 people across the state facing 70 different types of cancer by paying 2,150 essential bills and worked with other social service organizations to ensure every family’s needs are met. We also prioritize the emotional health of the entire family. New Day has curated a trusted network of 40 licensed professional counselors who offer 1:1 mental health support to patients, caregivers and any immediate family members in need during treatment and up to one year after.
When facing a cancer diagnosis, support from employers is vital. To help their employees with cancer achieve the best possible treatment outcomes, businesses can set up a customized referral program through New Day to give their employees access to vital resources. Taking this step can make a meaningful difference for those fighting cancer, inside or outside of your company, and can strengthen the local impact and brand reputation of your company.
Why cancer support is an investment in Michigan’s future
The strength of our committed Board of Directors and leadership team has led to support from major foundations across Metro Detroit, including the A.A. VanElslander Foundation, the Carls Foundation and the Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation who together have contributed $4.3 million in gifts and pledges and have seeded an endowment.
We don’t just serve families facing cancer — we are families who have faced cancer. Every person on our team, from staff to executive leadership, has experienced cancer. Investing in New Day means working with people who understand what families are going through.
Survivors, their families, and those whose loved ones have been taken by cancer aren’t just inside our organization, chances are they’re inside of yours too. The next time you’re gathered with co-workers, look around the room or on that virtual meeting screen. Asking “Who hasn’t been affected by cancer?” might be a more enlightening way to think about it.
It takes a team to take on cancer. If you are a Michigan business leader looking to make a meaningful investment in the health of our communities, join us.
Our statewide reach, comprehensive approach, and proven track record means we aren’t just making a difference, we are an investment in Michigan’s future. Together, we can help families facing cancer across the state, and every dollar stays right here to strengthen our families, businesses and way of life.
Read this content in Crain’s Detroit Business.