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What We Do - Programs and ProjectsIn the short history of this organization, we have raised money for different programs and projects. Working in tandem with both The Wellness Community and Gilda's Club, we have created our first two of what we hope are many cancer research centers/libraries which will house the latest books, videos, periodicals, computers and research assistance. These centers will provide free and vital information for people and their families and friends who are learning how to live with and combat cancer.
Additionally, we donated monies for WeSpark, a Los Angeles-based cancer support c enter for cancer patients, their families and friends. Our financial support has been allocated to supplement a children's art program. GOALS FOR THE FUTURE
THE FIRST JENNIFER DIAMOND CANCER INFORMATION LIBRARY OPENS TO PUBLIC THE WELLNESS COMMUNITY - Valley/Ventura
530 Hampshire Road Westlake Village, CA 91361 phone 805.379.4777 www.wellnesscommunityhope.org The Jennifer Diamond Cancer Research Library had it's grand opening on October 27, 2003. The library, which is housed at The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, was donated by Harvey & Alice Diamond in honor of their daughter, Jennifer, who passed away from appendiceal carcinoma in July of 2002. The library is open to all; it contains state of the art Apple computers, monitors, a printer/copier, and a variety of books, as well as information on CD-ROM and video. After Jennifer's diagnosis, Harvey spent untold hours doing research trying to find out as much information as he possible could on this rare type of cancer, searching for anything that might save his child. Harvey searched the Internet, went to libraries, and consulted different doctors in different areas across the country. It is because of this intense research that The Jennifer Diamond Cancer Research Library exists today. Sitting down with Harvey to discuss the idea behind the library, he remembers a specific conversation he had with his daughter. Harvey said, "I was sitting on Jen's bed holding her and I said Jen, I don't know what else to do for you and she said, "Dad, you have done so much and have gained so much knowledge from this experience, please try and share it with others. Try and help other people." A few days before Jen passed away, she signed the papers forming The Jennifer Diamond Foundation." Their mission statement reads: "The Jennifer Diamond Foundation is dedicated to helping people win the fight against all forms of cancer. We are focused on empowering people with knowledge, as well as supporting research and healing programs that provide the tools to help treat the mind and body as one." Several days after the Foundation was formed, the idea of a library began to form. Harvey states, "I was fortunate that I could take the time and had the resources to do this type of research. Some people don't have that ability. My hope is that this library gives them that ability. I tried to make it as simple as possible for everyone, for those who may fear computers or those who are not so computer savvy. I don't want anyone looking for information on the Internet and in the books to feel overwhelmed in any way." There are many medical libraries that are not open to the general public. The Diamonds feel that everyone needs access to this type of information if they so desire it. It was Harvey's promise to Jennifer to help others, and this library is her p arents' labor of love to their brave and precious daughter. In 2004, The Jennifer Diamond Foundation will be opening three more cancer research libraries in the Los Angeles-area community.  THE SECOND JENNIFER DIAMOND CANCER INFORMATION LIBRARY OPENS IN THE DESERTGILDA'S CLUB - Desert Cities California
67-625 East Palm Canyon Drive, Ste. 7A (State Rt. 111) Cathedral City, CA 92234 phone 760.770.5678 www.gildasclubdesertcities.org The second Jennifer Diamond Cancer Research Library, funded in part by proceeds from The Jennifer Diamond Foundation's 2nd Annual Celebrity Sailboat Regatta and Gala Dinner, opened its doors at 10am on Tuesday morning, November 16, 2004 at Gilda's Club - Desert Cities, a 10,000 square foot facility, located 5 miles northeast of Palm Springs in Cathedral City, CA.
In 1991, actor/comedian Gene Wilder and psychotherapist, Joanna Bull, founded G ilda's Club, which is named in honor of Gene's late wife, comedian Gilda Radner, who passed away from ovarian cancer. At the time, Gene and Joanna's mission was to create a free community where men, women and children with all types of cancer and their families and friends could enhance the quality of their lives through social and emotional support, networking and education. Today, their mission remains the same. While modeled after the first library, which opened in October 2003 at The Wellness Community in Westlake Village, this library has a completely different feel to it. The atmosphere and decor greatly reflects the peacefulness of the Southern California desert. Alice Diamond states, "The library is so beautiful and serene. It will offer cancer patients and their loved ones a comfortable and peaceful place to go, to obtain the information that is so important during their journey with cancer." Two state-of-the-art Apple computers and monitors provide easy internet access; a wide variety of medical textbooks with information on all types of cancer and cancer therapies fill the bookshelves, as well as educational and inspirational information in books and on CD-Rom and videos. A printer/copier is available for those who may want to take the information home with them to look over again at a later time. Although the library is located at Gilda's Clu b, it is open to the public. It was after an early visit in 2004 to the future home of Gilda's Club and subsequent meeting with Paula Kennedy, Executive Director of Gilda's Club, that Harvey and Alice Diamond made the decision that Gilda's Club was the ideal site for the second Jennifer Diamond Cancer Research Library. At the time, the facility was still under heavy construction but the vision was clear. Harvey said, "One of the primary goals of The Jennifer Diamond Foundation is to place libraries in various parts of California and then, hopefully, move on to the east coast. Gilda's Club and Cathedral City fit in well within our goals. It also helped that the people associated with Gilda's Club had their act together and their plan and enthusiasm was very apparent to both Alice and myself. The decision to come out to the desert and to Gilda's Club was the right move, at the right time, for The Jennifer Diamond foundation." The mission of The Jennifer Diamond Foundation, which was created in 2002, days before the passing of Harvey and Alice Diamond's daughter, Jennifer, from appendiceal carcinoma (cancer of the appendix), is to help people win the fight against all forms of cancer. Focusing on empowering people with knowledge, as well as supporting research and healing programs that provide the tools to help treat the mind and body as one. Keeping in mind with the mission of The Jennifer Diamond Foundation, art programs and art therapy classes have been funded this past year. A music therapy program is in the works and of course, more libraries are planned. The third Jennifer Diamond Cancer Research Library is scheduled to open sometime in late February/early March at WeSpark Cancer Support Center in Sherman Oaks. Additional libraries that are scheduled to open in 2005 include: St. John's Hospital in Camarillo and The Wellness Community in Santa Monica. If you are in the Palm Springs area, we encourage you to take that five-mile drive northeast and stop in to see The Jennifer Diamond Cancer Research Library, take a tour of Gilda's Club - Desert Cities and enjoy the peace and serenity the facility has to offer.  JDCF HELPS CHILDREN WITH A LOVED ONE BATTLING CANCERThe Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation has helped to underwrite the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura Kid's Circle program for 2007. This program benefits children between the ages of 5 and 11 who have a parent or grandparent w ith cancer. The Kid's Circle program helps these children to express themselves through art, music, poetry and storytelling so that they have an outlet to deal with their feelings during these very difficult times.  JDCF OPENS LIBRARY AT FRENCH HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTERFRENCH HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER - Hearst Cancer Resource Center
1911 Johnson Avenue San Luis Obisbo, CA 93401 phone 805.543.5353 www.frenchmedicalcenter.org On Friday, April 4, the Hearst Cancer Resource Center opened its doors to an invitation-only Grand Opening Celebration. This VIP event drew more than 100 attendees who enjoyed inspirational and personal speeches from Tom Vendegna, M.D., Steve Hearst, San Luis Obisbo Supervisor Jerry Lenthall, San Luis Obisbo Mayor Dave Romero and others. A highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of a beautiful donor monument featuring the names of significant donors. The following day, the HCRC welcomed more than 100 community members who toured through the center while learning about its purpose and programs. The HCRC is a collaborative effort bringing existing community groups such as the American Cancer Society, Cancer Connections, Enhancement, Inc., and the Wellness Community under one roof to provide cancer support and education to our community. The services at the HCRC are completely free to the San Luis Obisbo County community. The HCRC was conceptualized by Dr. Vendegna after his personal battle with cancer. French Hospital Medical Center first received the seed money to create the center from members of the Hearst family. Since then, more donations have been given including $1 million from the Hearst Foundation towards a $4 million endowment fund that will allow the center to be funded indefinitely. From the artwork on the walls, to the wigs and hats, the HCRC is completely funded through donations. A gift received just days before the opening was a multi-media library now named the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Resource Library. The library gives cancer patients and their loved ones access to the latest cancer related books, videos, periodicals, computers and research assistance.  JDCF OPENS CANCER RESOURCE LIBRARY AT USC/NORRISUSC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
1441 Eastlake Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033 phone 323.442.7893 http://ccnt.hsc.usc.edu/ When Jennifer Diamond was diagnosed with appendiceal carcinoma, a rare form of appendix cancer, she and her family found it extremely hard to access information about her disease. After Jennifer passed away at age 30, her parents - Alice and Harvey Diamnd - vowed to help others by providing resources to cancer patients and their families.
On June 5, 2008, the Diamond's promise was realized at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center with the formal opening of the Patient Educationand Outreach Center and Jennifer Diamond Cancer Resource Library. The library is the sixth of its kind to be funded by the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation, a fundraising and outreach organization created by Jennifer during her illness. The library is housed at the Patient Education and Outreach Center, a state-of-the-art cancer resource facility of the Cancer Center devoted to patients, their families and community members seeking information about cancer. With support from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Information Services, the center also performs outreach activities and conducts informational programs relevant to the communities it serves. The center also features computers, reference books, printers, DVDs and Internet access. In addition to manual and computerized information, the center has live phone help with specialized counselors with training from the NCI, a patient navigation information system and trained volunteers to assist with access to cancer-related resources. "We not only have scientific and medical experts here; we also have dedicated volunteers; we have very experienced health educators and health promotion specialists, and we have very experienced cancer patients who want to give back," said Diana Chingos, chair of the Cancer Survivorship Advisory Council. The Jennifer Diamond Cancer Resource Library is located on the ground level of the Harlyne J. Norris Cancer Research Tower. Level G, Suite 501. It is open daily from 10 am to 3 pm and is staffed by volunteers and USC/Norris staff. OUR LIBRARIES ARE LOCATED AT:THE WELLNESS COMMUNITY - Valley/Ventura
WeSPARK
THE CANCER CENTER @ ST. JOHN'S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER GILDA'S CLUB - Desert Cities California FRENCH HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER - Hearst Cancer Resource Center
USC/NORRIS COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER
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ROY & PATRICIA DISNEY FAMILY CANCER CENTER @ PROVIDENCE SAINT JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER (Our library is located within the John & Lowry Hench Library)
181 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91505
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