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Join us in a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build the nation’s FIRST CANCER RESPITE CENTER and positively impact families facing cancer.

respite-transform-cfs-logo

Join us in a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build the nation’s FIRST cancer respite center and positively impact families facing cancer.

respite-transform-hero2023

Pete’s Story.

Cancer.

When I heard this word with Pete, I didn’t envision a thirteen-month struggle battling this disease and life without him. But this was my reality. During our journey, we had the unique opportunity to experience a respite from cancer thanks to the generosity of our loving community. Before his death, Pete communicated his vision for a respite center so that other young families could reconnect, rejuvenate and refresh in a safe environment, an environment that allowed for communication, reflection, joy and pain to be shared within a family unit and together with other families in the same journey. For twenty-five years, FPS has impacted over 12,000 people with this gift of respite. Today, we embark on an endeavor that will bring respite to thousands more!

We announce our Respite Transformed Campaign: Pete’s Vision Realized at Woodloch.

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Depicted above is Pete Bossow in July 1999, two months before he died. It was during this time when he outlined his original vision of the respite center; the drawing above was done immediately following his passing.

RESPITE Transformed

RESPITE
Transformed

Our $32M Respite Transformed Campaign will culminate in the construction of the $25 million FPS Cancer Respite Center at Woodloch and add $7M of funds to the endowment; this center will transform cancer care in the Northeast region and offer transformational respite experiences in the most scalable, sustainable, effective, and efficient way possible.

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Project Vision.

Designed using 20 years of qualitative and quantitative outcome data from thousands of Respite Recipients and with input from oncology professionals, our Program Outcome Measures collected since the start of community respites at Woodloch statistically demonstrate the impact of respite on the patient, caregiver and their loved ones.

Every space lends for transformative experiences that will change the continuum of care for cancer patients.

Focusing on health outcomes for the family unit, the facility includes a dedicated dining room serving 60,000 meals annually, an art room with stress reducing activities, a chapel for quiet meditation, yoga space for the entire family, a swimming pool for water therapy and outside nature trails on its 32 acre campus.

Click the icons on the rendering below to learn more about our Respite Center.

  • Pond & Babbling Brook

    Our families will find this area a place to calm down the body and mind with the sound of a gentle stream flowing down a rocky landscape.


  • Native Butterfly Meadow

    The Native Butterfly Meadow is designed for beautification, habitat creation and to attract pollinators, like the Monarch butterfly. Butterfly Meadows encourages healthy pollination in the area and creates communities within the ecosystem.


  • Rain Garden

    Our rain garden will collect and soak up rainwater runoff from paved areas, roofs and the surrounding landscapes to reduce flooding and create a habitat for butterflies, song birds and other wildlife.

  • Community Courtyard

    This outdoor gathering area will host relaxing activities, al fresco dining and allow our families to gather as a community around the firepits to enjoy calming unity, laughter and of course, smores.


  • Flagpole Plaza

    Our flag raising ceremonies, will not only honor our country and those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. It will also display our commitment to honor and support our families through their cancer journey.

  • Nature Trail

    Our trails will be constructed using asphalt pavement to create a continuous, smooth trail that will provide an ease to ambulate around the campus and take in the surrounding beauty of the Pocono Mountains. Our nature trail will also connect with existing hiking trails for those who wish to be immerse in nature and all its beauty.

  • Amphitheater

    This will be one of our most treasured outdoor spaces, built into the beautiful, wooded landscape wrapping our families in the calming beauty of nature. Our amphitheater will be a great place to gather, catch a performance, hold outdoor programming and endless opportunities of entertainment and spiritual connection for our families. Located adjacent to our chapel, providing our families the ability to join sunrise services, meditation, and renewal of vows. Thoughtful planning ensures healing of the mind, body and soul while being fully accessible for all levels of mobility.

  • Cornhole, Shuffleboard & Bocce Area

    This area of the Family Fun Zone provides leisure activities for our families to reconnect and relax.

  • Pavilion in the Family Fun Zone

    This structure will provide full coverage from the sun, allowing our families to enjoy breaks from the various play activities. Additionally, it will provide a gathering space for various therapeutic activities and entertainment.

  • Nature Playground

    Our nature playground is a play environment featuring natural elements that feel integrated with the outdoor landscape. It will enable children to move freely and creatively around the environment allowing them to explore, run, jump, climb and swing.

  • Play Lawn

    Our recreational play lawn will provide endless opportunities to play while inspiring movement. Our families will be able to enjoy the lawn year-round with frisbee, soccer, lawn games, snow stomping footprint tag, snow angels, snowmen and so much more.

  • Labyrinth

    Our labyrinth creates a walking meditation, to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance in life, enhance creativity and encourage meditation, insight, self-reflection and stress reduction.

  • Wishing Well

    Our families will be able to come together and share encouragement, love, joy, healing and hope for their family members as well as the other families they met on respite.

  • Chapel

    A peaceful space that fosters an environment for prayer, reflection, meditation, and other spiritual practices, supporting individuals on their unique journeys of spiritual health and well-being. This inclusive sanctuary welcomes people of all beliefs and traditions, offering a tranquil setting for personal reflection, growth, and healing.

  • Pool

    A pool offers both therapeutic benefits and opportunities for joy, serving as a place where water’s calming properties can soothe the soul. It provides a welcoming space for family connection, laughter, and cherished memories, blending relaxation and fun into a powerful source of emotional and physical rejuvenation.

  • Lodging Units

    Comfortable and thoughtfully designed lodging units tailored to meet the unique needs of cancer patients and their families, providing a supportive and healing environment during their stay.

Impact & Vision

View Building Renderings
Campaign Brochure

Impact.

Respite Transformed will change the continuum of care. For Pete’s Sake will scale efficiently and effectively, bringing integrative oncology with 20,000 respite nights and 500,000 respite hours to over 4,400 people annually. Here’s how significant this change will be for cancer patients and their loved ones!

Current Future
States served 5 15
Families served weekly 2-4 16
Individuals serviced by respite 764 4,496
Nominating cancer centers 260 411
Post-respite support & outreach 17,778 69,688
Volunteer engagement 770 3,840
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Respite makes a difference. Our respite data and outcomes have been recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and published in an April 2020 FPS abstract, title Individual and community respite as supportive care for adult cancer patients, their caregivers and their families. FPS has presented twice at the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) national conference on the therapeutic impact of respite on patients, caregivers and their families relative to strengthened communication, relationships, resilience, quality of life and coping with cancer.

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Increase in caregiver's coping ability
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Increase in patient's coping ability
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Increase in child's coping ability

Our nominators continually report outcome data to For Pete’s Sake to measure impact. 100% of our nominators report improvement in patients’ and the families’ ability to cope with cancer. Furthermore, oncology professionals themselves report renewed strength and stamina in the clinical setting.

Scalable Respite Model

    • Expands accommodation inventory by 700%
    • Streamlines internal and external operations
    • Provides a drivable location in 15 target states
    • Drives operational efficiencies
    • 38% direct cost reduction: $5,757 to $3,533 per respite
    • 23% indirect cost reduction: $11,865 to $8,407 per family for respite and ongoing ancillary support
    • Return on capital of $25M construction cost of 6.18 years
    • Creates a replicable respite model for the nation

Sustainable Respite Model

  • Leverages hospitality partner Woodloch in collaborative agreement
  • Capitalizes on Woodloch partnership with access to resort amenities
  • Allows for revenue creation when Center not occupied
  • Uses robust Respite Volunteer Program to offset costs with 11,000 hours annually
  • Extends Respite Volunteer Program to oncology professionals to offset career burnout
  • Adds an additional $7 million to FPS endowment

Evidence-Based Therapeutic Outcomes

  • 18 years of data demonstrates respite impact
  • 100% of nominators report improvement with coping by average of 50%
  • Benefits of Community respite recognized by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in 2020
  • Benefits of Family Respite recognized by American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) in 2010 and 2022
  • Oncology Nominator, Patient, Caregiver and Children Feedback Available Here

Meet The Team

Marci Schankweiler
Founder & CEO
marci@takeabreakfromcancer.org
(215) 416-7489

Bob Kiesendahl
Owner – Woodloch Resort
woodbob@woodloch.com
(570) 470-9944

Campaign Committee

Chairwoman
Kate Shields*

Chairman
Tom McGinn

Chair Emeritus
Dale Moss

Founder & CEO
Marcella Schankweiler*

Board Chair
Meghan Patton*

Peter** & Shirley Ma
James Greenhalgh & Dana Linn-Greenhalgh
Missy McGinn
Michael & Lisa Minghenelli*

Jeffrey Boyle
Craig & Taryn Jones
Paul & Courtney Ferrero
Colleen Koh**
Charles* & Amy Greenberg
Pat & Shelia Bello
Bob McNeil
R. Brad* & Kelly Minor

*Member, Board of Directors
**Chair, New York Council
*** Young Friend Board Member

Board of Directors

Vice Chairman
Joseph Manion

Secretary
Colleen Lange

Treasurer
Paul Mullen

Susan Buehler
Christopher Selgrath
Vanessa Mapson
William Matthews, III
Kristin Williamson
Caroline Duffy***
Frank Fanto***

Building Committee

Chairpersons
Christopher Condon
Craig Hamilton
Keith Ledwith

Glen Arthur
Patrick Bello
Anthony Gerardi
Helen Malloy Griffin
Craig Jones
Beth Kuttler
John Murabito
Dave Smith
Richard Salamone
Mary Beth Stefanowicz
Tricia Tysiak, BSN, OCN

Woodloch Community

Bob Kiesendahl
Dave Smith
Rory O’Fee
Amy Beilman

Staff

Vice President of Program & Mission Development
Bonnie J. Miller

Program Director
Carol Schwind, RN

Medical Advisory Committee

Et-tsu Chen, MD
University of Pennsylvania Health System

Terri McHugh, DO
Main Line Health

Meg Garrett, BSN, RN, OCN* University of Pennsylvania

Health System
Melissa Kratz, RN, MSN, OCN Lehigh Valley Health Network

Luanne Chynoweth, LCSW

Mary Oleksiak, LCSW

If you would like more information or to discuss a possible naming opportunity, please contact
Marci Shankweiler, at marci@takeabreakfromcancer.org or call (215) 416-7489. Read more about For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation on its website at www.takeabreakfromcancer.org.