2025 -- H 6018

========

LC001840

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

____________

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO THE GLORIA GEMMA FOUNDATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Shallcross Smith, Boylan, Tanzi, Alzate, and Slater

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation ("Gloria Gemma"),

an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has served as a beacon of hope over the last

twenty-one years for people touched by cancer throughout Rhode Island and surrounding

communities; and

     WHEREAS, According to the National Cancer Institute, 6,400 Rhode Islanders are

diagnosed with cancer annually or 6 percent of the population, and the World Population Review

ranks Rhode Island tenth out of fifty states for the highest incidence of all cancers combined; and

     WHEREAS, The National Cancer Institute reported that "as of January 2022, it is

estimated that there are 18.1 million cancer survivors in the United States representing

approximately 5.4 percent of the population, projected to increase by 24.4 percent, to 22.5

million, by 2032"; and

     WHEREAS, Gloria Gemma has earned a stellar reputation as a leader in cancer

rehabilitation and survivorship, which has captured the attention of national organizations; and

     WHEREAS, Depression is a common comorbidity in cancer cases, affecting more than

10 percent of patients. A cancer diagnosis is life-changing and is a source of considerable

psychological and emotional stress, according to the National Institute of Health; and

     WHEREAS, Affording mental health services becomes increasingly difficult for 25

percent to 50 percent of cancer patients who experience financial hardship; and

     WHEREAS, Gloria Gemma's approach to emotional, physical, and spiritual healing is to

provide innovative programming delivered with compassionate care; and

     WHEREAS, The Gloria Gemma Foundation provides free programs and services that

improve the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of cancer patients in Rhode Island,

enabling them to return to work and live productive lives; and

     WHEREAS, Gloria Gemma provides up-to-date cancer education to the community to

reduce their risks of developing cancer, and education to survivors to help them reduce their risks

of recurrence; and

     WHEREAS, In early summer 2025, the Foundation will open a cancer survivorship and

wellbeing center open to people with all cancer types; and

     WHEREAS, Evidence for integrative interventions in cancer care is growing, and

research supports the benefits of integrative interventions that the Foundation provides across the

cancer care continuum; and

     WHEREAS, The organization believes that cancer survivorship should be accessible to

all, regardless of where people come from or who they are; and

     WHEREAS, As there is no finite timeline on cancer survivorship, as it is a perpetual

process, the organization ensures all people can participate in the programs for as long as they

feel they need them; and

     WHEREAS, Gloria Gemma is pushing the boundaries of traditional support and

providing creative programming that promotes healing of the whole person and generates social

networking opportunities for patients and survivors to connect with one another; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2025-2026, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars

($500,000) to provide operational support for the Gloria Gemma Foundation and the

organization’s cancer survivorship and wellbeing center; and the state controller is hereby

authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum,

or so much thereof as may be from time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated

vouchers.

========

LC001840

========

LC001840 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO THE GLORIA GEMMA FOUNDATION

***

     This resolution would appropriate the sum of $500,000 to the Gloria Gemma Foundation

and the organization’s cancer survivorship and wellbeing center.

========

LC001840

========

LC001840 - Page 3 of 3