Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit is pleased to announce the organization is the recipient of the donation of assets from the Sabrina Black Foundation, totaling $50,099.09.

Gilda’s Club recently absorbed the assets, liabilities and daily operations of the Sabrina Black Foundation. While the Sabrina Black Foundation will no longer be a nonprofit corporation, the ideals and efforts of supporting people living with cancer will live on for many years through the work of Gilda’s Club. In many ways, this is an expansion of the original idea for the foundation.

The Sabrina Black Foundation was created to provide financial support for cancer patients through the reimbursement of hospital and doctor visits, copays and other medical costs directly to the organizations on behalf of the patients. Since its inception in 2006, the foundation awarded more than $71,000 to cancer patients. While Gilda’s Club does not provide financial assistance to individuals, the organization will honor existing contracts to cancer patients totaling $13,013.18, which expire in March 2014. The remaining unrestricted funds will support program activities at Gilda’s Club.

The Sabrina Black Foundation was established in 2006 in memory of Sabrina Black, a long-time local radio personality. Sabrina was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease at age 35. She became a member at Gilda’s Club and often could be found helping in the gardens or volunteering for various tasks around the clubhouse. After her death in March 2006, her husband, Steve, attended the spouses’ bereavement group at Gilda’s Club.

“Immediately after losing Sabrina to cancer, I turned to Gilda’s Club for guidance,” said Steve Black. “It gave me the realization that I wasn’t alone, even though my circumstances were unique.

Knowing that I can use Sabrina’s name to help others struggling against the disease fills me with hope.”

“By donating our assets to Gilda’s Club, we can have a much greater impact on cancer patients in metro Detroit, which is what Sabrina would have wanted,” continued Black.

“We are incredibly grateful and touched to be chosen as the recipient of the assets from the Sabrina Black Foundation,” said Heather Hall, executive director at Gilda’s Club. “Since both Sabrina and Steve were members at Gilda’s Club, there is a special connection with the organizations. I appreciate that Steve recognizes and trusts that Gilda’s Club will help fulfill Sabrina’s wishes of providing support to people living with cancer. These funds will help us continue to provide support groups, education lectures, workshops and more for people living with cancer, their families and friends.”