Compass to Care is honored to be named a 2021 Top-Rated Non-profit for the second year in a row. We are proud of our accomplishments this year including providing travel to over 248 families. Thank you to Great Nonprofits for this recognition of our work and thank you to those that submitted reviews on our behalf.

Two-year grant from The Abra Prentice Foundation, Inc. funds the program launch for Black and Latinx children

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, April 14, 2021: As the childhood cancer industry continues to identify ways to reduce the survival disparities faced by Black and Latinx children, Chicago-based Compass to Care, The Mike & Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation is launching its CARE & BACK™ program to address a critical need to access cancer treatment for Black and Latinx children.  

For many of the most common forms of childhood cancer, survival is lower among Black and Latinx children, in comparison with non-Hispanic white children. Studies have linked much of this disparity to a family’s socio economic status (SES).  It is believed that initiatives to reduce social and economic barriers to access effective cancer care could have a great impact on the overall survival rates for these children. One industry-recommended initiative is the supplementation of travel costs during a child’s cancer treatment.

Transportation is a basic, but necessary, step for on-going health care, especially for those with chronic diseases like cancer.  According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), transportation challenges prevent a staggering 3.6 million Americans from receiving medical care each year.  Children with cancer are among these patients. For children whose families are facing poverty and/or cancer-related financial toxicity (CRFT), getting to treatment can be a real problem and these families need reliable access to Non Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). 

Compass to Care has a well-established program to successfully meet the NEMT needs of children traveling from suburban and rural communities. Care & Back™ will help us meet the needs of urban-based children, many of whom are Black and Latinx.

“As a leading provider of travel support for children with cancer in the United States, Compass to Care saw an opportunity to address the travel needs of Black and Latinx children who reside in urban communities and who are not supported by our current travel program,” commented Compass to Care founder Michelle Ernsdorff-May. “Building on our entrepreneurial experience, expertise in funding NEMT, and the partnerships we have formed over the past decade, we hope to increase cancer survival rates for these children by making all travel to Care & Back™ free.”

With a two year-grant from The Abra Prentice Foundation, Inc., Compass to Care will be able to provide NEMT for Black and Latinx children via a custom-built application using the Kaizen Health platform.  Families living at or below 218% of the federal poverty level can request free rideshare rides, via the Kaizen Health web application, to consistently get their children to the medical center for cancer treatment and cancer-related medical appointments.

“We could not be more honored to partner with such a wonderful organization that is helping children in their fight against cancer,” commented Kaizen Health CEO, Mindi S. Knebel.  “My mother-in-law faced challenges with transportation during her battle with breast cancer, which was half of the inspiration for starting the Kaizen Health. It makes me happy knowing how proud she would be of this important work that we get to play a role in by partnering with Compass to Care,” Knebel added.

The Abra Prentice Foundation has been a key funder for Compass to Care over the past seven years.  Their funding of Care & Back™ has been instrumental in launching this program.  Additional funding will be necessary to deliver this support network to children across the United States and the organization is currently seeking funders. 

“Healthcare disparities exist, even for children with cancer.  The best cancer treatment in the world cannot cure a child if they have no way to get there. We are hoping other companies and funders see how these racial disparities are affecting the survival of Black and Latinx children with cancer and will support our program to give each of them a fighting chance,” added Ernsdorff-May.

TO DISCUSS THE CARE & BACK™ PROGRAM AND FUNDING OR PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CONTACT: Michelle Ernsdorff-May, Compass to Care Founder (312) 515-9490 • Michelle@CompassToCare.org

About Compass to Care: Compass to Care, The Mike & Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides a free Non Emergency Medical Travel (NEMT) solution to access life-saving cancer treatment and clinical trials for children fighting cancer and living in families facing financial distress. To learn more visit www.CompassToCare.org

It was when he began working at CIBC that Adrian heard about Compass to Care for the first time. Several of his new colleagues urged him to use his talents as a member of our Associate Board. “After finding out about the impact and strides the organization was making,” Adrian said, “I decided to jump on board to continue in helping the organization grow and achieve its mission”.

Since June, Adrian has definitely lived up to this promise. He says his favorite thing about serving on the board is working with other young professionals toward a common mission by capitalizing on each of their strengths.

From the success of this year’s Bubble Fun Run and Gold Ribbon Gala, it is apparent that this strategy has paid off for the Associate Board. This is because it is filled with people like Adrian, who are talented and driven to help others. Most importantly, they share a common belief in the mission of Compass to Care. Adrian, for one, is excited for the organization’s bright future. “With the dedicated members at every level,” he said, “I think we will continue to surpass prior year fund raising efforts and continue to become a well-known organization that helps families across the nation.”

It meant – I was really doing this – even though most people thought I was nuts! (Dad!) I was really going to jump into a world where I knew very little so I could create a place for families to turn when their children are fighting cancer. It was an outward expression of the gratitude I had, and still have, for my parents who gave everything to save my life so many years ago. It was a leap of faith that those who heard our story would want to stand by our side to help children and families they will likely never meet.

And by the grace of God, it started from that one piece of paper and grew into an organization that currently supports children from Alabama, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. It helps each of these children travel with the hope of seeking a cure from cancer that has stricken their little bodies.

We have raised $2.4 million. We have supported almost 500 CHILDREN. We have paid for 12,400 TRIPS for these children to travel 1.58 MILLION MILES to seek cancer treatment.

Through it all, we have had the support from family, friends, and strangers, who we now call friends. Each learned about our mission and felt compelled to lend a hand to a child who deserves every chance to grow up. We have been a place for parents to turn for a little relief during some of the darkest days. We have been a critical part of saving many lives and we have mourned the children who were called home way too soon.

And for 10 years of the support you have offered to Compass to Care and the support you have allowed us to give families braving childhood cancer, I extend my most sincere gratitude. Together, we have made a difference

It is the mission of the 100+ Women Who Care Dubuque to raise $10K or more in one hour for a charity with 501(c)3 status located within 15 miles of Dubuque.

On May 28th, several of the members of the 100+ Women Who Care Dubuque arrived in the Compass to Care office with a check in hand.  The ladies had raised a total of $13,700 to support Compass to Care’s kids!!!!

“It is such an honor to be nominated among so many wonderful organizations in the community.  And then to win, just blew our minds away,” commented Compass to Care founder, Michelle Ernsdorff-May  “We are so grateful for the impact this substantial support will make for children who need to travel to access cancer treatment. Thank you to all of the women who give so generously each quarter to a different charity, and for choosing us this time,” she added.

Since 2016, 100+ Women Who Care Dubuque has raised over $200,000.00 for local non-profits in just 12 hours.

Compass to Care, The Mike & Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation, announced today that it has appointed Anna Golod and Douglas Hong to its Board of Directors.

Anna, a Compass to Care donor since 2013, is the Vice President of Quality Assurance and Project Management Organization at Allstate Benefits. With an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Anna has pursued a successful career in IT. She has extensive knowledge in software development and is now working on a senior leadership team to centralize, streamline, and optimize Allstate Benefits Technology to deliver business results.

“Anna’s experience in project management and IT brings a new and different element to the current Board of Directors. With a proven passion for helping children with cancer, Anna will be a great asset to the Compass to Care Board of Directors,” commented Michelle Ernsdorff-May, Compass to Care’s founder.

Doug, the Vice President of Finance and Accounting at Union Partners LLC, was also appointed to the Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment to the Board of Directors, Doug was an active member of the Compass to Care Associate Board for six years.  Doug received a Bachelor’s of Finance and Accounting from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and became an Auditor at Deloitte and Touche. Following Doug’s role at Deloitte, his focus shifted to mergers and acquisitions as a manager at Grant Thornton and as a finance director at UL LLC.

“Doug’s financial education and knowledge from past professional experiences, as well as his dedication to Compass to Care, makes him a perfect addition to our Board,” Ernsdorff-May added.  

ABOUT US: Compass to Care, The Mike and Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization that ensures all children, whose parents have a financial need, can access life-saving cancer treatment.  The organization carries out this mission by scheduling and paying for travel arrangements between a child’s home and the medical center where he or she is receiving treatment.

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I joined the Compass to Care Associate Board in 2016 out of a desire to give back to the community. I specifically wanted join an organization that helps to make a positive impact on the lives of children. Compass to Care’s mission of easing the burden on children and families dealing with a cancer diagnosis really hit home for me.

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago where I spent the majority of my formative years with a lacrosse stick in my hand. Upon graduating high school lacrosse took me to Florida for college where I attended the University of Tampa and majored in Finance. After College I accepted a job with CIBC Bank USA (f.k.a the PrivateBank) and am currently a Relationship Manager in their Middle Market Banking group where I work on providing various financing structures to middle-market companies across all industries.

I currently live in Old Town with my girlfriend and our new puppy Rory (a Silver Lab). I enjoy playing golf, lacrosse, and beach volleyball in my free time.

(Cover photo: Peter diving down to the Great Barrier Reef)

Jennifer has packed Dina Dolls, worked Tag Days, and walked in our 5K. But mainly, she is a driving force behind our annual Fashion Show. She began volunteering with Compass to Care when we had our very first Fashion Show 7 years ago. Why then? What prompted her to volunteer?

“The kids were modeling, and knowing family, friends, and kids that have cancer, I just felt it was the right thing to do,” she explained. It turned into a valuable experience for Jennifer, and she has been involved in every aspect of every Compass to Care Fashion Show since that first one. With her leadership, this event has become our most successful annual event.

“What do I do? I work with Michelle to make sure everything is arranged and set up – the dj, venue, the food. I help find and train other volunteers, make sure they are where they need to be. I just love watching the Fashion Shows unfold – seeing the liveliness of our parents and kids has made me realize that year after year, this is why we do this,” Jennifer said.

But that’s not all – Jennifer has helped in other ways over the last 10 years. She and her daughter helped pack and ship Dina Dolls when they first came in. She has volunteered during Tag Days. She even walked in our 5K last year, but as a participant, not as a volunteer.

“I wanted to take a step back, instead of volunteering, and help raise money from that aspect,” she said.

When she is not volunteering for Compass to Care, Jennifer is a Project Manager at RR Donnelley. She also coaches her daughter’s volleyball and softball teams, and serves on the board for the softball organization.

To Jennifer, volunteering is just as important as making a monetary donation.

“People want to give, but not everyone can donate money. We always need volunteers, and time is just as important as the money. The impact that volunteers and donors make with our families – there are no words.”

If you would like to offer your time and talent to help Compass to Care and kids with cancer, please sign up on our website, and we will be in touch!