Anthony Gallonio established the National GRACE Foundation in 2011 after his daughter Grace received a cancer diagnosis at age one. The foundation provides free higher education admissions and financial aid information and advice to families of childhood cancer survivors. Volunteers from higher education across the country help illuminate the hidden curriculum and guide students and caregivers through applications, forms, and deadlines. GRACE, short for Growing, Recovering and Achieving a College Education, aims to break down barriers to enrollment and reduce stress for families. A 2019 study found roughly half of childhood cancer survivors graduated college, with chronic conditions lowering completion by age 25. Many survivors pursue careers in health care, social services, or research.
I remember looking at these kids coming in [to the hospital] thinking, 'How are they doing it?'
Their lives are still going on, high school is taking place, college is still in the future. We know one missed application or one missed form or one missed deadline could mean the difference between getting into a school or not or getting tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships or not.
The whole goal has been to take the stress out of the college admissions and financial aid process for families who have a lot of stress going on and try to help them avoid the mistakes that I have seen over the years,
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