$10 Million Lead Gift from Stanford Health Care Supports New American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO - April 23, 2026 - The American Cancer Society today announced a collaboration with Stanford Health Care to bring a new American Cancer Society Hope Lodge ® to the San Francisco Bay Area. Stanford Health Care has committed $10 million for future operating costs, providing a powerful foundation for the planned facility, which will offer free lodging to cancer patients and their caregivers who must travel to the region for treatment at Stanford Medicine and other cancer centers.

With Stanford Health Care's gift secured, the American Cancer Society will continue to raise the $150 million needed to bring this landmark project to life, which will become the first in California. There are currently more than 31 Hope Lodge communities nationwide.

Beyond creating a place to stay, the American Cancer Society and Stanford Health Care share a vision to redefine supportive cancer lodging. The organizations intend to collaborate on innovative approaches that integrate post-acute care, technology-enabled support, and thoughtfully designed spaces that help people remain connected to their care teams while undergoing active treatment. The Bay Area Hope Lodge is envisioned as a model for the future, one that reflects how patients and caregivers experience cancer today and how care can extend beyond the clinic in more meaningful, human-centered ways.

"At the American Cancer Society, we believe no one should have to choose between getting treatment or not due to lodging challenges," said Shane Jacobson, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. "This collaboration with Stanford Health Care brings Hope Lodge to Northern California giving more patients and families the stability and support they need while focusing on their health."

Lodging costs can present a significant financial burden for people with cancer, particularly when the most effective treatment requires traveling far from home for weeks or months at a time. It is estimated that the Bay Area Hope Lodge will save patients and caregivers up to $4 million annually. The American Cancer Society is working with Stanford Health Care to remove this critical barrier to care, ensuring patients can focus on healing-not where they will sleep.

"Having lost both my mother and stepmother to cancer, this work is deeply personal for me, as it is for so many," said Maria Olson, executive vice president of the American Cancer Society's western states region. "A Bay Area Hope Lodge will bring relief at a moment when stability matters most, offering families a sense of normalcy and dignity during an incredibly difficult journey."

The project builds on a longstanding collaboration between the American Cancer Society and Stanford Health Care, rooted in a shared commitment to improving cancer outcomes and expanding access to care across the Bay Area.

The American Cancer Society San Francisco Discovery Gala has received support from Stanford Health Care since its inception more than 15 years ago, reflecting a sustained investment in cancer research and innovation. This support also includes local American Cancer Society Relay For Life events that bring communities together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones, and fund critical research and patient services. This new $10 million commitment represents a significant expansion of that collaboration and underscores a shared belief that improving cancer outcomes requires caring for patients both inside and outside the clinic.

"World-class cancer care goes beyond clinical excellence, it means meeting patients where they are and removing real-world obstacles to accessing treatment," said David Entwistle, president and chief executive officer of Stanford Health Care. "Through our collaboration with the American Cancer Society, we are strengthening vital resources for patients and families beyond the clinical setting, creating a Hope Lodge that complements medical innovation with meaningful, everyday support."

While a specific site has not yet been identified, the facility will include a Cancer Wellness Hub offering ACS EMPOWER programming focused on physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and social connection to all cancer patients and caregivers, supporting everyone impacted by cancer from treatment through survivorship.

For more information on the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge communities, visit cancer.org/HopeLodge.

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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook,X, and Instagram.