Woman’s Cancer Association of UM

Providing funds for cancer research, cancer education and patient welfare since 1959

Woman’s Cancer Association of the University of Miami

The Woman’s Cancer Association of the University of the Miami (WCA) has a long history of raising funds to support cancer researcher doctors of the University of Miami and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Since their beginning in 1959, they have raised over $14,000,000.00 for Cancer Research.

The Woman’s Cancer Association also helps cancer patients and their families with financial assistance through The Silver Lady Fund. Sylvester Social Workers reach out to us for immediate help when there are no other options.

In the late 1950’s 28 Dade County women met to discuss ways to help fight the battle against cancer. By 1959 the group had adopted its organizational charter as the Woman’s Cancer Association of the University of Miami (WCA) and elected Madelon Ravlin as Founding President. The WCA mission then and now is to support cancer research, cancer patients’ needs, and cancer education.

In addition to members’ extensive donations of time, talent and treasure, WCA’s grants are also supported by donations from friends of WCA and foundations. Since its inception, the Woman’s Cancer Association of the University of Miami has donated more than $12,000,000 to the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine for cancer research.

WCA was founded in 1959. Since this date we have raised over 14 million dollars for all types of cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Miller School of Medicine at University of Miami. The WCA committed to raising One Million dollars to assist Sylvester in obtaining National Cancer Institute designation. Sylvester is the only NCI designated in South Florida. There are 71 in the United States. The WCA also has a Silver Lady Fund which assists patients with cancer that have need for financial assistance. This assistance is determined by the Social Worker at Sylvester. $3,000 is given each month to patients receiving cancer treatment. The WCA is the only organization the social workers can come to for emergency assistance for the patients. The Bargain Box Thrift Store at 1350 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL is their biggest fundraiser for the organization. They have two Chapters, in the north end of Miami-Dade County is Heidi Hewes Chapter and in the south end of Miami-Dade County is Barton-Ravlin Chapter. Cancer is a disease that has touched us all in some way and we support finding more effective treatments and hopefully someday a cure for this disease.