CaringBridge

Exciting News for Families!? ? We're excited to share that our gift card partner, DoorDash (through InComm Payments)?announced today that Dollar General is now accepting SNAP/EBT through the DoorDash Marketplace, making it even easier for families to access affordable food options. This is an important step in broadening food access, and we’re grateful to DoorDash for their commitment to this cause! ? At CaringBridge, we understand that food security is one of the top three stresses for family caregivers. It’s a key social determinant of health, and we’re dedicated to supporting caregivers and their loved ones on their health journey. ? When caregiving for someone with health challenges, every bit of support counts. We're proud to work alongside organizations like DoorDash to help ensure that families have access to the resources they need. ? Together, we can ease the journey for caregivers and their loved ones. . . . #CaringBridge #FoodSecurity #FamilyCaregivers #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #DoorDash #SNAP #EBT #HealthJourney

When crisis strikes, CaringBridge is there. “You have cancer…” “There’s been an accident…” “It was sudden and unexpected…” For nearly 28 years, CaringBridge has been the place where families navigate these moments, surrounded by the support of their community—whether through words of encouragement, a shared emoji, or fundraising efforts for unexpected medical expenses. Over the past year, two powerful stories have captured national attention. Both families turned to CaringBridge to keep their communities informed and uplifted: Lulu Gribbin and Andrew Cross. ?? Lulu Gribbin’s Story: At just 15 years old, Lulu survived a shark attack that changed her life forever. Losing her right hand and leg, she faced a grueling recovery—but her resilience never wavered. With the support of her family and community, she returned to school just 15 weeks later and continues to inspire through her journey. Her family launched LuluStrong.org to support advancements for amputees. ?? Andrew Cross’s Story: Known as "Desert Drifter" on YouTube, Andrew shared his passion for exploration with over 450,000 followers. In early 2025, he was tragically involved in a severe car accident that led to a month-long battle for his life. His family shared updates through CaringBridge, offering a window into their faith, grief, and hope. On March 4, he passed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of adventure and storytelling. ?? The Power of Community in the Hardest Moments Lulu’s and Andrew’s stories remind us that no one should face hardship alone. Through CaringBridge, their families found a way to stay connected, supported, and uplifted. If you know someone navigating a health journey, remind them: they don’t have to do it alone. #CaringBridge #SupportMatters #LuluStrong #DesertDrifter #Community

Thank you Arif Kamal MD, MBA, for pointing out the dangers in social media, particularly when sharing about a health journey. CaringBridge continues to be a place of connection, support, and healing dedicated to health journeys of any kind... without the negative implications of social media. In fact, first milestone data from an IRB study funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation encouragingly shows 70% of CaringBridge users report that in the first 30 days after creating a page, CaringBridge helped them reduce their burden by engaging their community. Furthermore, three-quarters of respondents reported CaringBridge helped them find emotional support in the first 30 days after creating a page. CaringBridge is a non-profit social connection and support platform that is ad free and doesn't sell data. Created 28 years ago, it was the first social connection site created for good... and has stayed that way. #socialconnection #socialmediaforgood #healthjourney #nonprofit #emotionalsupport #functionalsupport

Deb Haas posted this comment which was too good not to share. It captures the value of CaringBridge perfectly. Please reshare if it hits you. "CaringBridge has been my ride-or-die through some of the hardest chapters of my life. I’ve turned to it multiple times to coordinate support for family and friends during health crises. When everything felt like chaos, CaringBridge made it simple: ?? Keep everyone updated (without 57 group texts). ?? ?? ?? Rally meals, rides, and help (without awkward asks). ?? Feel held by community (without ads for yoga pants showing up mid-meltdown). That’s what a purpose-driven organization does. It lifts you when life knocks you flat. It connects people when connection is survival. It reminds you that even in hard times, you’re never alone. But here’s the kicker: CaringBridge is doing this life-changing work with 45 employees. Meta? 74,000. Let that sink in. And CaringBridge runs on heart, not data sales. No ads. No creepy tracking. Just a safe, simple space to get the support you need." CaringBridge vision: A world where no one goes through a health journey alone. And we can't do this without support. #community #caregiversupport #healthjourney #missiondriven #nonprofit

Thank you to The New York Times and Jancee Dunn for spotlighting the struggles we face immediately following a health diagnosis AND serving up great practical solutions. And to Stephanie Alonso, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C from UChicago Medicine for highlighting CaringBridge as one of those practical solutions. ??? “There are many times where I hear people say, ‘I told all these people. And now I’m being just flooded with people checking in on me... The exhaustion of telling the same thing over and over again is real...’” As a non-profit we work with hospitals, social workers, and healthcare systems to make sure that everyone has access to community support during recovery, no matter their financial situation or circumstances. Anyone can create a page and ask for help. In a space where they will not be bombarded with ads or worry that their data is being sold. If we’re going to provide relief and support to the 105M family caregivers in the US, we have to build and scale solutions that work for all Americans, no matter where you live or what your insurance is... ensuring that no one goes through a health journey alone. #healthcrisis #healthjourneysupport #familycaregiver #digitalhealthplatform #philanthropy #impact

This week, the CaringBridge team traded in our virtual backgrounds for real-life high-fives, brainstorming, and maybe even a few heartfelt moments. ??? We brought in?every?employee for an unforgettable week of connection, collaboration, and community-building—three things that are at the heart of everything we do. From inspiring conversations to strategy sessions (and yes, some serious bonding over food and games), this week reminded us why our work matters. A special highlight? Entrepreneur and speaker?Tissa Richards?shared powerful insights on resilience —reinforcing just how important it is to respond vs react and even how life-changing a strong support system can be for those on a health journey. And our CEO,?Tia Newcomer, challenged us all to lean into that support—not just for our users but for each other. At CaringBridge, we believe no one should go through a health journey alone. And after a week of coming together in person, we’re more energized than ever to carry that mission forward. To our incredible team: Thank you for showing up with passion, ideas, and a whole lot of heart. Here’s to an amazing year ahead! ???? #CaringBridge #StrongerTogether #MissionDriven #Collaboration #Community #Resilience #TeamBuilding #EmployeeEngagement #Inspiration

An honor to speak last week in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Frontiers Symposium on Transformation in Cancer Care Delivery. Being surrounded by oncologists, surgeons, fellows, and researchers all focused on three objectives: 1?? Exploring and showcasing innovative and technological best practices in cancer care delivery 2?? Bringing together expert stakeholders to discuss opportunities for transformation in cancer care delivery 3?? Increasing awareness of needed skillsets for reducing distance as a disparity and advancing cancer care delivery for rural and other underserved populations With over 50% of health journeys on CaringBridge being cancer related, this was an opportunity to bring family caregivers and the impact of surrounding them and their patients with community support to the forefront. Some notable takeaways and quotes: ?? The average cancer patient has 32 (!) providers during their cancer journey and 80% of cancer care occurs outside the treating medical center. Liya Shuster-Bier Maia Oncology ?? A culture of innovation has to be top down and measured and supported by values. Be Bold. Think Different. Do the Right Thing. Karen Knudsen MBA PhD Stephen Klasko ?? 3% of the GDP is spent in cancer and yet access is still low in underserved populations. Othman Laraki ?? Since 1991 there has been a 34% reduction in cancer mortality rates driven by early detection and preventative practices. To maintain these improvements, cancer research needs to gain funding and resources. American Cancer Society ?? Standards and transparency will be the biggest issue in using AI in healthcare. Data consistency and homogeneity is important as organizations start integrating AI. Caroline Chung ?? AI will not replace doctors, but doctors who use AI will replace doctors who don't. Richard Boxer, MD, FACS A special thanks to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for hosting a reception and tour of your amazing facilities. The Huntsman family built this facility to ensure access to top cancer care in the region. And will continue to invest until cancer is cured... at which time the facility will be turned into the Huntsman Hotel. I look forward to that day. And am confident of the progress ahead of us with such bright minds collectively working towards a #cancercure. Thomas Varghese Jr. MD, MS, MBA, FACS, MAMSE, Arif Kamal MD, MBA, Tracy Onega, Robert Daly, Kathi Mooney, Neli Ulrich, Ruben Mesa, MD, Wade Swenson, Jessica Moehle, Sachin M. Apte, MD, MS, MBA, Kaila (McDonald) Christini, Victoria Bandera, Adriana M Coletta PhD RD, Bridget Nicholson, Hil Moss, Whitney Maxwell Espinel, MMSc, Vanessa Paul Patterson, Thomas Osborne, MD, Neeraj Agarwal, MD, FASCO, Katharine Rendle, Alexander Pearson, Jonathan Tward, Alyson Moadel, Yang Yi, Kensaku Kawamoto, MD, PhD, MHS, FACMI, FAMIA, Chelsey Schlechter, Melissa Swartz, MBA, Shanthi Sivendran MD, MSCR, MBA, Carl Asche, Amelia Thelin

Today, on National Caregiver Day, we honor the incredible strength and dedication of caregivers everywhere. ?? To shine a light on their journey, we're proud to share the award-winning documentary #Unseen —free to stream from February 20th-23rd. This powerful film gives voice to the often-unseen struggles of parent caregivers and highlights their unwavering commitment. We also celebrate and honor Tina Jackson, a devoted mother and caregiver to her daughter, Miss T. Miss Tina's story is a powerful reminder of the profound impact caregivers have on the lives of the ones they care for - listen to her story and learn how CaringBridge can make a difference, helping caregivers feel seen and supported. At CaringBridge, we’re here to support family caregivers and amplify their voices. Because caregiving isn’t just a job—it’s an act of love. #NationalCaregiverDay #Caregiving #SupportCaregivers #UnseenDocumentary #CaringBridge #CaregiverStories #DocumentaryFilm #CaregiverSupport ?? Don’t miss out: Stream Unseen for free until February 23rd! Watch Tina Jackson's story here: https://ow.ly/Z00550V4lZy Read Tina Jackson's story here: https://bit.ly/4gM7Esc

As the Director of Product at CaringBridge, Ramla Hasanali understands the importance of communication and teamwork. So, when her overseas father went through a health journey, she readily stepped up to support her parents long-distance by keeping their large family updated through CaringBridge. . . . #CaringBridge #Teamwork #HealthCommunication #RemoteSupport #FamilySupport #HealthJourney #LongDistanceCare

Do you know what the average annual increase to operate a mission-driven digital health platform is? 1. Technology infrastructure +5% to 15% 2. Employees pay and benefits +3% to 8% That's an average of 5%-10% revenue growth year over year just to maintain operations and keep up with baseline technology advances. For 28 years CaringBridge has been the bridge through health crisis. Helping family caregivers and communities navigate a critical health journey alongside the patient. And yet we face a serious challenge. Funding a mission-driven digital health platform whose competitors are Facebook, Instagram, TickTock, WhatsApp, text messages, and emails. All of which have profits from capitalizing on your personal data to fund technology innovation and reach. By the numbers, CaringBridge delivers 1,000x impact compared to these social media giants with 0.05% (yep, that decimal is placed correctly) of the resources. 45 CaringBridge employees versus 74,000 Meta employees. Recent data shows the oversize impact CaringBridge has. ?? CaringBridge helped 75% of caregivers and patients with emotional support in the first 30 days. ?? ?? ?? 70% reduced their burden by engaging their community for functional help through CaringBridge. All without ad revenues, selling personal data, or getting lost in the algorithm feed when all you need is a simple place where the community you invite can access your important health journey updates and ways to help. Our goal is to reach 10x more family caregivers by the end of 2028. And we can only meet that goal by doubling our revenue. We need more people to know we are a small non-profit driving oversize impact. If you can help make introductions to philanthropists, foundations, and corporate sponsors, please PM me. #healthcrisis #healthjourneysupport #familycaregiver #digitalhealthplatform #philanthropy #impact