Providing non-medical, financial assistance to adults undergoing cancer treatment in Florida to allow them to focus on fighting cancer.
A cancer diagnosis can change everything. For some, it may mean the added stress of financial hardship. The Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation provides financial support to qualified adult cancer patients in the state of Florida for expenses such as rent or mortgage, car payments and car insurance, and utility bills. By giving patients peace of mind in knowing that their bills are being paid while they are undergoing treatment, the FCS Foundation allows them to concentrate on what really matters – fighting cancer.
Due to the generosity of the Florida Cancer Specialists physicians in covering all overhead expenses for the Foundation, 100% of donations received go directly towards paying the essential non-medical living expenses of an adult battling cancer.
The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation (FCSF) was established in January 2011 by a group of FCS physicians who personally seeded the fund with a generous gift of $500,000. These dollars were deposited in a corporate donor-advised fund and administered by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice, FL. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation, at FCS management request, awarded grants and sponsorships to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations with cancer missions, such as American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, and Naples Community Hospital.
Through a merger with Gulf Coast Oncology (GCO) Group of Pinellas County in 2011, Florida Cancer Specialists inherited a 501(c)(3) Foundation established by that practice in 2009. And in February 2012, all accounts were transferred to Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation.
Foundation operations were moved from St. Anthony’s clinic office in St. Petersburg, Florida to the FCS corporate headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida in May 2012. And by November 2012, organizational facets of the Foundation were in place with the mission of providing non-medical financial assistance and support to qualified cancer patients in the state of Florida. Due to the generosity of the Florida Cancer Specialists physicians in covering all overhead expenses for the Foundation, 100% of donations received go directly towards paying the essential non-medical living expenses of an adult battling cancer.
July 2014 marked the official re-launch of the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation in Sarasota, Florida. The Volunteer Program was initiated and paid staff and volunteers began working together to provide assistance and support to individuals who have cancer.
The Foundation has grown exponentially since its inception and to date, we have awarded over $12 million in grants to cancer patients in need.
The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization as designated by the IRS. The Foundation’s EIN number is 20-4616813. The Foundation is also registered in the State of Florida, Registration No. CH24320. A copy of the official State registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling 800-435-7352 within the State of Florida. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State.
Meet Antonio Azzato, the visionary behind the Las Meninas Sculpture Project. To continue the successful and positive spirit of the Las Meninas project in Madrid, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) and Healing Arts in Medicine are bringing Antonio Azzato’s vision to the United States for the first time.
Azzato was born and raised in Venezuela and has Italian and Spanish roots. He has raised more than 550K euros for different charitable foundations. His experience in the engineering, business, marketing, and interior design fields has given him the technical and artistic training to develop his Meninas Gallery project, which has positioned the silhouette of the Menina as the new icon of the city of Madrid, where he currently resides. Learn more about Antonio here.
Painted by Diego Velázquez in 1656,“Las Meninas” translates to Ladies in Waiting. Considered a masterpiece depicting life in the court of King Philip IV of Spain, the painting represents a turning point in art history for the way in which Velázquez broke from the stiff formal portraits that typically defined royal subjects.
Inspired by the iconic painting “Las Meninas,” which translates to “Ladies in Waiting,” Spanish artist and sculptor Antonio Azzato created larger than life-size statues, fashioned in the shape of the Ladies in Waiting in the famous painting, that have been displayed in the streets of Madrid every fall since 2018. The statues are painted by various Spanish artists and celebrities and used to raise money for different charities. For the project with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), smaller statues that are white, like a blank canvas, will be distributed to 12 designated FCS clinics. Together with local artists, patients will bring their Las Meninas vision to life, giving each statue its own unique theme and color palette.
Once complete, the Las Meninas sculptures will be on display in local communities, raising awareness of the extreme healing power of art in medicine. After a months-long tour of the state, each will be placed on auction. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation. The Foundation assists cancer patients in need in Florida with essential everyday living expenses.
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