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518 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

NIGHT OUT FOR YOU

Night Out For You (NOFY) is a local non-profit that provides adults, 18+ years old, who are undergoing cancer care a few hours away from their diagnosis to remember who they are. The individual also referred to as the Recipient, can take anyone with them on their Experience - friends, family members - whoever the individual would like to have on their night out.

NOFY came about after I met a woman who was undergoing treatment for liver cancer. She was not responding to the treatments and was despondent about how to tell her family. She was confiding in me of her possible treatment options and said that her family was her motivation to live. I had been recently diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic Breast Cancer and still trying to “wrap my head” around what that meant, so I had an inkling of how she was feeling.

This conversation laid heavy on my heart, so I sent this woman a gift card to a local restaurant to take her family out. I thought this would provide much needed time away from the stress of cancer-life and give them all a night off. She was so surprised to

BY KATE HOCKFORD

be given a night out. And for me, it felt great to spread a little joy.

Shortly thereafter, I attended an event for children with cancer where stories of much needed fun resonated with me. This led me to realize that adults need a little light to hold on to during the dark times of cancer

treatment.

This is when Night Out For You began to take shape. After doing a little research about non-profits supporting cancer patients, it was clear that the “night out” concept was just what was needed. A simple night out to look forward to, which does not require a huge commitment of having to go away for a week on vacation nor be terminally ill to receive any type of respite, was the right fit.

The paperwork was filed in April 2016 to become a non-profit and by June 2016,Night Out For You was not only approved as a charity but that’s when we hung our shingle up for business. In the past 6 years, we have provided 84 Experiences ranging from a balloon ride, a trip to NYC to meet Hoda Kotb, concerts with meetn-greets with Kenny Rogers, Zac Brown and Melissa Etheridge to a paint-n-sip night with dinner for 50 people! We strive to achieve what someone imagines for a night out and make it happen.

An Experience begins with the Recipient sending in a Request Form. The form consists of a person telling what they would like to do including a list of people they would like to share the Experience with. Once we receive the form, a member from the NOFY team will reach out to the Recipient to begin working on the details.

“After doing a little research about non-profits supporting cancer patients, it was clear that the “night out” concept was just what was needed.”

Meanwhile, internally other team members are finalizing the finances and securing little touches to make the Experience extra special, like snacks for a road trip or special towels to use at Great Escape. The only thing we ask is that the Recipient shows up and has fun!

We currently consist of 4 Board Members: Kristen Casey, Mary McGarvey, Kristie Tamasi and myself. We did create a Recipient position, where we have a former Recipient add their voice to our future plans. Our current Recipient member is Georgette DeFoe, who received an Experience in 2017. In addition, we have volunteers who received Experiences from us, who are friends of past Recipients of Experiences, as well as, people who resonate with our mission. All of these folks are truly what makes NOFY work and special. The time and energy they provide to make each person we craft an Experience for is outstanding. We are blessed to have them as part of our tribe. Without them we could not achieve as much as we do!

We serve the Capital Region, SaratogaNorth Country, Catskill Region, Cobleskill-Oneonta area and more. If you know someone undergoing cancer and could use a Night Out please reach out to us via our website: www.nightoutforyou.org or request@ nightoutforyou.org.

FANCEE

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