Guam Cancer Trust Fund allows Calvo Cancer Foundation to increase financial support

When lawmakers passed Fiscal Year 2025's budget, they underfunded the Guam Cancer Trust Fund, by $2 million, leaving several non-profit organizations like the Edward M. Calvo Cancer Foundation and the services and programs they offer to those afflicted with cancer locally in limbo. Here's a closer look at what's at stake for the foundation.

'Guam Is Good' - Edward M. Calvo's parting words before passing from cancer and also reflect the mission of the Edward M. Calvo Cancer Foundation. Those three words moving his family and loved ones to form the foundation in 2004.

"Our mission was simple, to honor his legacy and generosity and his immense love for guam by providing financial support to individuals in the community who are diagnosed with cancer," explained Jennifer Calvo, president of the EMCC Foundation, speaking before lawmakers in support of a bill that would address the underfunding of the Guam Cancer Trust Fund.

The fund has made it possible for a handful of Guam non-profits to provide services and financial burden of those afflicted with cancer. "From its inception until 2012, we relied solely on private fundraisers, such as 5Ks, galas, and other events to sustain our mission," she detailed.

In 2013, they applied for a grant from the Guam Cancer Trust Fund Council and are blessed by the continuance support provided by it for over ten years.  Calvo reiterating the need for Bill 355 as it will allocate $2 million to the Fund.

"The foundation is one of many that relies that support the cancer community, with the help of the Guam Cancer Trust Fund. The additional funding proposed in Bill 355 is critical to ensuring the continuation of essential services to Guam's cancer patients by the Comprehensive Care Council which selected the recipients to receive the funds and enforces their compliance to the mandates for the use of these funds," Calvo testified.

She also reiterated the undeniable need for access to essential care, saying, "Nearly half of the applications received annually by the foundation are for first-time applicants, the other half are applying for consecutive financial assistance is for their second, third, fourth years up to eleven, twelfth and even fifteenth year."

If the bill is passed, and funds are allocated, it will allow non-profits like the EMCC Foundation to help the island's cancer patients as they navigate through their cancer journeys.