Cancer Support Community Pasadena Acquires Permanent Facility in Sierra Madre

Cancer Support Community Pasadena has finally found a permanent place it can call home after 32 years of providing support and education for free to all people impacted by cancer from three leased locations.

Patricia Ostiller, Executive Director said the nonprofit has purchased a 7,000-square foot facility in Sierra Madre and it plans to move in Spring of 2023.

CSC executives are making the move so the nonprofit will no longer face annual rent increases, disruption of programs and repeated displacements from moving repeatedly after its lease terms expire, said Ostiller. 

“The property in Sierra Madre checked all of our boxes – a lovely community that is known for its neighborhood feel, a larger building at over 7,000 square feet, which allows us to add programs in future years, and ample parking for participants and easy accessibility from the 210 freeway – both of which are critical for our operations,” said Ostiller. 

“We are beyond excited for the organization’s future in our permanent home. As we settle in, we will be focused on adding new programs requested by our participants and new partnerships with the medical community. We also look forward to partnering with individual and business neighbors in Sierra Madre, and nearby schools,” she added. 

Ostiller expressed her appreciation to all who made the purchase possible by donating to CSC’s capital campaign “Be The Key” which aims to raise a minimum of $3.75 million for the building. 

According to Ostiller, the nonprofit was able to raise $1.9 million during the “quiet” phase of the campaign.

“Those valuable gifts allowed us to  purchase the building sooner rather than later, which was crucial for us given that our current lease expires in March 2023.” 

“We are tremendously grateful to all of our individual donors, businesses, and foundation funders. We can’t thank them enough, and we work hard to be good stewards of their donations.”

After concluding the quiet phase of its capital campaign “Be the Key,” CSC launched the public phase to be able to raise additional funds for interior renovations needed to facilitate program delivery and to increase the organization’s reserves for building maintenance.

Ostiller cannot say for how long the renovations will take especially with ongoing pandemic-related supply chain delays but she said the CSC is working expeditiously with its architect and the City of Sierra Madre, to break ground in October.

Ostiller said the space plan provides for a welcoming living room, three inviting group rooms for support groups, a large educational area for workshops presented by oncologists and other medical experts, a spacious exercise room for our healthy lifestyle classes, and administrative and clinical offices.

The new location also provides an outdoor oasis where participants can gather for relaxation and other activities. 

Founded in 1990, CSC provides professionally facilitated support groups, educational workshops, and healthy lifestyle classes for cancer patients and their families, all for free. It has so far served over 30,000 individuals.

For the next years of its operation, Ostiller said she wishes for CSC to be “go-to” organization for anyone suffering from cancer. 

“[I wish] for as long as this devastating disease is still with us, the Cancer Support Community is the ‘go-to’ organization for anyone and everyone facing cancer. In turn, we promise to ensure that our participants are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by a community of hope.” 

For more information on how to donate to CSC’s  “Be The Key” capital campaign visit:  bethekey.cscpasadena.org

Visit cscpasadena.org or call 626-796-1083 to learn more about the other ways to support the non-profit and residents battling cancer.