Our Mission
The Mission of the Desi Geestman Foundation is to improve the quality of life for children suffering from cancer and their families. The foundation provides environments of support that alleviate emotional and economic trauma.
Who We Are
DGF is named in honor of Desi Geestman, a brave twelve year old girl who fought a courageous battle with Neuroblastoma at The City of Hope. Desi expressed her wish to help other cancer patients and their families which is how DGF came to life. DGF has grown from a wish by our namesake to an organization providing vital assistance to hundreds of children since 1999.
How We’re Different
Our assistance is unique from other charities and takes many forms, from direct financial assistance, to hosting birthday parties and special events, to granting special wishes. Our aim is to throw a life jacket to cancer patients and their families, whether the need be groceries, medications not covered by insurance or bone marrow donor transportation. Read more >>.
Who We Serve
The patients and families we serve are pre-screened by the social workers at City of Hope. We provide help to those who do not qualify for other forms of assistance or where the need is urgent and cannot await a lengthy determination. DGF does not itself select persons eligible for financial assistance; we rely upon the social work staff to evaluate need on a case by case basis.
Where We Work
Although our primary hospital is City of Hope in Duarte, our services have no geographic boundaries within the U.S.