Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation
Direct Financial Assistance — Initial Diagnosis · About this organization
What you get
Help with car costs, child care, counseling, gas, groceries, and hospital meals. Ask about the award limit.
How to start
Your social worker starts the request. Give them a copy of your bill, proof of income, and references.
Good to know
- The website says up to $7,000; the older form says $5,000. Ask which applies.
The details, as published
Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
What help you may get
Childcare
Direct Financial Assistance — Initial Diagnosis — childcare
Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
Amount not published · Once Per 12 Months
Can cover
- Auto loan, registration, insurance, and repairs
- Childcare
- Counseling
- Gas, grocery, and hospital cafeteria gift cards
- Hotel accommodations
- Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
- Medications and home care not covered by insurance
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Approved families receive a $2,500 starting amount; additional published criteria may raise the award to a $5,000 maximum.
- The newer official page describes up to $7,000, while the older official application describes a $5,000 maximum; confirm the current cap.
- A new application is required each calendar year; a relapse before age 18 may permit one additional application.
Household Bills And Cash Assistance
Direct Financial Assistance — Initial Diagnosis — household bills and cash assistance
Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
Amount not published · Once Per 12 Months
Can cover
- Auto loan, registration, insurance, and repairs
- Childcare
- Counseling
- Gas, grocery, and hospital cafeteria gift cards
- Hotel accommodations
- Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
- Medications and home care not covered by insurance
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Approved families receive a $2,500 starting amount; additional published criteria may raise the award to a $5,000 maximum.
- The newer official page describes up to $7,000, while the older official application describes a $5,000 maximum; confirm the current cap.
- A new application is required each calendar year; a relapse before age 18 may permit one additional application.
Lodging Near Treatment
Direct Financial Assistance — Initial Diagnosis — lodging near treatment
Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
Amount not published · Once Per 12 Months
Can cover
- Auto loan, registration, insurance, and repairs
- Childcare
- Counseling
- Gas, grocery, and hospital cafeteria gift cards
- Hotel accommodations
- Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
- Medications and home care not covered by insurance
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Approved families receive a $2,500 starting amount; additional published criteria may raise the award to a $5,000 maximum.
- The newer official page describes up to $7,000, while the older official application describes a $5,000 maximum; confirm the current cap.
- A new application is required each calendar year; a relapse before age 18 may permit one additional application.
Meals And Food
Direct Financial Assistance — Initial Diagnosis — meals and food
Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
Amount not published · Once Per 12 Months
Can cover
- Auto loan, registration, insurance, and repairs
- Childcare
- Counseling
- Gas, grocery, and hospital cafeteria gift cards
- Hotel accommodations
- Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
- Medications and home care not covered by insurance
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Approved families receive a $2,500 starting amount; additional published criteria may raise the award to a $5,000 maximum.
- The newer official page describes up to $7,000, while the older official application describes a $5,000 maximum; confirm the current cap.
- A new application is required each calendar year; a relapse before age 18 may permit one additional application.
Medical And Insurance Costs
Direct Financial Assistance — Initial Diagnosis — medical and insurance costs
Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
Amount not published · Once Per 12 Months
Can cover
- Auto loan, registration, insurance, and repairs
- Childcare
- Counseling
- Gas, grocery, and hospital cafeteria gift cards
- Hotel accommodations
- Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
- Medications and home care not covered by insurance
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Approved families receive a $2,500 starting amount; additional published criteria may raise the award to a $5,000 maximum.
- The newer official page describes up to $7,000, while the older official application describes a $5,000 maximum; confirm the current cap.
- A new application is required each calendar year; a relapse before age 18 may permit one additional application.
Travel And Transportation
Direct Financial Assistance — Initial Diagnosis — travel and transportation
Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
Amount not published · Once Per 12 Months
Can cover
- Auto loan, registration, insurance, and repairs
- Childcare
- Counseling
- Gas, grocery, and hospital cafeteria gift cards
- Hotel accommodations
- Initial-diagnosis assistance currently described up to $7,000, while older forms still show $5,000; confirm before relying on the maximum.
- Medications and home care not covered by insurance
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Approved families receive a $2,500 starting amount; additional published criteria may raise the award to a $5,000 maximum.
- The newer official page describes up to $7,000, while the older official application describes a $5,000 maximum; confirm the current cap.
- A new application is required each calendar year; a relapse before age 18 may permit one additional application.
- The published monetary limit is shared across the listed benefit components.
Why this may help
Childcare: Childcare costs can be included among the expenses considered for direct financial help.
Lodging Near Treatment: Hotel accommodations can be included with the other expenses reviewed for financial help.
Meals And Food: Gas, grocery, and hospital-cafeteria gift cards include help with food during care.
Medical And Insurance Costs: Uninsured medications and home care can be considered alongside other family expenses.
Travel And Transportation: Car costs and gas gift cards can help you keep reaching treatment.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. Childhood B-ALL fits the foundation's pediatric-cancer scope.
Age
Age 0 to age 21, measured at diagnosis.
- Treatment must occur before the child’s 21st birthday.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- A hospital professional normally forwards the application; direct submission is allowed if that is not possible.
Financial need is required.
- Priority is given to families projected to be low-to-moderate income under HUD state and county limits; the application does not reproduce a fixed table.
- Priority consideration is given to low-to-moderate-income families.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: San Luis Obispo County; Santa Barbara County; Ventura County.
- The child must reside in Santa Barbara, Ventura, or San Luis Obispo County.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? Yes. Ask your child’s social worker or care team to begin the request.
Who can start: Parent Or Guardian, Caregiver, Social Worker
- Attach the applicable proof of insurance, income, residency, bills, and supplemental documents.
- Download and complete all sections of the application.
- Give the packet to a hospital professional to forward, or submit it directly by email or mail if necessary.
- Review the current program guidelines and contact Teddy Bear for program-specific access.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
- Bills with dependent name, vendor address, amount due, and account number
- Letter of recommendation from social worker
- Prior-year tax return
- Proof of additional income sources, as applicable
- Proof of medical coverage or most recent pay stubs, as applicable
- Proof of tri-county residency
- W-9 when requesting rent payment
- Bills are paid directly by the foundation.
- Gift-card expenses may be provided directly or reimbursed after a receipt is submitted.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
- The official page presents intake as available year-round.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Complete current eligibility, documentation, delivery, capacity, and timing must be confirmed.
- Confirm current forms, funding, event dates, and source conflicts.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Alumni Gatherings · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Application for Financial Assistance · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Apply for Financial Support | Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation · checked Aug 23, 2026