Most full-time students are thinking about how to pass classes and have a social life. However, one undergraduate biology major is thinking about a board of executives, a mission statement, and a uniqueness—all things needed for the initial stages of a nonprofit organization.
After interning with a third-party patient advocate service, Connect Care 3, a Shippensburg University student is taking what he learned to start up a new nonprofit organization.
Alex “Bard” Lombardo is in the beginning stages of creating a non-profit that raises funds to help those with cancer pay for insurance premiums, medications and other hefty cost that come with the treatments.
During his internship Lombardo heard stories of cancer patients being unable to pay for bills and medication. Sending appeals to insurance companies to get help takes too much time, according to Lombardo. He saw a need for an organization and decided to start one himself.
He plans to name the nonprofit Cancer Care Foundation. Lombardo is in collaboration with two other SU students, Wardell Jackson, Zach Sinz and his brother, Peter Lombardo, who attends Temple University.
“I came up with the idea and approached them [two weeks ago] to help because they are all go-getters and each of us had family members affected by cancer,” Lombardo said.
To start the process, Lombardo and his partners must raise money for their 501-C3, a form where a nonprofit organization is exempt from federal income tax. They also need to get more paperwork approved, which takes an estimated 100 hours to fill out.
“We see our biggest hurdle as raising money for the 501-C3 which, according to my research can be anywhere from $400 to $800,” Lombardo said.
The group also has to decide the location and do more research on criteria, financial assistance and whether or not the nonprofit will be national or regional. Lombardo hopes that the organization can be national because neighboring regions could be in need too.
“It is a learning process for all of us,” Lombardo said.
To help raise money, Lombardo and his partners plan to set up a website.
Lombardo has a meeting with Susquehanna Score Free, a mentor service for the legal process of starting a nonprofit, on Tuesday, Jan. 26 to officially start the process.
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