Gilda’s Club is named in memory of comedian Gilda Radner, who died from ovarian cancer in 1989. Gilda is best known for her work on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Her book, "It’s Always Something", describes her life with cancer. Gilda once said that cancer gave her “membership to an elite club I’d rather not belong to,” which is where the name “Gilda’s Club” originated.

 

Gilda’s Club was founded in 1991 by Joanna Bull, Gilda Radner’s cancer psychotherapist. With the help of Gilda’s husband, Gene Wilder, film critic Joel Siegel, actor/singer Mandy Patinkin and several of Gilda’s other friends, the first Gilda’s Club, including a worldwide training center, opened its´ signature Red Door in New York City in 1995.

Since 2001, Gilda´s Club Simcoe Muskoka has been on an exciting journey leading up to the Grand Opening of our signature Red Door. Thus far, we have:

 

• 2001 - Recruited a dedicated Board of Directors made up of leading members of the community 
• 2001 - Recruited top medical professionals to join our Medical Resource Council
• 2003 - Received affiliate status with Gilda’s Club Worldwid
• 2003 - Gained charitable status
• 2003 - Initiated a Capital Campaign to raise $3 million to open Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka
• April 2009 - Broke ground for our new clubhouse April 2010 - Raised $3.6 million dollars in cash and in-kind donations for the capital campaign
• May 2010 - Opened our signature Red Door September 2010 – Our official Grand opening
• Present - To date have had over 1500 visits through the Red Door

As of July 2009, Gilda’s Club Worldwide joined forces with The Wellness Community to become the Cancer Support Community. The organization provides high-quality, international level, psychological and social support through a network of nearly 50 local affiliates including Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka, and more than 100 satellite locations.