Financial Help for Families of Kids with Cancer and Serious Illness in Phoenix
When a child is diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness, the medical bills arrive fast, and they keep arriving long after the first hospital stay. Armer Foundation for Kids is a Phoenix nonprofit, founded by Jennifer and Matt Armer, that helps families in the greater Phoenix area cover the costs insurance leaves behind: copays, deductibles, insurance premiums and other out-of-pocket medical expenses. We serve children from birth to age 17 who are living with cancer, epilepsy, transplants and other serious illnesses, so that parents can put more of their energy into their child and less into the next bill.
Who Qualifies for Help
Any child under the age of 18 who has been diagnosed with cancer of any type, or with another serious medical condition such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, MLD or Perthes, can be considered for assistance. Children who have had a transplant are also among the families we serve. The child must be a U.S. citizen and live in the greater Phoenix area. If your family lives outside the Valley, ask your social worker to contact us before you apply.
Every application is reviewed case by case by our board, and the amount of help depends on our current caseload and the funds available, so we can’t promise a specific amount. We do not provide monetary funding for families whose child’s diagnosis is autism.
What Costs We Help With
Our financial assistance is aimed at the medical costs that pile up when insurance is not enough. That includes copays for appointments, treatments and prescriptions, deductibles, health insurance premiums, and other out-of-pocket expenses tied to your child’s care. When you apply, you can include the medical bills, utility bills or other invoices you would like help with, and the board will consider them with your application.
Some children come home from treatment with immune systems that can’t fight off everyday germs. For these immunocompromised kids, we install air purification systems in the family’s home to help keep the air cleaner while they recover. Beyond financial help, our community programs include Armer Cares hospital care packages and Cards for Caring, which collects cards for kids all year.
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Check eligibility. Your child is under 18, has cancer or another serious medical condition, is a U.S. citizen and lives in the greater Phoenix area.
- Start the application. Fill out the short online form on our application page, or download the full application there.
- Gather what we need. One recent color photo of your child, one recent color family photo (high resolution, 300 dpi), a brief summary of your child’s medical journey in Word format, and any bills or invoices you would like help with.
- Complete, sign and send. Email the signed application and attachments to [email protected]. No computer? Mail it to Armer Foundation for Kids, 11022 S 51st St Ste 200, Phoenix, AZ 85044. Every section must be filled in; incomplete applications are not reviewed.
- Board review. Our board reviews each complete application individually. You or your child’s social worker are welcome to call (480) 257-3254 with questions about the process.
Conditions We Support
We help families facing many different diagnoses. These guides explain some of the conditions our Armer Kids have faced and how we help.
Childhood cancers
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN-NOS)
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Childhood brain cancer
- Medulloblastoma
- Pilocytic astrocytoma
- Neuroblastoma
- Hepatoblastoma (liver cancer)
- Wilms tumor (kidney tumor)
- Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
- Ewing sarcoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS)
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
Other serious medical conditions
- Epilepsy
- Cerebral palsy
- Sickle cell disease
- Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
- Mitral valve defects
- Cystic fibrosis
- Gastroschisis
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
- POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
- Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency
- Superior mesenteric artery syndrome
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can get financial help from Armer Foundation for Kids?
Families in the greater Phoenix area with a child under 18 who has been diagnosed with cancer of any type or another serious medical condition, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, a transplant, MLD or Perthes. The child must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of the greater Phoenix area, and each application is considered case by case by our board.
What costs can the foundation help with?
We help with copays, deductibles, insurance premiums and other out-of-pocket medical costs that insurance does not cover. When you apply, you can include utility bills or other invoices you would like help with. For children with weakened immune systems, we also install air purifiers at home.
How much assistance will my family receive?
There is no set amount. Our board decides each case individually, and amounts depend on the current caseload and the funds available.
Do you help children with autism?
No. We do not provide monetary funding for families whose children have autism as their primary diagnosis.
Do we have to live in Ahwatukee?
No. We help families throughout the greater Phoenix area. If you live outside the area, your social worker can contact us to talk about your situation.
How do I apply?
Apply online through the form on our application page, or download the application, complete and sign it, and email it to [email protected] with a recent color photo of your child, a recent color family photo and any bills you would like help with. You can also mail it to 11022 S 51st St Ste 200, Phoenix, AZ 85044. Incomplete applications are not reviewed.
Talk to Us
Armer Foundation for Kids · 11022 S 51st St Ste 200, Phoenix, AZ 85044 · (480) 257-3254 · [email protected]
Want to help instead? Donate or give through the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit (QCO code 22215).
