About

Gems

Who We Are

Gems of Hope is a nonprofit offering support to local cancer patients receiving treatment. Nearly 700 Gifts of Hope (hand-crafted inspirational cards with a choice of serenity circles or stones, earrings or bookmarks) are offered to patients treated in the corridor each month. Gems of Hope offers community workshops where cancer patients, friends and families come together to create these Gifts of Hope. Local youth camps and school library programming are also made available for families affected by cancer.

Our Story

Gems of Hope was inspired by Tory, a 9-year-old living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While her mother was in treatment for cancer, Tory wrote daily notes of encouragement, leaving them where her mother would see them. Tory’s mother recognized that the love behind the notes and the opportunity to create art, as well as the information she found in her reading, were valuable components in her recovery. She joined two friends also affected by cancer in founding a non-profit organization that would extend these components to others. Gems of Hope promotes what medical research now supports: feelings of optimism and hope encourage healing.

Our Founders

Sheila Harmon and Beth Hammell were both diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. Sheila, inspired to help other patients as they went through their cancer treatment, called Beth and another friend, Cindy Sale who had been a caregiver to her brother with cancer. Together, the three women launched Gems of Hope, Inc. with the help of the Cedar Rapids community in July 2005 to support men and women during their cancer treatments.

Sheila lost her battle with breast cancer in April of 2008, nearly three years after she started Gems of Hope. As co-founders of the organization with her, Beth and Cindy carried on the Gems of Hope mission

Our Mission

To bring hope to cancer patients and their families.

Our Vision

To provide cancer patients and their families support and resources to inspire hope, creating the outlook that hope is always present in a cancer diagnosis.

Donors

Thank you to our sponsors who help make our mission possible!

Abigail Leland
Al Huneke
Alan Kacere
Alejandro Pino
Alexis King
Alicia Anderson
Alicia Jackson
Alicia Janke
Allan Hammell
Amanda Hajek
Amber Matz
Amy Hussel
Amy Kepler
Andrea Martin
Andrea Neumann
Angela Brecht
Angela Daugherty
Angela Schaur
Angeline Taake
Angie Roling
Anita Gillett
Anita Minor
Ann Bromley
Ann Collins-Hattery
Ann Hearn
Ann Ruske
Ann Sindlinger
Anne Marie Moran
Anonymous Donor
Art Barron
Ashley O'Connor
Ashley Woodhouse
Barb Hagen
Barb Oakland
Barb Steggall
Barbara Bell
Barbara Berquam
Barbara Taylor
Barbara Vancura
Barry Buelow
Becky Picard
Belva Schamberger
Bernie Lettington
Beth Crotty
Beth Herrick
Betty Lindholm
Beverly Dennis
Beverly Lillie
Beverly Long
Blair Shepherd
Blake Crutchley
Bob Vancura
Bobbi McCoy
Bobbi McGee
Bonnie Elliot
Bonnie Stover
Bonnie Thomas
Brad Harman
Breanna Walczyk
Brenda Lovstuen
Brenda Steinke
Brent Rule
Brian Scott
Britta Ahlers
Bryan Dietzler
Bryce Poellet
Candace Altorfer
Carma Bisinger
Carol Knapp
Carol Lagneaux
Carol Mast
Carol Nordstrom
Carol Sullivan
Carol Wonrau
Carolyn Poulakos
Carolyn Davis
Carolyn Holveck
Carolyn Rogers
Carolyn Stephenson
Casey Greene
Catharine Johnson
Catherine Saddoris
Catherine Schwake
Cathy Dahm
Cathy Fisher
Cathy Gray
Cathy Ragsdale
Cathy Smith
Cathy Sneller
Celeste Luksetich
Chad Wink
Cheryl Murphy
Cheryl Skala
Chong Shao
Chris Kilpatrick
Christopher Martin
Cindy Bathgate
Cindy Ek
Cindy Thomas
Claudia Byre
Colleen Tobiason
Connie Braley
Connie Hudak
Connie Robinson
Connie Stusak
Connie Warnell
Corey Spencer
Craig Vanderleest
Curtis Jamieson
Cydney Lovell
Cynde Shepard
Cynthia Day
Cynthia Eastburn
D.J. Hinken
Dan Hines
Dan Kempf
Dana Miller
Daniel Chen
Danielle McGrath
Darla Fricke
Darlene Schmidt
Darline Davermann-Reid
Dave Layer
David Greenlee
David Pohlman
Dawn Batie
Dawn Ferguson
Dawn Lopata
Deanna Reynolds
Deanna Lettington
Deb Covell
Deb Grove
Deb Voss
Debbie Craig
Debbie Fields
Deborah Gulick
Deborah Jacobs
Debra Hunemuller
Debra Merritt
Debra Powell
Debra Salz-Steenblock
Debra Schilling
Dee Kacere
Denise Ely
Denise Lobodinski
Denise Welsch
Derek Brown
Diana Hansen
Diana Kuhlman
Diane Brenneman
Diane Engelhardt
Dina Dusek
Dixie Dahl
DJ Wacker
Donna Claflin
Donna Doolittle
Donna Fisher
Donna Hobson-DeVores
Donna Schlimmer
Donna Wood
Dorothy Hinman
Doug Wenzel
Dr. John Harman
Earlene Erbe
Edna Zola
Eileen Brunow
Elaine Boes
Elaine Fox
Elizabeth Quam
Elizabeth Skalsky
Ellen Gruber
Ellen Brown
Emmett Scherrman
Erica Rausch
Erin Seely
Erin Thorson
Esther Hudson
Ethel Knutson
Evonne Merz
Faith Youngberg
Gail Husmann
Gail Nau
Garnet Laux
Gary Stangland
Georgana Ridnour
George H Brunscheen
George Sondag
Georgie Schuster
Gerald Mohwinkle
Gerry Hopkins
Ginny Ekwall
Gloria Johnson
Gloria Kromminga
Greg Lind
Gretchen Sealls
Griffin Hammell
Harry Raymond Terpstra II
Helen Kopecky
Ida Martin Sorensen
Ilene Loutsch
Jack Terrell Jordan
Jackie Stallman
Jacqueline Wagner
Jacqui Sorensen
James Drahozal
James Pape
James Walker
Jamie Marco
Jan Clarke
Jan Miller
Jan Overland
Jane Lovstuen
Jane Scheer
Janelle Karells
Janet A Monk
Janet Aldrich
Janet Appleton
Janet Perkins
Janet Privratsky
Janice Charles
Janice Savel
Janice Smith
Jared Jirak
Jared Salasberry
Jason Boisen
Jason Burgoon
Jayne Woodson
Jeanne Anderson
Jeffrey Decker
Jen Neumann
Jennie Klopfenstein
Jennifer Lowe-Devereux
Jennifer Zahorik
Jenny Kleist
Jenny Zittergruen
Jesse Costigan
Jessica Eiben
Jessica Horaney
Jill Caldwell
Jill Roloff
Jim Nowak
Jim Seifert
Jim Steggall
Joan Aune
Joan Benda
Joan Dolezal
Joan Forbes
Joann Kriegel
JoAnn O'Brien
Joann Treptow
Joanna Machnowski
Joanne Kohl
Jobe Frye
Joby Frey
Jodi Balvanz
Jodi Graham
Joe Frye
Joel Schmidt
Johanna Abernathy
John B Kennedy
John Bell
John Brandt
John Carroll
John Herring
John Scott
Jolene Ott
Jon Jacobsen
Joseph Frye
Josephine Sann
Josh Belden
Joshua Deitrich
Joyce L Stoker-Hadow
Joyce Sedlacek
Judith Ann Bush
Judy Baird
Judy A Toy
Judy Baird
Judy Dicken
Judy Sampson
Judy Schnittjer
Judy Shulista
Julia Bauer
Julie Dvorak
Julie Hiemstra
Julie McInroy
Julie Zimmerman
June Rainbow
Karen Williams
Karen Butler
Karen Farland
Karen Koch
Karen McGill
Karen Nemecek
Karen Pfeiler
Karen Volesky
Karla Clark
Kate Getty
Kate Martinek
Katherine Severson
Katherine Walters
Katherine Walton
Kathy Holeton
Kathy Hughes
Kathy Koenig
Kathy Shelton
Kathy Silhanek
Kathy Waychoff
Katie Hepker
Kay Riffey
Keith Carris
Kelly Loeffelholz
Kelly Neuroth
Kelly Spencer
Kendall Joyce
Kennedy Kelly
Kent Ragsdale
Kevin Duggan
Kim Lewis
Kim Meeker
Kim Stulz
Kimberly Martin
Kimberly Richter
Kirby Sherman
Kris Liercke
Kristen Miller
Kristin Glockhoff
Kristine Chambers
Kristine Kremer
Kristine Story
Krystal Klawonn
Kyle Brockmeyer
Larry Johnson
Larry Potter
Larry Taylor
Laura Crosby
Laura Engler
Laura Montgomery
Lea Boies
Lea Olson
LeAnn Wright
Lee Meyer
Leigh Waechter
Lesley Vancura
Leslie Clauson
Leslie J Clauson
Leslie Meyer
Leticia Pozzi
Lillian Sailor
Linda Ackerman
Linda Baird
Linda Bendixen
Linda Corbett
Linda Hinzman
Linda Kipp
Linda McConnell
Lisa Howard
Lisa A Huisinga
Lisa Edaburn
Lisa Fitzpatrick
Lisa Gantenbein
Lisa Miller
Lisa Rehman
Lois Grimes
Lois Raczynski
Lois Ralston
Lois Ripple
Lois Shendoll
Lori Waggoner
Lori Alliss
Lori Brendes
Lori Vander Velden
Lou Ann O'Malley
Lura McBride
Lydia Sax
Lyle Gerdemann
Lynda Nebel
Marg Bowen
Margaret Ford
Margaret Johnson
Margaret Nelson
Marian Young
Marie Chaon
Marilynn Pohlman
Mark Kovalan
Mark Sargent
Marlene Hunt
Marsha Laux
Martha Capps
Martha Hanley
Mary Angela Baker
Mary Bear
Mary Bearns
Mary Chamberlin
Mary Collins
Mary Doyle
Mary Fiala
Mary Hanna
Mary Huneke
Mary Ingram-Chittick
Mary Jo Washburn
Mary Lou Hughes
Mary Pat Scheckel
Mary Poindexter
Mary Richardson
Mary Stull
Mary White
Mason Short
Matthew Terpstra
Maureen Gronstal
Maureen Harris
Megan Post
Melanie Moretz
Michael Courtney
Michael Drahozal
Michael Foley
Michele Olesen
Michelle Black
Michelle Howe
Michelle Scott
Mike Ivester
Mike Martin
Mike Prull
Mildred Andersen
Misti Steichen
Molly Whitaker
Nadia Wattnem
Nancy Baker
Nancy Corbin
Nancy Davin
Nancy Garberson
Nancy Hanson
Nancy Kellen
Nancy Miller
Nancy Roush
Nancy Smith
Nancy Thorkildson
Nancy Wauters
Nancy Williamson
Nancy Yeisley
Nicole Fields
Noreen Koch
Norma Swift
Oliver Dent
Pam Clark
Pam Dresser
Pam Oltmann
Pamela Evans
Pamela Towe
Pat Brand
Pat Imerman
Pat Johnson
Pat Johnston
Pat McCleary
Patrice Becicka
Patricia Cavanaugh
Patricia Houar
Patsy Boland
Patty Kisner
Paul & Cindy Sale
Paula Fields
Paula ORourke
Peg Ewart
Peter Sorensen
Phillip J Laux
Polly K Boland
Priscilla Polehna
Raymond Terpstra
Rebecca Skalsky
Rhonada Weber
Rich Frahm
Rich King
Richard Anderson
Richard King
Richard Raczynski Jr.
Rick Dunkel
Riley Larson
Robert J McGee
Robert Koenig
Robin Chaffe
Robin G. Brown
Robin Grawe
Robin Mehaffy
Robin Mehattey
Rod & Lisa Pritchard
Rod Blocksome
Roger Baker
Roger Smith
Ron Jarzombek
Ronald McGee
Ronald Nelson
Rosalyn Clauson
Rosalyn Clayson
Rotary Club of CR
Roxanne Kropf
Roxanne McCrane
Ruth Runde
Ryan Shenefelt
Sally Ann Orf
Salma Shaik Mohamed
Samantha Johnson
Sandra Cleppe
Sandra Ochs
Sandy Cummings
Sandy Hutchcroft
Sandy Meiners
Sandy Pereboom
Sara Pershing
Sara Sadorra
Sara Scott
Sara Veerhusen
Sarah McCaffrey
Sarah Zimmerman
Scott Fish
Scott Hassenstab
Scott Olson
Shannon Gorman
Sharon Mere
Sharon Rawson
Sharon Winistorfer
Sheila Deininger
Shelly Moyer
Sheree Castonguay
Sherri Wilcox
Sherry Garrett
Sheryl Smiley
Shirley Mickelson
Sonda Kirsteatter
Staci Jansma
Stacy McDonald
Steph Stulken
Stephen Streff
Steve Carpenter
Steve White
Steven Lehmann
Sue Lovik
Sue Stamm
Sue Wehmeyer
Susan Davidson
Susan Frischkorn
Susan Hartley
Susan Lloyd
Susan McEnany
Susan Nguyen
Susan Pfeiler-Todd
Tanya Kaliban
Terri Mohler
Terry Stanford
Terry Whaley
Thea Leslie
Theresa Christoffersen
Tim Preston
Tom Galbraith
Tom Jennings
Tom Wertz
Tork Harman
Traci Maxted
Tracy Taylor
Trish Banes
Trish Swestka
Tyler Goodall
Ute Adams
Valois Wolter
Vance Fuller
Vickie Ozburn
Vikie Baker
William & Kathie Cink
William Bruty

Alliant Energy Foundation Inc
Ambrose & Associates
Anamosa Dental Associates
Anderson Financial Services, Inc
AXA Advisors
Baird
Bank Iowa NE Side
Bankers TrustBenchmark, Inc
Berthel Fisher Companies
BGHN Associates, P.C.
Blair House Owners Association
Blair Ridge Dental
Bouslog Insurance Corp.
Buffalo United Methodist Church
Casa Las Glorias
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust Co.
Cedar Rapids Community Schools/Kennedy Student Government
Cedar Rapids Country Club
Cedar Rapids Endodontics
Center Point-Urbana High School
Citizen's Bank Anamosa
City of Iowa City
Clark's Pharmacy
Classic Tax & Accounting
College Community School District
Collins Community Credit Union
Cornell College
Corridor Dental
Corridor Family Dentistry
Cottage Grove Place
Crystal Group
Curves
Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists
Dental Prostetic Services
Dental Touch Associates PC
Department of Corrections
Eastern Iowa Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Eastman Dental Care
Echo Hill Elementary
F & M Bank
Fairfax State Savings Bank
Farmers State Bank
Flowerama Orders Constituent
GE Capital
Gems of Hope
General Mills
Giacoletto Foundation
GLD Commercial
Grant Wood AEA
Great America Financial
GreenState Credit Union
Hall Perrine Cancer Center
Harrison Elementary School
Hawkeye Communications
Helen G Nassif CCC
Hertz Farm Management
Hiawatha Bank & Trust
Hiawatha Care Center
Hills Bank & Trust Company
His Hands Clinic
Holmes Murphy & Associates
Horton Family Dental
Hospice of Mercy
Hy-Vee Food Store
International Paper - Cedar River Mill
Iowa Title Company
Jefferson High School
John F Kennedy Girls Soccer
Jones County Family Destistry
Karma Coffee
Kepros Physical Therapy & Performance
Kirkwood CC
Kirkwood Center
Leepfrog Technologies
Legacy Manufacturing Co.
Lil' Drug Store
Lindale Dental Care
Linn Animal Hospital
Linn Area Credit Union
Linn County - Auditor's Office
Linn County - Planning & development
Linn County Assesors Office
Linn County Child Development
Linn County Public Health
Linn County Recorder's Office
Linn County Rural Electric
Linn County Sheriff
Linn County Treasurer
Linn Grove Elementary
Linn-Mar High School
Lynch Dallas
Maquekota Valley Rural Electric Cooperative
McGrath Family of Dealerships
Mercy Medical Center
Methwick
Monticello Family Dentistry
Mount Mercy University
Moxie Salon & Spa
Nations Financial Group, Inc
Nelson Chiropractic
Network for Good
Nordstrom
OB-GYN Associates PC
Ohnward Bank & Trust
Palo Savings Bank
PCI Hematology & Oncology
Pearson & Virlee, PC
Pierce Elementary
Prairie High School Key Club
Prairie View Elementary School
Premier Investments of Iowa
Quass Communications LLC
Radiation Oncology of Cedar Rapids PC @ Hall Radiation Center
Raytheon Technologies - Collins Aerospace
RBC Wealth Management
Republic Abstract
River Ridge Dental
Robert W Baird Co.
Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids - Downtown
Rotary of Cedar Rapids - Daybreak
Schneider Electric North America Foundation c/o Cybergrants
Sebesta Bloomberg
Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church
Shorts Burger & Shine
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, PLC
Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC
Skogman SE side
Solberg's Inc
Source One Logos & Marketing
St. Matthew School
St. Pius X Parish
St.Andrew Lutheran Church
Studio 32
Styles & Smiles
Taft Middle School
The Accel Group
The Big Apple Orchard
The Builder's Group
The Divine Mercy Gifts
The Ghosh Center
The Jennifer lowe Salon
Tomaso's Pizza
TrueNorth Companies
Tyler, Link & Barnes, DDS
UIHC Pediatrics Clinic
United Fire Group
United Way of Central Ohio
United Way of East Central Iowa
UnityPoint/St. Luke's
University of Iowa Health Care
Van Meter Inc.
Veridian Credit Union
Village Co-op
Vinton Family Dental
Vision Hair Studio
Visions
VPMA Office
Wealthstone Financial
Weight Watchers
Wells Fargo
West Side Transport
Western Fraternal Life Lodge 7
Wildcat Storage
Winsomme Salon and Spa
Witt Dental

Art & Kathy Barron in memory of Alfredo (Freddie) Arredondo

Josh Belden in memory of Lois Belden

Wayne & Loretta Buelow in memory of Teresa Rezin

Gary & Sandy Cain in memory of Jodi Cain

Kathy & Bill Cink in memory of Pam Mowinkle

Pam Dresser in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Elwood & Cindy Garlock in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Kristin & Gary Glockhoff in memory of John Kidwell

Virginia Grant in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Lonnie & Doris Gray in memory of Francis Fairchild

Beth & Bruce Hammell in memory of Jeanne Kapler & Norbert Hemesath

Brad & Elizabeth Harman in memory of Sheila Harman

Laura & Douglas Jontz in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Les Kapler in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Greg & Virginia Kunkel in memory of Sheila Harman

Carol Langeaux in memory of Kay Huff, Pat Dunkel, & Jim Langeaux

Peter & Kristen Larson in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Diane & Morton Maltby in memory of Arlys Kay Huff

Linda McCleary in memory of Arlys Kay Huff

Karen & Robert Nemecek in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Phil & Christine Rezin in memory of Teresa Rezin

Michael Rooney in memory of Leslie Rooney

Cindy & Paul Sale in memory of Sheila Harman & Tom Hobson

Jennifer & James Schulte in memory Jeanne Kapler

Mary Schwinn in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Erin & James SeelyMark & Lin Settle in memory of Jeanne Kapler

Bob & Sara Vancura in memory of Phil Riemenschneider

Kathy & Kent Waychoff in memory JoAnn Joynst

Sue & Tom Wehmeyer Rick Zettler in memory of Bill Hughes & Jim McEwany

Debby & Jim Bangs- Beth Hammell

Allen & Hillary Hammell- Beth Hammell

Tork & Lynn Harman- Joyce Juber, Karen Allen, & Arta Harman
Tom Jennings- Jim McCammond
Matt Lund- Jeanne Wilson
Darline Davermann Reid- Gems of Hope
Kathy & Kent Waychoff- Mary & David Laird
GreenState Credit Union- Lisa Fitzpatrick
GreenState Credit Union- Ariane Makaya
JTRE Real Estate Team, Inc.