Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases. Please visit patientadvocate.org for more information.

Patient Advocate Foundation was founded in 1996 by Nancy Davenport-Ennis in memory of Cheryl Grimmel, a 31 year old parent of a 12 year old son, and a breast cancer patient who died after battling the disease for three years. Cheryl provided inspiration to Nancy to personally become involved in insurance reform and patient education on behalf of cancer patients through their friendship and her valiant example as she battled with both the disease and her insurer. Patient Advocate Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) organization that serves as an active liaison between the patient and their insurer, employer and/or creditors to resolve insurance, job discrimination, and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis through case managers and a national network of health care attorneys. Services are provided to patients AT NO COST. During its first year of operation, Patient Advocate Foundation served 157 patients. For FY 2005/2006, PAF provided service to over 33,370 patients. More than 6.1 million requests for information and services were recieved through phone, e-mail and teh PAF website. While PAF assists cancer patients, PAF also advocates on behalf of all patients with chronic, life threatening and/or debilitating illnesses.