YOUNGSTOWN — Yellow Brick Place is celebrating 10 years of serving cancer patients by providing a safe, non-medical healing environment.

The organization hosts support groups, offers free wigs to those undergoing chemotherapy, has fitness classes such as chair yoga, and is there with a sympathetic ear for those battling cancer.

Yellow Brick Place, 2959 Canfield Road in Youngstown, gained its 501(c)3 status in 2012 and opened its doors to the public in 2015.

“So, this year is our 10th anniversary, and we are celebrating a decade of serving the community,” said YBP assistant director Madison Umbel.

Its service area includes Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Mercer and Lawrence counties

She said YBP was founded by cancer survivors Donna Detwiler and Anna Aey. While receiving treatment out of town, they realized how much those on a similar path deserved to have access to a cancer wellness center here in the Valley. Their dream was to create a safe, non-medical place where clients would reap the benefits of a healing environment while finding the encouragement and hope that so many desperately seek while going through cancer.

As Yellow Brick Place was being developed, two words stood out — HOPE and HOME. Add to that Donna’s love of the “Wizard of Oz” and its message to never give up, hence, “Yellow Brick Place — No Place Like HOPE” was formed.

In the past 10 years, YBP has helped thousands of men and women through support and wellness programs.

“Currently, we provide the most programs we ever have in the history of our organization, all of which are free of charge,” Umbel said. “Cancer patients can come to us for a wig and choose from our large selection of beautiful, brand-new wigs. They can attend our beauty program every other month to learn how to apply their eyebrows and do their makeup post-chemo. They can attend our wellness therapies / classes such as chair yoga, tai chi, sound therapy, art therapy and more. Lastly, we provide four different support groups they can attend: All-Cancer, Multiple Myeloma, Prostate, and Cancer Caregivers groups.”

The key to YBP’s future lies in the current expansion, Umbel said. YBP recently opened expanded spaces at 2959 Canfield Road that will allow for growth and more programming.

“Our new space will give us the capacity to keep up with our current growth and the needs of the community,” she said. “We hope to add more program options, continuing to find new ways to support our clients. Moreover, our new larger space providing a more welcoming and calming environment will help us achieve this.”

Umbel said YBP hopes to open satellite offices around the service area, which includes Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Mercer and Lawrence counties. She said satellites could help serve those who can’t make the trip to the center.

As a non-profit, YBP functions on donations and fundraisers. To kick off the 2025 season, YBP is hosting its first “New Decade Raffle.”

“The raffle will help raise funds to support cancer patients and their loved ones with wellness programs, support groups, beautiful brand-new wigs, and more, all free of charge,” said YBP executive director Kathleen Moliterno.

“As Yellow Brick Place celebrates 10 years of service, it continues to be a lifeline for cancer patients, caregivers and loved ones. Recently voted Non-Profit of the Year, Yellow Brick Place has become an essential resource, and with costs rising, the need for community support has never been greater.”

Tickets for the raffle are available for $25 each or five for $100. By purchasing a ticket, the person will have a chance to win cash prizes and gifts while also helping those battling cancer in the local community. Tickets can be purchased online at yellowbrickplace.org/donate or by calling 234-228-9550 for more information. The grand-prize drawing will be April 3, with the early-bird prizes drawn March 20. The grand prize is $2,025, the second-place prize is $1,525, and the third-place prize is $1,025. The early-bird drawing will include a lucky day lotto plus cash, jewelry, dining, shopping gift cards and more. Winning tickets are added back into the drawing for April 3.

“As Yellow Brick Place looks toward the future, we remain committed to offering pivotal support to local cancer patients and their families,” Moliterno said. “With your help, the center can continue its vital work, providing free, compassionate care to those who need it most.”

For more information or to purchase raffle tickets, scan the QR Code, visit yellowbrickplace.org/donate or call 234-228-9550.

In the meantime, Umbel said the new space is serving clients well. Two programs benefitted immediately since the new space was opened.

“The first is our new wig-fitting room,” she said. “This is where clients come to try on different wigs. We have some on the wall for display, but our overall inventory selection is nearly 200 wigs of all different colors, styles and lengths.”

She said the second is YBP’s chair yoga program in the new space, which offers the staff double the amount of program space than before.

“We also now have private rooms for individualized programming such as reiki energy healing,” she said.