Maryland’s First Lady Dawn Moore Joins Ulman Foundation for our 5 Year Anniversary and Legacy Walkway

On October 28, 2024, Ulman Foundation hosted a heartfelt celebration marking the 5th anniversary of Ulman House. This milestone event included the unveiling of our Legacy Walkway in front of Ulman House and featured several special guests, including Maryland’s First Lady, Dawn Moore, WBAL’s Megan Rivers, and a very inspiring mission speaker, Charisma Spencer, who once found comfort and support as a guest at Ulman House.

The First Lady’s visit began with a tour of the Ulman House, where she connected with the community by packaging cookies for current guests and patients—a small gesture filled with warmth and solidarity. Attendees gathered upstairs to hear from our CEO, Brock Yetso, who shared words of gratitude for the community’s unwavering support over the years. First Lady Moore took the stage to deliver a powerful speech, stating, “For too long, young people living with cancer have been overlooked and underserved. But because of Ulman Foundation, every person who walks through those doors carrying a weight of more questions than answers knows this: they are seen, they are supported, and there’s nothing we can’t face when we face it together.”

Our keynote speaker, Charisma, shared her personal journey with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Diagnosed at 26 years old, Charisma and her mother stayed at Ulman House during and after treatment. Reflecting on her experience, she expressed how “everyone was so welcoming…we supported each other, our caregivers supported each other, the staff supported us” adding, “There is life after cancer, and it’s easier when we’re all in it together.” Her words left a powerful reminder of the hope and resilience that defines the Ulman community.

For the past five years, Ulman House has stood as a beacon of support, providing a safe and welcoming home for the young adult cancer community. What started out as six separate rowhomes in East Baltimore has been transformed into Ulman House which has been thoughtfully renovated into a unified space complete with eight guest suites, commons spaces, community kitchen, gym, and now a newly renovated basketball court and putting green for guests to utilize. Ulman House is free to all guests and there are no income requirements for stay, as long as a patient is in active cancer treatment, Ulman House is available and open to all who travel to Baltimore for life-saving care.

Ulman House goes beyond being a temporary residence; it is a community where individuals impacted by cancer can connect through support groups, enjoy volunteer-hosted dinners, and find a sense of home during life’s most challenging times. As an extension of Ulman Foundation, Ulman House is part of a broader mission, with our support, programs, and patient navigation reaching young adults facing cancer nationwide. Ulman House brings our mission home to Baltimore, creating a lasting sense of community and belonging that extends far beyond its walls.

To commemorate this 5-year milestone, we proudly unveiled our new Legacy Walkway in front of Ulman House on E. Madison Street in Baltimore City. The walkway, crafted from personalized bricks, is dedicated to the community that makes Ulman House so special. This Legacy Walkway provides a unique way for our supporters to contribute, celebrate, and memorialize loved ones. By purchasing a commemorative brick, you will leave a permanent mark on Ulman House, symbolizing hope and unity for years to come. The best part? Thanks to a generous donor, 100% of proceeds from brick sales directly fund our mission and life-changing programs.

This is an ongoing opportunity to be a part of our legacy. If you would like to make a lasting impact, purchase your commemorative brick today.