STAGES Foundation

Get to Know Us

STAGES reflects our full-spectrum approach to care and advocacy:

S — Support for patients, families, and caregivers
T — Transition through diagnosis, hospitalization, and care changes
A — Advocacy that protects patient dignity and voice
G — Guidance when systems feel overwhelming or unclear
E — Education to empower informed decisions
S — Sustainability to build lasting, ethical systems of care

STAGES Foundation is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families navigating life-changing diagnoses, chronic illness, palliative care, and complex healthcare journeys. STAGES Foundation was created to help bridge the gap between medical care and the emotional, practical, and long-term support families often need during difficult moments.

Through advocacy, education, resource navigation, and community support, STAGES Foundation works to expand awareness and access to palliative care services, integrated mental health support, and advance care planning resources. The foundation also provides education surrounding wills, estates, Power of Attorney, and healthcare decision-making so individuals and families can feel more informed, prepared, and empowered when facing critical life transitions.

Serving Central Pennsylvania and beyond, STAGES Foundation is committed to creating compassionate systems of support that help patients, caregivers, and families navigate uncertainty with dignity, guidance, and hope.

TO GET INVOLVED, please email stagesfoundation@gmail.com

Our vision is to ensure that every individual facing a life-changing diagnosis receives compassionate, ethical, and coordinated care, supported by resources, rights, and advocacy that honor their dignity through every stage of life.

STAGES Foundation exists to bring comfort, clarity, and compassion to patients and families navigating serious illness. We work to strengthen mental health and palliative care support, expand access to counseling and social work resources, and build models of holistic care inspired by programs like Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center’s CARE Center and Hummingbird Project.

Our mission also extends to strengthening patient rights and improving oversight across the healthcare system. We advocate for responsible Power of Attorney practices, emotional support rights, and ethical safeguards to ensure no patient is isolated and no family is silenced during critical moments of decision-making.

Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, STAGES Foundation ensures that every patient’s voice is honored, every family is supported, and every decision is made with dignity.

STAGES Foundation was founded in honor of Amy Daniels, Melissa Miller's sister who's medical journal sparked a passion in her to help others navigating life-changing diagnosis.

The STAGES Foundation is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors composed of community leaders, healthcare professionals, legal and financial experts, and advocates who share a commitment to strengthening support for individuals and families navigating life-changing diagnoses.

Our board provides strategic leadership, governance, and oversight to ensure that the foundation operates with integrity, transparency, and long-term sustainability. Board members play an essential role in shaping the vision of STAGES, helping expand partnerships, guiding program development, and supporting the fundraising efforts that make this work possible.

Together, the STAGES board is committed to building a network of resources that improves access to palliative care support, mental health services, patient advocacy, and advance planning education, ensuring that individuals and families receive the guidance, dignity, and compassion they deserve at every stage of serious illness.

The Amy Daniels Advocacy Award

Established by STAGES Foundation, the Amy Daniels Advocacy Award honors individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to supporting and advocating for patients and families facing serious illness.

Recipients may include caregivers, healthcare professionals, advocates, or community members whose actions embody compassion, courage, and dedication to ensuring that patients’ voices are heard and respected.

This award reflects the spirit that inspired the creation of STAGES Foundation, transforming personal experience into meaningful advocacy for others. Each year, the recipient will be recognized for helping create a more compassionate

and supportive path for those navigating life-changing diagnoses.

The award will be presented annually at a STAGE GALA, celebrating those who embody the compassion and courage that inspired this mission. Applications will open Fall 2026.