Welcome to Have a Nice Day Foundation!
​We are so happy to be able to give you and your family a little bit of sunshine during your cancer journey.
Please see below for resources to help you plan for your Nice*Day. Feel free to contact us any time. 
We are so excited to get to know you and plan your Nice*Day!

ALREADY NOMINATED?
PLEASE FILL OUT FAMILY INFO SHEET THAT WAS EMAILED TO YOU

WHAT IS A NICE*DAY?

Think a (small budget) Make-A-Wish grant, but for parents with cancer.  We work with you to create a special day tailored specifically to your family and your energy levels in the Twin Cities Metro area . Have a Nice Day Foundation takes care of all the planning and costs - you just show up for the Nice*Day to have fun and make memories with your family. See examples of previous Nice*Days here.  Don't have any ideas? No problem, we prefer it that way! Our volunteers work to get to know you and your family and come up with several fun ideas for you to pick from.

Previous Nice*DAY Examples:

   Taylor Swift Concert
   Minnesota Vikings Sideline Photographer 
   Big 10 Football Championships
   Local Sporting Events (Wild, Timberwolves)
   International Soccer Events
   Holiday Concerts
Flying a Plane with family
​Mayor for a Day
Ice Castles with Anna & Elsa
Bentleyville Getaway & Holiday Events
​Up North Getaways
Waterpark Getaway


​Nice*days Previously imagined & stock ideas:

Mother / Daughter Spa Day & Photo Shoot
Disney on Ice Experience
Backyard BBQ & Fun Zone Creation
“For a Day” Experiences (job, big dreams, etc)
Chartered Lake Days
Minnesota Men’s & Women’s Sports Teams
Behind the Scenes Zoo Tours
Epic Mall of America Day
Theater & Concert Experiences  
Character Meet & Greets
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WHAT IS A NICE GAME*DAY?

​HANDF's nationwide initiative, Have a Nice Game*Day provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience at premier sporting events and championships around the country (World Cup, Olympics, Races, Professional and NCAA Championships, once-in-a-lifetime games etc).  These Game*Days are granted to parents undergoing cancer treatment in the specific metro area of the sporting event, to reduce the need for transportation and lodging costs. Have a Nice Day volunteers work extraordinary hard to secure in-kind ticket donations and extraordinary experiences for each event and extras such as parking, food and merchandise are covered through HANDF's separate Game*Day specific donation fund.
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what are the BENEFITS OF NICE*DAYS FOR FAMILIES?

Below are findings from a 2015 Research Study about Make-A-Wish:
"The findings indicated that the children who received the wish-fulfillment intervention had higher levels of hope regarding their future, increased positive emotions and health-related quality of life, and a better psychological profile manifested by lower levels of depression, anxiety, and psychological symptomatology. On the other hand, the control group showed lower levels of positive emotions over time, and no significant changes in their levels of hope, health-related quality of life, or psychological symptomatology."
source: https://wish.org/more-than-medicine
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WHAT IS THE NICE*DAY PROCESS?

1. Get Nominated to receive a Nice*Day
2. Once approved and contacted by HANDF, fill out the family information sheet
3. Have a quick 15-minute phone call or meeting with volunteers so we can learn about you and your family
4. Select from a menu of Nice*Day options presented to you (Personalized or Quick Pick)
5. Complete and return liability waiver
6. Have fun making memories with your family on your Nice*Day!
7. After the event, share a photo and fill out a three question survey about your experience
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GREAT! HOW DO I GET STARTED?

If you have already been contacted by Have a Nice Day Foundation, please fill out the family intake form
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I'M NOT SO SURE, I DON'T REALLY NEED THE HELP

A Nice*Day is a little different than typical cancer help.  You may already have many people wanting to help you by giving their time or have been paired up with wonderful organizations like Minnesota's Angel Foundation for financial resources. A Nice*Day is creating worry-free fun and lasting memories for your family.

​There are no income limits on Nice*Days, because when a mom or dad is diagnosed with cancer, the entire family worries about the future and feels the change in normalcy.  A Nice*Day gives everyone in the family something to look forward to together and great memories to look back upon. HANDF's nonprofit status often allows us to open more doors than what your friends or family can do, and leaves them time to care for you in the way they do best.

To note, over 90% of dads take advantage of a Nice*Day experience for their family, while under 30% of moms accept the opportunity. We have the funds and volunteer hours to cover many Nice*Days this year, you are not taking away an opportunity from someone who "deserves or needs it more".  All families are welcomed.   
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I'M AT THE BEGINNING OF MY JOURNEY, WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?

Minnesota is full of terrific resources for healthcare, support and cancer communities that can help.  
Please click here see our list of additional resources for Minnesota parents with cancer.

Go the the American Cancer Society or FindHelp to identify nationwide cancer support 

Have a nice day!