About the Fund
The Melissa Carroll Legacy Fund (MCLF) was created in memory of artist and AFC alum Melissa Carroll. Melissa joined A Fresh Chapter’s pilot program to India in 2013. Even after a recurrence of cancer and restarting chemotherapy, she traveled with us to New Delhi, where she came alive through art, connection, and service.
Her light continues to inspire. After Melissa passed away in 2014, her family asked that donations in her memory support A Fresh Chapter. The MCLF now provides scholarships for people impacted by cancer to access meaningful programs that support emotional healing and growth.
A Legacy of Hope and Healing
From 2014–2019, MCLF scholarships supported individuals with financial need to participate in AFC’s immersive Odyssey programs.
In 2023, the fund supported two South African cancer survivors, Sheldene and Marlene, to participate in the Africa Elevate Fellowship—marking the next chapter in bringing AFC’s model to South Africa.
Developed in partnership with Kenyan cancer advocates, AFC’s psychosocial support model empowers patients, survivors, and caregivers to heal emotionally, connect with others, and become leaders in their communities. Through peer-led workshops, participants explore tools for resilience, reduce stigma, and promote early detection of cancer.
Remembering Melissa
On the night of March 31, 2014, the world became a darker place when Melissa passed away. Melissa was so much more than her diagnosis. She was an artist, a teacher, and a friend whose laughter and creativity left a lasting mark.
Read Terri Wingham’s tribute to Melissa on the A Fresh Chapter blog: Melissa Carroll: A Tribute To Her Final Chapter. Or, read these wonderfully written pieces about Melissa’s life and work–Melissa Carroll’s Technicolor Dream and As Light Is Said to Do–and find her honored in the pages of Between Two Kingdoms. You can also visit her website to learn more about her life and art.
To learn more about how the fund began, visit this post: Paul Carroll, founder of the Melissa Carroll Legacy Fund.
