To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation Awards $280,000 in Grants to 19 Bay Area Nonprofits

To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation, a volunteer-based nonprofit organization, announces the recipients of their 2017 grant awards totaling $280,000. The grants were given to 19 nonprofits which help women and men with breast health issues. They provide emergency, direct and patient navigation services, financial support for the underserved, holistic complementary therapies, diagnostics and emotional support programs. Grant recipients are located throughout the 9-county Bay Area.

These awards bring the total granted since the organization’s inception in 1996 to $4.83 million. The recipients were chosen from a pool of applicants by the Foundation’s Grants Review Committee, which is made up of community health and medical leaders, breast cancer survivors, Foundation supporters and past and present Foundation directors.

“We are incredibly proud to have granted over $4.83 million dollars in the past 21 years to the many important programs that assist underserved populations with breast health issues,” said Kristen Bennett, To Celebrate Life Board President. “Our vision is that no one should face breast cancer alone. With the support of our generous donors and the tremendous work of our volunteers, we are making a difference in the day-to-day care of those living with the challenges of breast cancer.”

Foundation major donors and partners presented awards at the March 27th Grants Reception. Grant funds were generated from the Foundation’s annual Stepping Out To Celebrate Life gala and contributions from individual and community supporters.

2017 Grant Recipients:

Alameda Health System Foundation – Oakland

Transportation Fund for Breast Cancer Patients

Bay Area Cancer Connections – Palo Alto

The Gabriella Patser Program

Bay Area Young Survivors (BAYS) – San Francisco

Writing Retreats for Young Women with Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Emergency Fund - San Francisco /San Mateo/Santa Clara

Emergency Financial Assistance

Cancer Support Sonoma – Sonoma

Return to Wellness

Ceres Community Project – Sebastopol/ San Rafael /Alameda

Healing Meals for Breast Cancer Patients

Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic – Oakland

Addressing Unmet Needs of Low-Income Women with Breast Cancer

HERS Breast Cancer Foundation – Fremont/Palo Alto/Pleasanton

Lymphedema Project

Institute for Health & Healing –Greenbrae

Holistic Support for Breast Cancer Patients

Latina Breast Cancer Agency – San Francisco

Mujeres Cuidando Mujeres / Women Caring for Women Patient Navigation

Marin Center for Independent Living – San Rafael

Mary Mathews Breast Cancer Advocacy Project

Marin General Hospital Foundation – Greenbrae

Strength ABC Program and Diagnostic Fund for Un/Under-insured Patients

Pilipino Senior Resource Center - San Francisco

Kapwa Kalinga “Care for Each Other” Navigation and Emergency Services

San Francisco General Hospital Foundation - San Francisco

Lymphedema Education and Referral Program (LERP)

Shanti Project- San Francisco

Margot Murphy Breast Cancer Program

Sunflower Wellness – San Francisco/Marin

Beyond Breast Cancer

Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation – Santa Rosa

Cancer Support Services

Tim and Jeannie Hamann Foundation – Benicia

Make a Difference – Help for Those with Breast Cancer

Women’s Cancer Resource Center - Oakland

Emergency Financial Assistance

To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation is a volunteer-based organization whose mission is to support Bay Area people facing breast cancer by funding direct and emergency services. Since its inception in 1996, the Foundation has raised and distributed over $4.83 million to Bay Area nonprofits that help people dealing with breast cancer or who have breast health issues. For more information, call (415) 455-5882 or visit www.tocelebratelife.org .

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2017 Grantees - group photo ID

2017 Grantees – Top row from left: Charis Pasley, Tim and Jeannie Hamann Foundation; Linda Dovbish, Ceres Community Project; Morgan Hewitt, Cancer Support Sonoma; Alison Gause, Marin General Hospital Foundation; Regan Fedric, Sunflower Wellness; Judith Bilentnikoff Harkins, Shanti Project; Shawanna Emerson, Alameda Health System Foundation; Cecile Gregorio Ascalon, Pilipino Senior Resource Center; Kristen Zeitzer, Bay Area Young Survivors (BAYS); Linda Wardlaw, Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic; Mireya Segura, Latina Breast Cancer Agency; Dolores Moorehead, Women’s Cancer Resource Center

Front row from left: Cindi Cantril, Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation; Sharon Meyer, Institute for Health and Healing; Maria Sousa, ED, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund; Fern Orenstein, San Francisco General Hospital Foundation; Kathleen Woodcock, Marin Center For Independent Living; Vera Packard, HERS Breast Cancer Foundation; Donaji Olivares, Bay Area Cancer Connections — Photo: Glen Graves