Since our founding in 1998, BCCRF has educated breast cancer patients, survivors and the lay public through the dissemination of information at lectures, on our website, in our newsletter and through one-on-one mentoring. We launched our micro-grant program in 2021 to expand our commitment to our community. The micro-grant program is for non-profit organizations and institutions to address Breast Cancer Education and Breast Cancer Care. These micro-grants are small, one-time, cash awards given for a short-term community project. Our intent is to provide financing to help these organizations make an impact. To date, we have funded local organizations creating educational webinars in their community and large organizations funding global impact projects. You can learn more about them below. We hope you will join them and apply for our next round of funding.
2023
City of Hope: Developing an Educational Film on Fine Needle Aspiration
Dr Lesley Taylor continues her efforts working with Hawassa University School of Nursing and the Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Cancer Treatment Center in Ethiopia. The goal is to train nurses on fine needle aspiration. This rapid diagnostic service may help decrease delays in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Cedar Valley Cancer Committee’s Beyond Pink Team: The Cancer Journey
The Beyond Pink TEAM will implement The Cancer Journey, a novel educational online resource with curated video and written content for breast cancer patients. This online tool makes it easy to find and access credible, reliable and current information.
Thriving Pink: From Treatment to Survivorship
This community-based year-long program focuses on post-treatment for breast cancer patients. The program, led by various professionals in healthcare services, provides support and guidance as one transitions from patient to survivor.
Avera Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer Education and Survivor Event in South Dakota
This community led event is focused on American Indian women living in and around the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation. The event will provide education about breast cancer and screening and prevention measures. Presentations by local community breast cancer survivors will further educate the attendees about treatment decisions and survivorship.
Journey of Faith: Chat & Chew Breast Cancer Education in Alabama
A community led organization focusing on educating women from low income and rural areas on breast cancer. Information such as understanding the risk for breast cancer, making healthy choices and the importance of knowing one’s family history will be presented. Discussions will be led by local medical professionals as well as current patients/survivors.
2022
City of Hope with Hawassa University
Dr. Lesley Taylor of City of Hope received a Micro-grant to use toward her innovative program “Improving Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Through Nursing Education in Africa.” Working with the Dean and faculty of Hawassa University School of Nursing in Ethiopia, Dr. Taylor’s team is creating an educational program for 20-30 nurses working in the local hospital. This project will serve as an important pilot which can be implemented in other nursing educational programs in sub-Saharan Africa.
Sikora Research Lab, University of Colorado’s Anschultz Medical Campus
The Sikora Research Lab, located at the University of Colorado, received a grant to hold an in-person meeting with local patients, advocates and clinicians in the Denver and Mountain West community focused on education about the unique clinical features of lobular breast cancer. The Sikora Lab is the only research program dedicated to lobular cancer in the Mountain West region.
Young Survival Coalition
The Young Survival Coalition was awarded a micro-grant to develop an interactive Breast Cancer Education Webinar on topics specific to the challenges that young adults with breast cancer face, including medical treatments, sex and intimacy, survivorship and quality of life. The primary target population includes young adults under age 40 diagnosed and living with a history of breast cancer and young adults living with metastatic breast cancer.
Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
The Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance, founded by a national network of patient advocates, received a micro-grant to translate their popular online document, ILC Fact Sheet. They will translate this informative document into 14 different languages to educate a wider audience on the facts about ILC, the second most common breast cancer subtype.
California Health Collaborative
The California Health Collaborative is committed to enhancing the quality of life and health of the people of California, particularly the underserved and underrepresented. Within the organization is a volunteer-driven Latinx Task Force. They received a micro-grant for their program “ABC: Alcohol to Breast Cancer” designed to raise awareness of the link between breast cancer and alcohol consumption. They will focus on the LGBTQI+ Latinx community throughout Los Angeles County.
City of Hope’s Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group
The City of Hope Metastatic Breast Cancer Support Group received a micro-grant to celebrate with a half day retreat a group of Stage 4 breast cancer patients. These resilient, courageous patients require active cancer treatment for the rest of their lives, awaiting a cure. Part of the retreat will be to create a group legacy project.
Breast Cancer Angels
Breast Cancer Angels provides financial assistance for patients undergoing breast cancer treatment so that they may focus on healing. They received a micro-grant to be used to provide transportation services to patients who do not have a reliable support system to go to and from chemotherapy sessions. Throughout Southern California, Breast Cancer Angles help approximately 150 families each month.