2023 Annual Report spread (US Letter (Landscape))

EDITION

Survivor Lauren DeMoss

2023

ANNUAL REPORT

Survivor Phyllis Johnson

OUR MISSION Forge supports, empowers and improves medical access and outcomes for Alabama breast cancer patients, survivors and those who love them from the day of diagnosis through the rest of life.

OUR REACH Forge provides tailored supportive services to anyone impacted by breast cancer in Alabama.

At our founding in 2016, we served Birmingham’s five-county area. In 2023, we supported clients in 51 counties.

*Light pink denotes new counties served in 2023.

THE FIGURES Forge continues to grow. In 2023, our direct impact on individuals impacted by breast cancer increased 173% over 2022.

We also added new programs, new services and new staff to better serve Alabama’s breast cancer survivors.

4,772 1,659 breast cancer patients & caregivers supported by Forge

medical appointments attended with Forge's help

845

372

# of times patients & caregivers attended Forge programs

free counseling sessions provided

by Forge

FINANCIAL IMPACT Financial value of 2023 tangible services and assistance

703

individuals received financial assistance in 2023

$27,573

$13,699

$35,580

$19,620

in hardship support

in gas cards & Lyft rides

in mental health, nutrition & financial counseling

in grocery cards & other resource assistance

SERVICES Forge offers strength by pairing clients with volunteer mentors to listen and support; provides resources such as health and wellness classes, professional mental health counseling, and gas cards for transportation to medical appointments; and works to build a community of survivors and volunteers to Forge a new future together.

Individuals We Serve

Gas Cards

Patients

Co-survivors

Survivors

Caregivers

Calculated on mileage to and from upcoming breast cancer related appointments with annual cap

Pre-vivors

Families

Grocery Cards Gift cards for area grocery stores while in treatment with annual cap

Hardship Fund Help with essential household bills while in or within one year of active treatment with annual cap

Mental Health Counseling Free mental health counseling with licensed professionals for patients, survivors, and their families

Wigs Free wigs to clients experiencing treatment-related hair loss

Lifestyle Programming Forge offers a variety of programming including exercise, nutrition, art and support groups

Mastectomy Bra Fittings Survivor Fabiola Valencia

Licensed Forge employee can provide bra and prosthesis fittings

HARDSHIP FUND In December 2022, Forge launched a new program to combat the financial toxicity suffered by Alabama breast cancer patients. The Hardship Fund was planned to launch in January 2023, but in one of the state’s coldest periods of the year and just a few weeks before Christmas, a client called us for help. Her home ran on gas and her propane tank was empty.

Her request was reviewed and approved by our survivor review committee. We were able to fill her propane tank for $795, allowing her to cook and heat her home for the rest of winter.

Our hardship fund is reserved for clients who are in or within one year of active treatment. Each request is reviewed by a threemember committee of survivor volunteers and each payment is made directly to the service provider.

In 2023, we fulfilled 31 more individual requests for support, totaling $27,573 in financial assistance. We helped breast cancer patients pay their rent, mortgage, car notes, and various utilities, allowing them to focus on healing rather than how to keep their lights on.

Survivor Erika Todd

Designed to Inspire, Haute Pink is Forge’s premier fundraiser. On Oct. 12, Forge held its third annual Haute Pink, pairing local fashion designers with ten breast cancer survivors, and one cosurvivor.

To elevate the event, Forge moved the event to the Red Mountain Theatre. The new venue was the perfect space to celebrate breast cancer patients, survivors and those who love them. More than $65,000 was raised with the help of our sponsors, including The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Coca-Cola UNITED, Balch & Bingham, the Junior League of Birmingham, Oakworth Capital Bank, Cohn Plastic Surgery, Graycorp Logistics and Alabama Power.

Join us on October 17, 2024, to be part of the excitement!

OUR TEAM

Lauren Roberts

Executive Director

Jinida Holt

Alaina Pineda

Janet Dees, R.N.

VP of Strategic Initiatives

Client Services Coordinator

Meg Lovett

Anaiza Medina

Volunteer Coordinator

Community Outreach Coordinator

Hispanic Programs Coordinator

Yadira Robayna

Angie Wood

Mary Bentley Barfield

Hispanic Client Services Coordinator

Programs Director

Staff Intern

OUR BOARD In December 2023, Forge expanded its Board of Directors, growing the body by four seats, and electing a new President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Kerry Schrader, President Mixtroz

Javacia Harris Bowser, VP See Jane Write

Dorothy Pak, Secretary UAB Health

Jordan DeMoss, Treasurer UAB Health

JoAnna Brown Alabama Power

Ruby Fenton Wells Fargo

Scott Kelly Ogletree Deakins

Christy Parrozzo

Kelly Peace Regions

Dr. Charles Shumate Retired Breast Surgeon

Marie Sutton Birmingham Mayor’s Office

Vanessa Vargas Latino News

Cary Wahlheim Protective Life

Lauren Roberts, ex officio Forge

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ala.

Founding Board President Susan Sellers and Founding Board Secretary Robin DeMonia rolled off the board after serving the organization since its founding in 2016. We are grateful for their unwavering support.

Susan Sellers Immediate Past President United Ability

Robin DeMonia Immediate Past Secretary Direct Communications

ADDITIONAL TEAM LEADERSHIP TEAM Jordan DeMoss UAB Health System

Andrew Bell Ascension St. Vincent’s

Kevin Flynn Brookwood Baptist Health

Christopher Nanni Community Foundation Greater Birmingham

CLINICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Ellen Blackmon, MD Vulcan Imaging Resources Kris Boone, RT (R)(M) Ascension St. Vincent’s Kathryn Bowden, JD, MEd Oasis Counseling William C. Braswell, MD, FACS Shelby Baptist Medical Center Timothy Bullock, MD, FACS Ascension St. Vincent’s John Carpenter, MD UAB Health, retired Beth Chandler, PT, CLT Grandview Medical Center Jennifer De Los Santos, MD Grandview Medical Center Kristi Denny, RT(R)(M), ARRT BN-CI Grandview Medical Center Nicholas Dionne-Odom, RN, ACHPN UAB Health System Madeline Harris, RN, MSN UAB Health, retired

Jennifer Hicks, MSHA, MBA UAB Health System Louis Josof Ascension St. Vincent’s Katia Khoury, MD UAB Health System Rachael Lancaster, MD, FACS UAB Health System Marsha Newton, BS, LBSW Princeton Baptist Medical Center Luis F. Pineda, MD, MSHA Cooking with Cancer, Inc. Laura Rutledge, RDN, CSO Ascension St. Vincent’s Carol Stephens, PC CLT-LANA Brookwood Baptist William A. Thompson III, MD, FACS Alabama Oncology Sandra Tincher, MD Brookwood Baptist

SUPPORTERS

Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center 1321 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205 forgeon.org North Alalabama: 205-838-6159 | South Alabama: 251-320-3088