Message from Courtney Olsen, BCA President

In my first year as BCA President, I’ve been motivated every single day to uphold our mission of improving survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer.

BCA had strong success with our events this past year. Our teen committee was hard at work raising money on behalf of BCA at their respective schools and through BCA’s annual teen fashion show at Richards. Hundreds of families came out to support our 5K for Hope on a beautiful Sunday in May. Foursomes, sporting pink attire, hit the links (and purchased mulligans!) at our golf outing.

We certainly have many reasons to be very hopeful about our future and the innovative work we are funding, all of which is made possible by YOU - our generous donors.

The work of Breast Cancer Alliance remains critical. At the beginning of January, BCA lost a friend and beloved board member, Dr. Michelle Abadir-Hallock, to Stage 4 breast cancer. I had the pleasure of getting to know Michelle when she participated and modeled at our 2018 luncheon and through her subsequent involvement with the organization. She exemplified radiance on the runway and instantly became an inspiration to anyone in her presence.

Our annual luncheon proved to be another incredible afternoon with a stunning Carolina Herrera fashion show and our courageous models of inspiration gracing the runway. BCA raised an extraordinary $1.2 million at the luncheon, and as a result, we will grant an astounding $1.5 million!

BCA’s local and national partnerships helped to expand our educational reach and awareness of our impact. Our medical webinars offered a myriad of cutting-edge breast cancer topics which have proven to be vital resources to the breast cancer community. Great strides are happening in the research we fund. Because of BCA’s funding for Dr. Nora Disis, our 2020 Exceptional Project grantee and Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute, a potential breast cancer vaccine is on the horizon!

Michelle fiercely battled her metastatic cancer for ten years with grace and dignity. It’s circumstances like Michelle’s and too many others affected by breast cancer that remind me daily how our work at BCA is never done. In her memory, we will be making a grant to further essential, life-saving research. You can honor her memory, and the lives of all those she represents, with the enclosed card.

It is an honor to work alongside BCA’s extraordinary Executive Director, Yonni Wattenmaker, our extremely dedicated Board of Directors, Advisory Council, Medical Advisory Board and the many volunteers that make BCA a leader not only in the non-profit sector but in the world of breast cancer. We remain determined and encouraged for the year ahead!