The Cancer Foundation 2019 Fall Newsletter

Keep in Touch!

A foundation where donations stay local.

I want to receive the newsletter via email at: ___________________________________________________________

Fall 2019 Newsletter

I want to receive the mailed newsletter.

Enclosed is my tax deductible donation of $ ________________________ Name ______________________________________________________

Letter from Laura Lowery, Director

Address ____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________________ State _________________________________ Zip __________________ Email _________________________________ Phone _______________ This donation is in honor [ ] or memory [ ] of: ____________________ ____________________________________________________________

Mail completed form to: TCF P. O. Box 49309 Athens, GA 30604

Ways to Give to The Cancer Foundation!

Cash, Check or Credit Card

Memorials/Honor Gifts

TCF gladly accepts gifts made in these traditional ways. You may also decide to make your credit card donation recurring on your preferred schedule to “set it and forget it” to help cancer patients on an ongoing basis. These gifts benefit patients immediately!

Any gift to TCF may be made in honor or memory of a loved one.

We will notify whomever you designate of your generosity.

Endowment Gifts Gifts or pledges over $1,000 may be designated to the TCF Endowment Fund at your direction. These gifts are invested ensuring we will be able to serve patient for years to come.

Planned Gifts If you currently give $1,000 annually to TCF, what planned gift would sustain that level of giving in perpetuity? Some giving options include: • Bequest in your Will • Gifts of Appreciated

• Charitable Lead

or Trust • Beneficiary Designation

• Charitable

Stock • IRA Charitable Rollover

Trust Remainder Trust

Talk to your financial advisor or contact TCF for more information.

Give Where You Work Many companies offer matching gift programs to employees. The employee selects a charity to support and the company matches that gift with a second donation. Ask your employer about matching gifts and choose The Cancer Foundation to double your impact!

Some companies with employee match giving programs: Aetna, American Express, American Honda Motor Company, Anthem, AT&T, Avon, Bank of America, BP, Capital One, CarMax, Caterpillar, Chevron, CIGNA Corporation, Coca-Cola, Costco, Delta, Eaton, Equifax, ExxonMobil, Fidelity Investments, General Electric, Georgia Power, Grainger, Home Depot, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Kaiser Permanente, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Nissan Motor Company, PNC Financial Services Group, Raymond James, Shell Oil Company, Starbucks, State Farm, Subaru, T-Mobile, Toyota Motor Corporation, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, Verizon, Volkswagen of America, Wells Fargo, Windstream.

Thank you for the warm welcome I have received since joining The Cancer Foundation! It is humbling to join those of you working together to ease the financial burden of cancer. I look forward to getting to know you over the coming months and your reasons for getting involved with The Cancer Foundation. We each have our own story to tell and I want to know yours.

The cost of cancer is high physically, emotionally and financially.

When we are able to serve an eligible patient by paying their rent or covering the cost of their transportation to the doctor’s office, we are in effect providing a life-saving intervention.

One patient described her feelings upon receiving assistance from The Cancer Foundation this way: “I was grateful, just grateful.” Please hear her appreciation as you read the updates in this newsletter. You have made this possible. We are grateful for you!

Laura Lowery, Executive Director, TCF

Diane and Dan Davis pictured at Cocktails 2019

Donor Highlight: Diane and Dan Davis

A

s a cancer survivor I know what it takes to beat cancer and that is a great team. A team starting with faith in your lord, great doctors, loving family and good friends. With this team behind me, I was able to put all my focus on winning my battle. Not once did I worry about paying bills, or insurance, supporting my family or any other financial problems – only getting better. It was during my treatments, sitting in the waiting rooms, where I saw the burden of the financial load people are dealing with – and I still see it on my yearly checkups and I can’t imagine their stress. ~ Dan Davis

“Diane and I were initially involved with a national foundation, but when we found out about The Cancer Foundation and how it helps families right here at home, in our community, it was an easy choice for us to make the switch. We are blessed to support The Cancer Foundation and their mission to help those less fortunate in our community so they might be part of this great team and have a better chance to win their battles with cancer.”

Meet Patient Ambassador Susan Dougherty For a number of years I served as an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at The University of Georgia. One day one of my former students, Kimberly Liebowitz, called me. She had just taken the job of Executive Director of the Cancer Foundation. She asked for my assistance with developing a strategic plan for the organization. Since my husband George is a long time cancer survivor and patient at the clinic, I wanted to help in any way that I could. We gathered some interested volunteers and potential board members and my husband became the new president of the board. The organization grew quickly because the mission is so important!

When I was asked to be a patient ambassador, I agreed because I want to hear and help document the impact of the assistance the Cancer Foundation provides to the patients. I also want to assure the patients whom we assist that the organization will continue to be there for them and others in financial need.

Talking to the patients is inspirational given the struggles they face both physically and financially. Their experiences confirm the need for the foundation to continue to grow. My experience as an ambassador has confirmed that the financial support that we provide is very important to cancer patients experiencing financial stress.

Check Presentations

Thank you to the members of the Athens Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for your Leadership Society gift in support of The Cancer Foundation’s mission to help alleviate the financial burden of cancer for eligible patients!

Walton County Health Care Foundation- The Cancer Foundation was awarded a grant in the amount of $26,931.66 by the Walton County Health Care Foundation. The grant will fund financial assistance for Walton County patients’ basic living expenses.

Haymon Morris Middle School- The Cancer Foundation was gifted $1,713 from HaymonMorris Middle School in Barrow County as a part of their fundraising efforts for the 20182019 school year.

TCF’s Next Executive Director The Cancer Foundation Board of Directors welcomes Laura Lowery as TCF’s next Executive Director .

Bingo for Charity Revival Hall Taproom in Jefferson hosted two nights of Bingo to benefit TCF on October 9th and 10th and raised over $2,300. 100% of the money raised at these two percentage nights benefits TCF!

Laura Lowery joined The Cancer Foundation as Executive Director on June 3rd with over 20 years of nonprofit experience specializing in donor relations, volunteer management and grant administration.

As Executive Director, Laura will work closely with our Board of Directors to achieve our mission to alleviate the financial burden of cancer through direct assistance to patients that meet our eligibility requirements. Laura and the Foundation staff create opportunities for donors and volunteers to make a meaningful impact in the lives of cancer patients experiencing the toxic financial side effects of a cancer diagnosis. Laura is looking forward to bringing people together who need each other but who may not otherwise meet.

Patients in need benefit immediately from the support of donors who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of those suffering from cancer.

Jag Gholson, TCF Board President, says, “I, along with the TCF staff and board of directors, am excited to have Laura join The Cancer Foundation serving as the Executive Director. Her years of leadership and fundraising experience in the nonprofit community provide an opportunity to build on the success the Foundation has experienced over the past decade. As we look forward, we are optimistic that we will continue to reach new levels in providing financial assistance to thousands of cancer patients, helping to relieve the financial stress in our own community and all 19 counties we serve.”

“Our mission to serve cancer patients in financial distress is critical to their health and well-being. Our supporters seek to make an immediate impact in these patients’ lives. Our job is to connect that desire to serve others with the needs of cancer patients,” says TCF Executive Director Laura Lowery.

The Cancer Foundation Board of Directors wants to thank former Executive Director, Kimberly Liebowitz, for her over 11 years of service to the Foundation. On the legacy of former Executive Director Kimberly Liebowitz, Laura says “I look forward to continuing the amazing program that Kimberly so skillfully designed.

Her fingerprints are everywhere at the Foundation.”

Fire and Ice

The inaugural Fire & Ice cocktail party was a great success, raising over $20,000 to benefit cancer patients!

Held on Thursday, September 26th in Walton County at the Cotton Warehouse in Monroe, over 150 guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and specialty cocktails celebrating the event “fire” theme. Fire & Ice also featured a silent auction that raised over $20,000 to benefit cancer patients living in Walton County.

10th Annual Tri to Beat Cancer Sprint Triathlon and New 5K!

Patient Highlight: Georgia Dillard

The tenth annual Tri to Beat Cancer sprint triathlon, duathlon, aqua bike was a huge success! Special congratulations to Ethan Nordman and Emily Cameron for first place finishes for male and female racers!

Georgia Dillard, of Clarke County, is currently battling pancreatic cancer. She found out about The Cancer Foundation shortly after her diagnosis from her primary healthcare provider. Georgia’s diagnosis was “shocking and felt like everything was falling apart at once.”

Georgia had never experienced such a difficult and taxing challenge before. However, TCF assisted in covering her power and water bills which allowed her to focus on fighting her cancer. Georgia is taking one day at a time and is grateful for the support TCF has provided. With the help of TCF, Georgia is able to keep up with her living expenses while receiving treatment at Piedmont Atlanta.

Recurring Donations

Did you know that to support The Cancer Foundation you don’t have to make a one-time donation?

You can sign up for recurring monthly donations in a smaller amount that will still make a BIG difference for our cancer patients!

The tenth annual Tri to Beat Cancer sprint triathlon, duathlon, aqua bike and 5K brought 550 athletes to Sandy Creek Park on Sunday, August 18th and raised over $47,000 to benefit local cancer patients who are struggling financially due to their diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Glen Wiggans served as honorary chair, presenting awards to the overall finishers.