A foundation where donations stay local.
Spring 2020 Newsletter
2019 Impact Report Enclosed
Welcome Brooke Hamil
Brooke Hamil started full-time at TCF in January 2020 as the Development Officer. Brooke primarily coordinates all of TCF’s events, including Cocktails and Tri to Beat Cancer. Brooke’s favorite part of her job is working for an organization that helps so many cancer patients in need in our community. Originally from Bremen, Georgia, Brooke graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Journalism in Public Relations and a certificate in Public Affairs Communication. Brooke has many years of event coordinating experience which has provided her with valuable knowledge and a unique perspective. While not at work, Brooke likes to read, play tennis and take her dog, Sissy, to local parks in Athens.
Patient Profile: The Wells Family
I
t was a shock to Stephanie Wells to be diagnosed with brain cancer in August of 2019. As a busy mom of three children, cancer just was not a challenge that she had anticipated at the time. Stephanie was stressed about how their family would be able to make ends meet while paying for services like diagnostic imaging, experiencing a lapse in insurance coverage and receiving high medical bills. At her next appointment, Stephanie was able to connect with a social worker who told her about The Cancer Foundation’s Financial Assistance Program. TCF was able to pay the Wells family mortgage and their utility bill in 2019. “I can’t thank TCF enough. I am so grateful, so relieved,” says Stephanie.
The Cancer Foundation appreciates the Wells family’s willingness to share their story with us. We are able to learn more about the experience of the patients we serve through stories like this.
“I can’t thank TCF enough. I am so grateful, so relieved.” ~ Stephanie Wells
TCF Board of Directors & Staff
Letter from Laura Lowery, TCF Executive Director
Board of Directors Jag Gholson President
The Cancer Foundation was built for this moment! As we have all adapted to the changes that spring 2020 has brought, The Cancer Foundation is counting our blessings.
Joel Gregory Vice President Cindy Lester Secretary Buster Royals Treasurer Mercer Treadwell Executive Board Member Steve Everett Mark Hodge Floretta Johnson Erika Lane Fran Lane Libby McKinney Cynthia Mercer, MD Cynthia Shepherd, MD Kirk Smith Elizabeth Townley Grant Tribble Alan Zielinski
Staff Laura Lowery, Executive Director llowery@cfnega.org Gabby Dukes Assistant Director gdukes@cfnega.org Katrina Moody, MSW Program Manager kmoody@cfnega.org Brooke Hamil Development Officer bhamil@cfnega.org
Phone 706-353-4354
Our Financial Assistance Program meets the most basic needs of patients… Understanding the financial needs of some of our community’s most vulnerable families has been our sole purpose since our founding. Determining need, paying creditors directly, avoiding homelessness, keeping the medicine cabinet stocked, paying that health insurance premium--these are the ways we intervene in the midst of financial crisis. And we do it quickly. Usually within 24-48 hours. This kind of real and immediate support is what our patients need now more than ever!
So far in 2020, our program has experienced a 45% increase in dollars requested by eligible patients over this same period last year Work from home? No problem! Our program does not rely on face to face contact. Our staff has been working remotely since March 19, 2020 with no interruption in service. Telephone calls, emails, video conference, online banking and the U.S. postal service all work together as we connect with patients to determine their financial needs and meet them!
Generous donors position us to grow, not slow, our program... So far in 2020, our program has experienced a 45% increase in dollars requested by eligible patients over this same period last year. We expect requests to continue to rise as the economic impacts of the current crisis unfold across northeast Georgia. We remain grateful to our generous donors that have provided sufficient resources so far to answer these growing needs. We invite you to continue to give to The Cancer Foundation so that we will never have to turn an eligible patient away. Our message to our donors, sponsors, and volunteers is simple: although we may not be able to say you “THANK YOU” in person for a while yet, please know how important you are to our mission! And to the cancer patients we serve, we send you our best wishes for hope and healing. Stay strong and know we are with you every step of the way. Warmly,
2019 Impact Report Since 2009, TCF has provided over $2 million in financial assistance to more than 3,500 cancer patients!
712 360,000 $
cancer patients served in 2019
of assistance given in 2019
Patients applied from all 19 counties in TCF’s service area
Top 3 Patient Requests in 2019 Top 5 Cancer Types Served in 2019:
Top 5 counties
served in 2019:
UTILITIES
HOUSING
25%
breast Pink
1 Clarke 2 Madison
26%
lung
White / Pearl
colon Dark Blue
3 Elbert 4 Barrow
5 Jackson
TRANSPORTATION
39%
prostate Light Blue
head/neck White & Burgundy
2019: Year at a Glance JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Annual Board Retreat
Cocktails
It’s the Journey Gala
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
Walton Co. Health Care Foundation
Goodbye Kimberly!
Welcome Laura!
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
Kirby Smart Family Foundation Reception
Tri to Beat Cancer
Fire & Ice Cocktail Party
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
50 Shades of Pink
Goodbye Haley!
Athens Area Community Foundation Presentation
The Cancer Foundation 2019 Donors
All 2019 donors at all levels are recognized on our website: www.cfnega.org
Celebrating 10 years serving northeast Georgia cancer patients!
The Legacy Society
The Impact Society
Diane and Dan Davis Suzanne and Don Leebern The Tolbert-Wallace Endowment Jessica Wallace Tolbert and James Wallace Athens Area Cancer Auxiliary Georgia Crown Distributing Company It’s The Journey Luther & Susie Harrison Foundation The Jack Tarver Family Foundation Turner Family Foundation University Cancer & Blood Center Walton County Health Care Foundation
Peter Amann Susan and John Barrett Janie and Ray “Butch” Bush
Recognizes donors whose cumulative lifetime gifts total $100,000
If you believe your name was omitted in error, please contact Gabby Dukes at gdukes@cfnega.org.
Recognizes donors who contribute $10,000 - $99,999 annually
Corrine Kupris and Joe Irving Donation from the Irving Family Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation June and Jerry Smith In honor of Jenny Vanden Berg Dr. and Mrs. Glen Wiggans In honor of Jenny Vanden Berg In memory of Jerelyn Johnson Caskin In memory of Jim Westphal Donation from the Wiggans Family Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation
Carol and Rob Winthrop Donation from the Winthrop Family Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation Cable East In memory of Michael Wall Hodgson & Hodgson, LLC Hughes Subaru Mary Allen Lindsey Branan Foundation Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation
The Leaders Society
Recognizes donors who contribute $1,000 - $9,999 annually Pamela and Dennis Aderholt Glenn Alex, DMD Becky and Irvin Alhadeff Sarah and Russell Bennett Cathy and Kevin Bente Lisa and Jason Bernstein In honor of Jenny Vanden Berg and in memory of Betty Garrett Kelley Blanton Jean Bleyle Susan Boatright In memory of Tinker Boatright Josh Bohanan In memory of David Bohanan Robyn Bolton In honor and thanksgiving of Brooke Stortz and her commitment to TCF Blaine Bostelman Linda and Bill Childers In memory of Gwen Wines Nancy and Steve Everett In memory of Jim and Helen Everett
Dr. Cindy Mercer and Tommy Rogers In honor of Dr. Vrana and Dr. Wiggans Debbie and Scott Meyerhoff In honor of Jenny Vanden Berg Judy and Bob Molleur In honor of Carol and Bob Barksdale Katrina Moody In honor of Linda Moody Diane and John Morrow In memory of Dr. James A. Batts, Jr. Kenneth Murray, Sr. Lynn Nagy Dr. Petros Nikolinakos Robbie and William Paine Kay and John Parker Joann and Tim Penning Donation from the Penning Family Charitable Fund Scott Phelan Donation from the Scott Phelan Fund at the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia Abby and Mitchell Puckett In honor of Jenny Vanden Berg
BankSouth Barnes & Moore Real Estate Services Bell-Harrison Development Chastain and Associates Collins/Moody Financial Services Emmanuel Church Em’s Kitchen at Hawthorne Drugs Federal Emergency Management AgencyEmergency Food & Shelter National Board Program Fitness at Five Garrett Properties Gastroenterology Associates of Athens Georgia Club Foundation Georgia Skin & Aesthetic Dermatology Green Properties Management Guest Family Foundation Hart EMC Foundation Haymon-Morris Middle School Holy Cross Lutheran Church Ida Alice Ryan Charitable Trust Jackson EMC Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Janet and Tim Field In honor of Dr. Cynthia Shepherd Becky and Eric Fletcher Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Flynt Mara Franklin In honor of Danny Davis Chris and Jag Gholson Loretta and Richard Goodson Laurel and Joel Gregory Carolyn and James Hansen In memory of Jim Westphal Keren Hymo In memory of Lucille Hoyt Thomas Kaminski Tricia and Eric Kardon In honor of Jenny Vanden Berg Zach Kidd Fran and Richard Lane Cindy and Wayne Lester Donation from the Cindy and Wayne Lester Family Fund at the Athens Area Community Foundation Trey Long Laura and Harris Lowery Leigh Ann and Jeff Malcom Dr. Jay Mancini In memory of Vetra Bishop and Muriel Levin Dr. Aimee Martin and Dr. Kevin Toon In memory of Barbara Toon Anne and William McDonald
Charlene Reeve In memory of Nancy Emhart Sally Ross Dr. and Mrs. Gordon Schoenfeld Kathleen Smith Donation from the Give It All Fund at the Cannon Giving Fund Nancy Smith Dr. Cherie Snyder In honor of George Dougherty Dr. and Mrs. James Splichal Shelley and Dale Stortz In honor of Brooke Stortz and in memory of Jim Stortz Brooke and Jeff Stortz Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Terry Melissa and Mercer Treadwell Brir and Blaine Vanden Berg In honor of Jenny Vanden Berg Dr. and Mrs. Mark Vrana Dr. and Mrs. J. Michael West Keith Wiggans In honor of Marlo and Glen Wiggans Athens/Clarke County Charity Drive Akins Ford Dodge Jeep Chrysler Ram American Legion Auxiliary Athens Area Cancer Auxiliary Athens Area Urology Athens Pulmonary
JWR Jewelers In memory of John W. Reed Kindred Hospice Landmark Properties Lois & Lucy Lampkin Foundation Malcom Development & Construction McKesson Corporation Neogenomics Laboratories Northeast Georgia Health System Pfizer Piedmont Healthcare Piedmont Walton PPI Way Retail Industry Leaders Association In memory of Sandra Brown Christhilf Revival Hall St. Mary’s Health System Synovus The Adsmith The Harris Foundation The Kirby Smart Family Foundation Trinity Accounting Group Veracode In honor of Steve Everett Virgil P. Warren Foundation Walmart Walton EMC Walton EMC Foundation Wells Fargo
Cocktails 2020
Over $225,000 raised at Cocktails for local cancer patients!
The Cancer Foundation’s eleventh annual Cocktails fundraiser on Saturday, February 22, 2020 was another great success! The event netted more than $225,000 to help approximately 300 local cancer patients in need. The 2020 Cocktails Committee made up of Suzanne Leebern, Becky Alhadeff, Sonya Jahn, Erika Lane, Lindsey McKinney, Jessica Perno, Patti Reed, Leigh Renfrow and Elizabeth Townley deserves a special thanks for ensuring another amazing Cocktails event! We hope that you will join us for Cocktails in 2021- Save the Date for Saturday, March 20, 2021!
NON PROFIT
P.O. Box 49309 | Athens, GA 30604
U.S. Postage PAID ATHENS, GA PERMIT NO. 255
save the date
8/30/20
Salute to Oncology Healthcare Workers
Nurse navigators and oncology social workers gather for TCF’s Annual Referring Professional Luncheon in 2019.
With the help of our Referring Professional Partners The Cancer Foundation has provided over $170,000 in financial assistance to more than 290 local cancer patients in 2020 (as of March 31, 2020). We are so grateful to this group for continuing to refer patients to our Financial Assistance Program despite the challenges of 2020.
Do you know a cancer patient in need? Email help@cfnega.org for more information!