Non-profit

Wow... that is one powerful question!
While I was going through my "previvor" experience, I was invited to join a group of women breast cancer survivors. Since I have the BRCA gene mutation, I have lived the breast cancer experience with my family members. I can certainly empathize with the breast cancer community, but those of us who have never heard the words: YOU HAVE BREAST CANCER are NOT the same.
This same group invited me to a luncheon that I happily attended to show my support & friendship.
When it was time to check in, I was asked if I was a survivor & I honestly said no. I was told that I could not sit with my group of friends.
At this point, I was just a blog with a huge following. I had over $2000.00 in donations in my purse to present.
Yes...I made the phone call to someone high up (who was expecting me) to tell them what was going on.
At this point, my someone met me, apologized profusely & I vowed that I would start our group for "people like me" and I did. Wow... that is one powerful question!
While I was going through my "previvor" experience, I was invited to join a group of women breast cancer survivors. Since I have the BRCA gene mutation, I have lived the breast cancer experience with my family members. I can certainly empathize with the breast cancer community, but those of us who have never heard the words: YOU HAVE BREAST CANCER are NOT the same.
This same group invited me to a luncheon that I happily attended to show my support & friendship.
When it was time to check in, I was asked if I was a survivor & I honestly said no. I was told that I could not sit with my group of friends.
At this point, I was just a blog with a huge following. I had over $2000.00 in donations in my purse to present.
Yes...I made the phone call to someone high up (who was expecting me) to tell them what was going on.
At this point, my someone met me, apologized profusely & I vowed that I would start our group for "people like me" and I did.

Thank you for inviting me today to answer some questions.
Creating a 501(c)(3) was not as difficult as the decision to create & maintain one was. Once I made the decision to become a not for profit I just turned to professional advice. Accountant, attorney & a team of doctors, social workers & genetic counselors to turn to for help when needed.
I started the group with a personal donation of $25.00 to our checking account & I also made the personal donation of all start up costs.
previvorsandsurvivors.com is something I believe in & am commited to as it is a much needed group in our community.
I am now proud to say that we are a full fledged group with a caring board to help me help others.
Thank you for inviting me today to answer some questions.
Creating a 501(c)(3) was not as difficult as the decision to create & maintain one was. Once I made the decision to become a not for profit I just turned to professional advice. Accountant, attorney & a team of doctors, social workers & genetic counselors to turn to for help when needed.
I started the group with a personal donation of $25.00 to our checking account & I also made the personal donation of all start up costs.
previvorsandsurvivors.com is something I believe in & am commited to as it is a much needed group in our community.
I am now proud to say that we are a full fledged group with a caring board to help me help others.

You have to be passionate about what you want to do. I knew that I had a great idea in connecting survivors online. You have to remember that this was before online social networking became big. I had the idea at the beginning of 2005, before Facebook, YouTube and Blogging! But I knew that there had to be a way that breast cancer survivors could find each other online and get the support they needed. One of the challenges was the feedback I rec'd from the medical community. I spoke to my oncologist and surgeon about it and they were supportive, but you could tell that they didn't really believe in it. Dr. Susan Love was a mom at my daughter's school so I called her up. She basically said, "don't bother, because I'm going to eradicate breast cancer within 10 years." I thought,"that's fantastic, but there will STILL be survivors!" You HAVE to be passionate! You have to be passionate about what you want to do. I knew that I had a great idea in connecting survivors online. You have to remember that this was before online social networking became big. I had the idea at the beginning of 2005, before Facebook, YouTube and Blogging! But I knew that there had to be a way that breast cancer survivors could find each other online and get the support they needed. One of the challenges was the feedback I rec'd from the medical community. I spoke to my oncologist and surgeon about it and they were supportive, but you could tell that they didn't really believe in it. Dr. Susan Love was a mom at my daughter's school so I called her up. She basically said, "don't bother, because I'm going to eradicate breast cancer within 10 years." I thought,"that's fantastic, but there will STILL be survivors!" You HAVE to be passionate!