Ellie Fund

“I couldn’t find your information… then I turned on the TV and there you were.”? ? Nekia Clark, Ellie Fund’s Patient Service and Outreach Director received this call from a woman she met earlier in October. Nekia presented at Bethel Pentecostal church in Boston as part of October for Ellie. While there, Nekia spoke with a woman anxiously awaiting her breast biopsy appointment. Nekia shared her contact information and urged the woman to reach out after receiving her procedure. The business card was misplaced, but luckily this lovely woman happened to turn on WCVB’s City Line on Sunday, October 27 and there was Nekia and Raechelle Joyner, the facilitator of Ellie Fund’s BIPOC support group discussing Ellie Fund services and the importance of mind and body wellness during breast cancer treatment.? ? Watch the CityLine segment on WCVB. https://lnkd.in/e7JTeNqj

We are thankful for our STUDENTS FOR HOPE partners, raising over $59k in October; helping the program raise a total of $95,000+ in 2024. Nearly 80 different organizations and individual teams participated - from pre-school bake sales to middle school pink days; Fraternities and Sororities, student councils and service clubs as well youth, high school & college sports teams - and we are so grateful. If a student in your life is interested in organizing a Students for Hope fundraiser or event, please reach out to Kathy Wynters. Learn more about the program on our website.?https://lnkd.in/eM2WW5p Thank you to Innovation Academy Charter School, Boston University, Merrimack College, Reading High School, Canton High School, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Worcester Railers HC, Lawrence Academy, Needham High School, Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District, University of New Haven, Fontbonne Boston, Primrose Schools of Andover, Broadmeadows School Needham, Boston Junior Terriers, Boston College High School, Berkowitz Elementary School (Chelsea), Boston University, Braintree High School, Brennan Middle School, Brooke Charter High School, Curry College, Dracut High School, Framingham High School, Hingham Middle School, Medfield High School, Medway Middle School, Natick High School, Needham High School, Needham Soccer Club, Needham Youth Track, Newton South High School, North Reading High School, North High School, Old Rochester High School, Regis College, Scituate High School, St. Bridge School (Framingham), St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, St Patrick's Stoneham, Tufts University, Wellesley High School, Westwood High School, Wilmington High School, Windham NH Pop Warner Football, Xaverian Brothers High School

We are thankful for our STUDENTS FOR HOPE partners, raising over $50k in October; helping the program raise a total of $90,000+ in 2024. Nearly 80 different organizations and individual teams participated - from pre-school bake sales to middle school pink days; Fraternities and Sororities, student councils and service clubs as well youth, high school & college sports teams - and we are so grateful. If a student in your life is interested in organizing a Students for Hope fundraiser or event, please reach out to Kathy Wynters. Learn more about the program on our website. https://lnkd.in/eM2WW5p Thank you to Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District, Blessed Sacrament School (Walpole MA), Dean College, Franklin Panthers, Hudson High School, Lynnfield Pioneers Youth Football, Metro South Gymnastics Academy, Needham High School Ellie Fund Club, North Quincy High School, Northeastern University, Norwood High School, Primrose Schools Andover, Triumph Head Start, Tyngsboro High School, Waltham High School, Watertown High School, Wellesley High School, Wilmington High School, Worcester State University.

October for Ellie made a huge impact! Thank you to all of our partners and supporters who helped us raise over $150,000! From wellness studios to restaurants, boutiques to ice cream shops, and fire and police departments, partners from all over the state came together to raise awareness and funds for Ellie Fund’s breast cancer patients. As we say at Ellie Fund, October is for ACTION! Not only did our staff and volunteers raise awareness about breast cancer, but six patient applications were completed on the spot during October events. Six new patients, who were unfamiliar with Ellie Fund before October, are now receiving services!? Thank you to our partners, volunteers, and especially to our staff who are always willing to take the extra time to talk with a patient, survivor, or caretaker. #OctoberforEllie #breastcancerawareness #healthequity

Truly, an honor to be with Office of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and so many leaders of the breast cancer equity space on Monday for the signing of this important bill. Throughout the ceremony, Governor Healy and each of the legislators who spoke came back to one main reason for this bill, it will save lives in Massachusetts. Thank you to my colleague, Nekia Clark for being the patient voice in Breast Cancer Advocacy Day a few weeks prior. Proud day for all of us at the Boston Breast Cancer Equity Coalition and the Ellie Fund.

Our Equitable Pathways to Breast Cancer Care initiative received a major investment from our partner Gilead Sciences. The global biopharma company named Ellie Fund a recipient of their ‘Gilead Oncology Grant’ and awarded us $200,000! Ellie Fund’s work to address the racial disparities in breast cancer care aligns closely with Gilead’s focus to advance health equity for people impacted by cancer. We are honored to be named with 21 additional organizations in this critical work to increase patient-centered decision-making and supportive care. It is a privilege to continue strengthening our relationship with Gilead Sciences who supports our patient education Symposium, and just last year on #WorldCancerDay 2023 we were proud recipients of a Toward Equity Oncologist grant.

On behalf of Ellie Fund and the Boston Breast Cancer Equity Coalition, Meredith Mendelson and Nekia Clark, attended the ceremonial bill signing of An Act Relative to Medically Necessary Breast Screenings and Exams for Equity and Early Detection. This new law will ensure that patients have access to follow-up breast cancer screenings and exams, while also preventing any increase in patient cost-sharing by 2026. Read more about the new law in the Office of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s press release which includes a quote from Ellie Fund. https://lnkd.in/eyePzMai #healthequity #breastcancer

“Cancer is not the enemy. It is something we can manage together with information, the care, and the love we receive,” shared Ellie Fund’s patient Luisa Vargas Overall Gold Medal World Massage Champion/ IMA. Luisa participated in the New England Patriots' Day of Pampering at Gillette Stadium where cancer patients enjoyed a special day of spa treatments and meet and greets with the Patriots players and team owner Robert Kraft. Luisa’s positive attitude and focus on mental health are inspiring! https://lnkd.in/eyB-6q6m

Luisa Vargas is a breast cancer survivor and former Ellie Fund patient. Boston's beloved radio host Candy O'Terry interviewed Luisa as part of her podcast series "The Story Behind Her Success". The episode is inspirational as much as it is informative. Luisa, a psycho-muscular massage therapist, discusses the connections between body and mind and the impact chemotherapy has on a patient's physical, mental, and spiritual health. Listen on Candy's website or your favorite podcast app. https://lnkd.in/e4hZs93s #BreastCancer #podcast

Reducing the barriers to diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer is an important focus of Ellie Fund’s 'Equitable Pathways to Breast Cancer Care' initiative. Members of the Ellie Fund team attended the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (MCACS) advocacy day at the Massachusetts State House. The annual event’s programming was centered on the financial burden of diagnostic breast cancer testing for patients. An issue that would be addressed with the passage of Massachusetts House Bill 4918: An Act relative to medically necessary breast screenings and exams for equity and early detection. Our Director of Patient Services and Outreach Nekia Clark spoke at the event along with many other esteemed breast cancer experts. She eloquently shared the journey of her own breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and how Ellie Fund services supported her during that time. #breastcancerawareness #octoberforellie