History

"When I was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer, I remembered Breast Friends. I went into their office for guidance and support. I received both. I was welcomed with open arms and both Sharon and Becky shared their stories. Their strength helped me feel a bit more at ease. They are wonderful people and I was lucky to have them on my side. It is a wonderful organization that more people need to know about."
~Denise Jennings

Breast Friends was founded in 2000.  We continue to grow our programs and services and have helped thousands of women and their families since our inception.  We are on a slow growth as we launch affiliates in various locations.  We launched Florida in 2009, and Pennsylvania in 2012.

2011

Breast Friends expanded our national and Oregon affiliate staff to include a new part-time Patient Outreach Coordinator.  Co-Founder, Becky Olson, received the Local Hero Award from Bank of America. Discussions began with Pennsylvania affiliate (launched in January 2012)

2010

Our Florida Affiliate is on a roll. They are having tremendous success bringing our programs to patients in clinics and hospitals. By developing Breast Friends in a Box, we are making it easier to launch affiliates without starting from the ground up each time.  We inaugurated our new website in June, now with a national focus.  Our first Director of Development also came on board in June, and is a tremendous addition as we deal with growing pains.

2009

Breast Friends launched our first affiliates in Mississippi and Florida. We changed our branding and expanded into other women’s cancers (ovarian, cervical, uterine, etc).  In Oregon we held the first Breast Friends Golf  Tournament in July and a Survivor Luncheon in October. Both will now be rolled out to other affiliates as they come on board.  We experienced growth when we lost our Komen funding (“pushed out of the nest”) and raised more money than in any previous year. Breast Friends Co-Founder, Becky Olson, received the national “Pink Power Mom” award from Bright Starts for her work in supporting women with breast cancer.

2008

Received fifth year grant from Komen for $25,000 and our first mini-grant from Spirit Mountain Community Fund. Established several local area Breast Friends support groups for specialized cancer patients. Began distribution of video “A Practical Guide to Breast Cancer Support,” and began to develop a plan for rolling out to other areas of the country.

2007

Received fourth year grant from Komen for $40,000 – largest grant to date. We also grew our presence in the area of Keynote speaking by doubling presentations around the United States and were written up in articles in Beyond Magazine Spring/Summer issue. We continued the women’s prison cancer support group in Coffee Creek Correctional Facility and began production of two new videos, our marketing video and, “Practical Guide to Breast Cancer Support.” The biggest change was that we held our first annual “Joy of Life” Fundraiser to a sold out crowd. The success of this event gave us the ability to set new goals for Breast Friends.

2006

Received third year grant from Komen for $20,000. National Keynote presentations grew significantly. Breast Friends started women’s prison cancer support group in Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, in Oregon.

2005

Received second year grant from Komen for $30,000 which allowed significant increase in programming services. Becky gave several Keynote presentations around the United States. Became official Chairs of the Komen “Co-survivor” program (lasting 5 years). Breast Friends was mentioned in articles in MAMM Magazine and Chicken Soup for the Soul—Healthy Living Series—Breast Cancer.

2004

Things began to change significantly in 2004. We received our first grant from Susan G. Komen for $20,000. This allowed us to double our office space and add a toll free phone number. It also allowed us to launch our Premier “First I Cry” Program. Becky was asked to deliver the Keynote presentation at the Komen Survivor Luncheon as Co-Founder. It was a sell out crowd of nearly 1200. Becky also published her first book, The Hat that Saved my Life and appeared in Woman’s World Magazine. Breast Friends co-authored Wise Women Speak by submitting a 10 page story for the book.

2001 – 2003

These were the years that we began to establish our name, and build our infrastructure.   In 2001, we developed a Board of Directors, filed our 501(c)3 papers, and opened our first checking account with $100.  We launched our first web-site and opened our 150 sq ft. office in Tigard in 2002.  Becky gave her first major keynote presentation in Indiana in 2003.

2000

The idea to form a non-profit organization was born over lunch at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Portland, OR in August of 2000. We reserved the name, Breast Friends, with State of Oregon, registered the URL. Took at class at Marylhurst University in September using Breast Friends’ concept as our school project. Finalized the paperwork with the State in December 2000 and Breast Friends was launched.

Key Publications

  • Oncology- 2010 Specialty Guide pg 42- “Breast Friends for Life” RNs, survivors support patients during breast cancer journey. By Laura M. Stakal
  • NurseWeek west-April 5, 2010 pg 15 “Relationships with nurses vital to success of growing non-profit” Breast Friends stresses cancer survivorship. By Laura M. Stakal
  • Oregonian-Sunday September 13, 2009- “This three time survivor lives only for the present” by Taylor Dung-Jen
  • The Hat That Saved My Life, by Becky Olson (Book 2004 – reprinted in 2007)
  • MAMM Magazine article —November 2005 issue
  • Wise Women Speak, by Fern Carness RN and Lisa Edwards (Book 2004)
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul—Healthy Living Series—Breast Cancer, by Edward Creagan M.D. (Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Mary Olsen Kelly)