Here for the Girls, Inc.

We are improving the lives of young women affected by breast cancer; our primary goal is to ensure that women we serve report that their mental and emotional wellbeing and, thus, quality of life has improved thanks to our support services.

The Not-Your-Typical Model begins when a woman fills out an initial intake form. A staff member reaches out to her with a personal message of welcome. If the survivor is in an area where an in-person Beyond Boobs! support system is located, the closest trained volunteer group facilitator (who is also a survivor) reaches out to the woman with an email or a phone call to welcome her to the organization. If the survivor chooses to use Pink Link, the online, private social site for survivors, she is welcomed by a staff member within the site as well as by volunteer survivors. New members also receive a welcome packet in the mail that includes and A Calendar to Live By (the organization’s annual calendar featuring survivor members and a breast health guide).

Women receive support from a trained peer facilitator team, which includes at least one breast cancer survivor, once they enter an in-person group or join Pink Link. They also receive individual attention from staff, former facilitators, other member survivors, or the organization’s co-founders (who are also breast cancer survivors) when needed. Sometimes that means a phone call during a crisis or a personal message on Pink Link; sometimes it means a visit or a card to honor a significant life event.

To foster an environment where women can learn to embrace their post-treatment lives, build confidence, and live life to the fullest, in-person groups have periodic free, fun (and sometimes challenging) activities that build rapport, help women step outside comfort zones, or just relax. Survivors in certain regions are also given the chance to participate in larger events, and all member survivors are invited to a free, annual weekend retreat that provides restoration and renewal through educational workshops, talks, and hands-on activities. Also, members who are able are encouraged to participate or volunteer in large fundraising events held by the organization – they’re invited to become calendar models (and organizational ambassadors) who are featured in the annual A Calendar to Live By distributed across the country, and they can volunteer at the Here for the Girls annual Run for the Hills event (physically or virtually) or the annual “Breast” Ball Golf Tournament. Participation in these events is a way for women to give back to the community while promoting their own healing.

In 2019 the organization increased its focus on its young women with metastatic disease, offering in addition to the Metastatic Workshop at the annual Renew, Restore, Retreat an annual You're in Charge Metastatic Retreat, a dedicated social media site, and a You're In Our Hearts remembrance program for when a member passes.

Here for the Girls has a passionate, dedicated staff of five full-time and three part-time staff as well as many volunteers with specific as well as general skills that add to our capabilities to make progress with our goals. We also have a committed volunteer board with expertise in the medical and business arenas and a volunteer development team to ensure our success in meeting the needs of our young women and reaching more of them as we grow.

Here for the Girls, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit headquartered in the state of Virginia, is staffed by 5 full-time and 3 part-time employees and supported by over 100 regular volunteers. Though it has grown since its inception, the organization is dedicated to making a meaningful connection with each survivor it touches and for improving the quality of life for its members. Since its founding as an independent not-for-profit in 2007, over 1,000 survivors have been directly supported by Here for the Girls, and more than 5,000 people have participated in the organization’s mission; currently, 300+ survivors are receiving active support. Here for the Girls’ in-person support is offered in various locations in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, and Florida; its virtual support is offered nationwide.

Once a year, Here for the Girls engages the local community and volunteers to organize a retreat that provides a weekend of restoration and renewal to more than 80 young survivors at no cost to them called the Renew Restore Retreat. The organization also offers free activities for in-person group participants as well as opportunities for young survivors to meet and rediscover their joy at larger, regional events. To help the organization provide these events and to support its mission, Here for the Girls works with a large number of community partners, including Sentara Healthcare, Riverside Health System, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Oncology Associates, Hudgins Contracting, Towne Bank, and many other businesses and organizations.

The organization also produces A Calendar to Live By annually that features member survivors and their stories, as well as a removable breast health guide to help all women (and men) take control of their health and well-being. Over 8,000 calendars are distributed at no cost each year to individuals, community organizations, free clinics, schools, healthcare organizations, and more.

The organization's future plans include adding a new retreat specifically for young survivors with a terminal, metastatic diagnosis; increasing the number of Beyond Boobs! in-person support systems; hiring one additional FTE staff position; and streamlining its main website.