HOPE CHEST FOR WOMEN INC

Our organization is aiming to save lives.

Low income and minority women living in rural communities have historically have been more likely to under-utilize cancer screening, to be diagnosed with late-stage disease, to fail to complete recommended treatment, and consequently to die from cancer. Many women chose not to have cancer treatment because of the financial pressure it will put on their household. If a women has to choose between paying for a chemotherapy port or drug vs paying her rent the household bills become the priority.

Ultimate goal is to enhance access of care for women with or at risk for breast and gynecologic cancer by removing barriers to treatment, screening, and recommended follow up. We link patients with resources and services to support them financially with the cost of cancer treatment. Women in treatment received counseling on how to manage their bills so they can continue their treatment plans.

Our aim is to give women diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer support during and post treatment to ensure they have access to care, lower mortality rates and better health outcomes.

Our organizational plan is to target at risk and underserved women in the community where they live and provide education on cancer prevention, treatment and screening. We work with the medical provider to support patients in crisis that they identify as being at risk for discontinuing treatment due to inability to pay or balance household and medical bills. We provide patient services to all local and regional cancer patients regardless of attending medical provider. We serve the whole WNC community which includes all 22 counties.

We also encourage low income women to establish routine medical checkups, and improve education on free and low cost annual screening for underinsured and uninsured women. We partner with established evidence based local and national programs to link community support programs with women in need. We work with community health centers and free clinics to provide financial counseling to cancer patients. We work with breast cancer screening programs offered through county specific BCCCP, breast and cervical control cancer programs and local hospitals to promote free and reduced cancer screening.

We have strong leadership. 75% our Executive Committee and Board of Directors includes founding board members. Our nonprofit organization foundation and management strives to use best practice policies.

We have around $75,000 to $90,000 in net assists at the end of each year to help fund our organizational goals. We fundraise between $120,000 and $150,000 each year through diversified revenue sources.

We have a very good reputation and working relationship with the oncology medical community in WNC. We have been providing patient assistance to women in breast or gynecologic treatment since 2001.

We continue to build partnerships with doctors in WNC and in rural Honduras where we coordinate two medical mission trips each year.

We have accomplished establishing our reputation as a local nonprofit that provides direct support to breast or gynecologic cancer patients at risk living in Western North Carolina. We have evidence based results that are proven to have increased healthy outcomes and eliminate cost barriers to care for women served.

We have not been able to accomplish organizational expansion to have a stronger presence in rural less populated counties. We need additional resources, staff and educational materials to reach out to lesser served areas. With only 1 full time staff my time is spent primarily in our largest service area of Buncombe county. Our program coordinates services monthly in the biggest most populated counties in WNC. We do try to reach the other medical providers in rural counties quarterly.

In the future I would like to be able to coordinate services and support resources in all 22 counties equally.