For Immediate Release
Peggy Cotter
952-471-8700 ext 12
Director of Marketing and Development
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Grants Benefit 3 Local Charities
March 13, 2008 – Minneapolis, Minnesota -- The Hope Chest for Breast Cancer has awarded $85,000 in grants to three local organizations that address a broad array of breast cancer related issues. Recipients include Open Arms, the Breast Health Center at Regions Hospital and the Angel Foundation. The Hope Chest’s mission is to provide hope to women, particularly underserved populations, touched by breast cancer.
The $25,000 Hope Chest grant to Open Arms is designated to specifically meet the nutritional needs of women experiencing breast cancer. At the Breast Health Center at Regions Hospital, the $10,000 Hope Chest grant is earmarked to aid indigent women in need of education and financial support to keep their lives intact while they are facing breast cancer. The Angel Foundation provides financial assistance for basic non-medical needs and necessities such as help with housing payments, utilities, food and other essential living expenses. A grant of $50,000 from the Hope Chest will fund these “emergency” situations for woman with breast cancer.
Through its retail operations the Hope Chest sells donated designer women’s clothing and accessories, very upscale furniture and home decor items to provide support to agencies in the community that are addressing breast cancer related needs. In addition, a variety of creative and engaging special events bring people together to raise money to support breast cancer causes.
The vision for the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer is to provide hope to women, particularly underserved populations, touched by breast cancer. Since its creation, Hope Chest Foundation grants have funded: early detection education that is culturally appropriate and affordable, care for those with limited financial resources, hospice-care for those who have lost the breast cancer battle, and research into the cure.
About Hope Chest for Breast Cancer:
Founded in 2001, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer provides funds to the underserved families touched by breast cancer, early detection education and treatment programs, hospice care for people battling the disease and research. Hope Chest raises critical resources through the sale of upscale furniture, accessories and designer clothing donated by individuals, corporations and small businesses at the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Retail Shops. Hope Chest’s goal is to raise $10 million annually by opening 50 Hope Chest franchised shops nationwide within the next five years. The Twin Cities Hope Chest retail stores are located at 3850 Shoreline Drive in the Orono/Navarre area (952-471-8700) and 571 Snelling N. (651-642-2850) in St. Paul. The stores are open: M-F: 10 -6; Sat: 10 -5; Sun: 11:30 to 5. The stores are registered with the State of Minnesota as professional fundraisers. More information can be found at www.hopechest.us or by calling 952-471-8700 extension 12.
Contact Information:
Peggy M. Cotter, Director of Marketing and Development
Phone: 952 471-8700 X12
Email: pcotter@hopechest.us
About Regions Hospital Foundation
Regions Hospital Foundation provides oversight and stewardship of all charitable contributions to Regions, a Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital that has served Minnesota and western Wisconsin for 136 years. As a private, non-profit hospital it provides outstanding care in cancer, women’s health, heart, surgery, orthopedics, neuroscience, burn, emergency care and more. The hospital’s full-service cancer program includes the Cancer Care Center, which provides a comprehensive range of services to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer and blood disorders, and the Breast Health Center, whose diagnostic services include screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, ductography, needle core breast biopsies, fine needle aspirations, and needle localization. The hospital also houses the Surgical Specialties Clinic and Radiation Therapy Center. As the safety-net hospital in the east metro, Regions serves a large percentage of uninsured and underinsured patients.
Regions Hospital Foundation Contact Information:
Dan Ryan, Grant Officer
Phone: (651) 254-1349
Email: daniel.t.ryan@healthpartners.com
About Angel Foundation
Angel Foundation was founded in 2001 as a Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to the mission of improving the quality of life throughout the cancer experience. The foundation has been committed to meeting the needs of adult cancer survivors and their families at a very personal level. The two primary areas of program support include the Financial Assistance Program for emergency non-medical needs (rent/mortgage, grocery cards and gas cards, phone/utility payments) as well as free education and support programs. The foundation’s Facing Cancer Together (FaCT) program is strength-based and solution-focused and provides support for the entire family including special programs for children 5-18 who have a parent or grandparent who has cancer. A “Parenting Through the Cancer Journey” DVD is set for release in April. Activities include a four-week education series offered several times a year, Saturday retreats, a night at Valley Fair, a 2-day Kids Kamp in August and new teen outreach events one Saturday a month. For more information about Angel Foundation’s programs and events visit www.MnAngel.org or call 612.627.9000.
Angel Foundation Contact Information:
Darolyn Gray, Executive Director
Phone: 612-554-1314
Email: dgray@mnangel.org
About Open Arms of Minnesota
Open Arms of Minnesota prepares and delivers delicious and nutritious meals to anyone going through treatment or surgery for breast cancer, living with HIV/AIDS, or living with other chronic illnesses such as MS and ALS. With the help of more than 1,000 volunteers, Open Arms delivered 193,293 meals to people dealing with illness and their families in 2007.
Open Arms Contact Information:
Kevin Winge, Executive Director
Phone: 612-872-1152
Email: kevin@openarmsmn.org
