Ellie Fund Newsletter
Summer 2018
June 27, 2018
A Farewell in Gratitude
A note from Gail Fine, Executive Director

I wanted to share some important news with you. 

When I accepted the Executive Director position over three years ago I looked closely at my life - no married children and thus no grandchildren - and felt the timing was right to take on the challenge before me. Since then, our son Ben has married our wonderful daughter-in-law April and my husband Bill and I are now anticipating the birth of our first grandchild in late July. 

I feel the timing is now right to step down...The Ellie Fund is helping more patients than ever, launching our Metastatic Breast Cancer Program in January. We are experiencing steadfast growth and are in a strong place financially; have a committed and supportive Board and the most cohesive and hardworking staff; and new "digs" that provide a fabulous environment in which to work. What better time to have a new Executive Director continue this momentum and bring us to new heights!

It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve as such an integral part of Ellie Fund's growth. I will happily continue that beloved association as a volunteer, as well as joining our devoted Board of Directors in supporting our mission for the future! I may be retiring, but remain deeply committed to the Ellie Fund and plan to be very involved going forward.

As always, I am deeply grateful to all of you - my friends and family, staff and board, volunteers, social workers, patient navigators, resource specialists, generous donors, supporters and event sponsors for ALL you have done to support me and the Ellie Fund - helping to ensure that our patients are well-served. You have been a champion of our mission and I have been so honored to work collaboratively with you. We would not be where we are today without you by our side.

My unwavering commitment to the Ellie Fund's mission continues when I join the Board of Directors. I am looking forward to the future with great anticipation! A dynamic new Executive Director, Meredith Bryan, will join our amazing staff.  I can assure you it will be the smoothest transition possible. I sincerely hope your support will be extended to my successor, just as I have counted on you these past several years.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Gail Fine
Executive Director
Your Impact
We are honored to have distributed 241 critical service grants to breast cancer patients and families in the second quarter of 2018 alone. 
Take a look at the impact of your support:


Because of your generosity, we were able to provide invaluable assistance to patients like Jayme.

"When I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, I was overwhelmed and my main concern was my children. The Ellie Fund immediately moved into action and took the everyday life responsibilities off of my family. It's a rarity to have strangers in this world care so much. I have three words to describe the Ellie Fund: understanding, loving, and compassionate."


A donation today will help ease the burden of breast cancer treatment for patients like Jayme and their families. 

In This Issue
Save the Date!
Shop to Support
 
You shop. Amazon gives. Choose the Ellie Fund as your supporting nonprofit and shop as usual! Amazon will donate 0.5% of qualifying purchases.


W e've partnered with Giving Assistant! Now your purchases at 3,000+ popular online retailers can support our mission. Get exclusive deals and donate your cash back to the Ellie Fund. 
Ellie Fund Team
Staff:

Gail Fine
Executive Director

Hillary Harrelson
Director of Development

Anne Meisner
Patient Services Manager

Kaitlyn Ferrini
Events & Public Relations Manager

Carole Burpee
Finance & Human Resources Coordinator

Sarah Puleo
Programming & Fundraising Assistant

Board of Directors:

Marcia Boyle
Board Chair

Jeff Popkin
Founder

Scott Clifford
Vice Chair

Ron Lanoue
Treasurer

Scott Dorsey

Tom Jacob

Laura Proctor

Heather Shanahan

Advisory Board:

Tabitha Adeli
Special Projects

Robin Jones
Communications Consultant

Dr. Elsie Levin
Medical Advisor

Luba Levin
Special Projects

Diane McManama
Volunteer Coordinator

Ben Rawitz
Strategic Partnerships
Join Team Ellie
We still have a few spots left on Team Ellie for the 
Falmouth Road Race on August 19th
If you are interested in joining our team, please complete our application! 


Save the DateSavetheDate
Over 120 players and guests will join us at  Brae Burn Country Club one of the most prestigious private country clubs in the Northeast, for a Best Ball format tournament including lunch, gift item, exciting hole contests and team prizes.

A cocktail  reception and dinner follow with prize drawing, silent auction, speaking program and presentation of  the  Spirit Award given to the best dressed player in honor of  Ellie Fund supporter  Jeff Gallahue of  We Beat Cancer


Register today for this exciting event. 


Supporter Spotlight: Wellesley Service League
The support for our patients and services comes in many forms. An important part of providing care for Ellie Fund participants is having nutritious prepared meals delivered to their door. We simply could not provide this service without the incredible generosity of the Wellesley Service League

Their tireless efforts have helped deliver almost 450 meals to breast cancer patients and their families this past spring! A huge thank you to our wonderful WSL Volunteer Coordinators, Beth and Michelle and Ellie Fund Volunteer Coordinator, Diane McManama.
Meet the New Face of Team Ellie
Sarah Puleo
Programming and Fundraising Assistant

Joining the Ellie Fund in spring of 2018, Sarah has a passion for providing service to those who are in the greatest need. A native New Englander, Sarah received her Master of Public Administration from the University of Oregon and has spent her career in programming and development within the nonprofit sector. Sarah is no stranger to the effects of cancer on the family, and was drawn to the Ellie Fund's commitment to providing relief and supporting families in their healing.
5 for Ellie Recap
We are thrilled to share that  5 for Ellie was a tremendous success! Hosted in partnership with  WCVB Channel 5 , the event raised over  $230,000  to benefit the Ellie Fund's mission to provide critical support services to breast cancer patients  and their families .
 
A huge thank you for the generous contributions from event guests, our partnerships with  Presenting Sponsor  The Slater Foundation Exclusive Media Sponsor  WCVB Exclusive Runway Sponsor  Gemini Industries   and  Fund a Family Sponsor  Skin Deep Med Spa , our special guest  New England Patriots Special Teams Captain  Matthew Slater ,   and the support of our event sponsors and donors. Because of your generosity, we will be able to continue providing critical services to breast cancer patients in Massachusetts to ease the stresses of everyday life, allowing their focus to be on family, recovery and healing. 

Special thanks to   James Devaney  of   Devaney Energy, who received the
Hope Award in recognition of his enthusiastic and generous dedication to our mission over the years.

We are so grateful to our  Fashion Sponsor  Alice + Olivia and  Jewelry Partner   April Soderstrom who ensured the beautiful newswomen of
WCVB and former Ellie Fund patient models were runway ready!

To see more party pics, check out our  Facebook page!
Photos courtesy of  Dina K Photography   and  IggyPhoto .

Ellie Fund | 781-449-0100 | www.elliefund.org
200 Reservoir Street
Suite 300
Needham, MA 02494