Dear Friends,

Since our last newsletter, HERS has had a busy few months! We successfully hosted our 24th Annual Walk/Run/Yoga & Community Expo event, attended numerous Breast Cancer Awareness Month events in October, and implemented several exciting organizational changes.

We hope you enjoy reading our newsletter and ask that you forward it to friends and family. Sharing our news is a simple yet impactful way to help us connect with new patients, volunteers, and other supporters.

And please be sure to note our 2024 event dates and join us. Our events are more enjoyable with you by our side!

15th Annual People with Purpose Gala

Saturday, April 27, 2024



25th Annual Walk/Run/Yoga Fundraiser & Community Expo

Saturday, September 28, 2024

People with Purpose invitations will be mailed in January; if you would like to be included on our mailing list, please email info@hersbreastcancerfoundation.org. Our HERS Awards recipients will be announced in our January newsletter so stay tuned!

On behalf of our Board of Directors and our staff, I thank you for supporting our patients this year and send best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season and new year!

Tina

Tina Fernandez Steckler

Executive Director

The Jani Sisters

Our 2023 year-end holiday letter and complementary short film focuses on two beloved sisters, Meera and Kanan. It is our hope that their story will broaden your understanding of breast cancer patients' experiences and the impact of our mission and programs.

The film, a project made possible by friend and volunteer Ramil Sumalpong, may be viewed on our YouTube channel or website home page. We hope it inspires you, as it has inspired us, to keep gratitude and hope in your heart.

Should the Jani sisters' story also inspire you to support breast cancer patients in need, your year-end gift will benefit our Assistance Programs, uplifting and empowering under-served breast cancer patients for months to come.

You may donate securely online via PayPal, call (510) 790-1911 to donate by phone or mail your gift to:

HERS Breast Cancer Foundation

2500 Mowry Avenue, Suite 130

Fremont, CA 94538

We will acknowledge your donation promptly. Thank you!

This year's Walk/Run/Yoga Fundraiser & Community Expo was one of our best to date! We welcomed nearly 540 registrants, were supported by dozens of volunteers and expo exhibitors, and welcomed countless community members who joined us to cheer on loved ones.

Volunteer Ramil Sumalpong's gorgeous photos captured the spirit, joy, and fun of the day. Our event album holds beautiful memories. Be sure to check it out!

With our community's support we raised over $124,000 -- funds which benefited our Assistance Programs for under-served patients. We are beyond grateful to all.

Our website will be updated with 2024 registration links, sponsorship opportunities and more in early May 2024. In the meantime, save the date so you may join us at Quarry Lakes on Saturday, September 28, 2024.

And a special thank you...

Collective Discovery/Lisa Stambaugh -- website administration

Fremont Bank - Legacy Sponsor

Beverly Hagan - top fundraiser/sponsor

Funda Dervisoglu -- top fundraiser/HERS Board Member

Heather Holmes, KTVU Anchor -- Emcee

HERS Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers

Keeping Moving with Sherri -- Yoga Sponsor

Kirstin Litz -- HERS Board President & Event Co-Chair

Ramil Sumalpong -- Event Photographer

The Buentello & Gilligan Families and Friends -- Footprints and Survivors Booths

The Dutra Enterprises, Inc. Team -- Lunch Sponsor/Cooks

Shameem Z. of Xtrim Bollywood -- Dance Warmup

and

Our generous event sponsors and in-kind donors

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2023

We were BEYOND busy in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are always blown away by the creativity and energy of our BCAM supporters.

Join us in thanking the many individuals and local supportive businesses who went raised funds for our patients in need:

Amador Valley High School Girls Volleyball -- Dig Pink

Auburn Lounge, Danville

Brighton Collectibles, Stoneridge Mall - The Power of Pink

Zumba with Cheryl Louie

Chik-fil-A Brownie Sales -

(Mowry Ave., Auto Mall, Redwood City, and Serramonte)

City of Fremont Police Department/Police Officers Association -

#pinkpatchproject

Connect California Homes and BottleTaps Pleasanton -

XTREME Bingo

Corina and Joan - Mission Hills Golf Tournament

East Bay Regional Park District Police Department - #pinkpatchproject

Elite Performance Gym, Fremont

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley -- Think Pink Tea

Kendra Scott -- Walnut Creek

Shawna Caderette/Monat Foundation - Chemo Blanket Project

Shred City and the Union City Police Department - Shred for a Cure

The Human Bean, Rio Vista - Coffee For a Cure

The Stratford School, Milpitas -- Boo-a-Thon "Scaring Cancer Away"

Tory Burch - Livermore Premium Outlets

We're grateful to our supporters for hosting fundraisers and thankful for our friends and staff who attended many of these events.

To date, our Breast Cancer Awareness Month fundraising total is over $45,000. A few contributions are outstanding so we'll provide a fundraising update in January.

HERS Organization Updates

We've undergone considerable organizational change at HERS which will improve our operations and services considerably.

What will not change is our commitment to compassionate patient care. We are dedicated to providing the best possible patient services and products. Here's what's new:

Technology

In late September we adopted new EHR (electronic health record) and inventory software programs. Our team underwent extensive training and now have tools that will allow us to serve our patients more efficiently, improve charting processes, enable more accurate inventory, and more.

We are especially grateful to staff member Carolyn Dillingham (more about Carolyn below!) as she has been instrumental in software training and process implementation. Thank you, Carolyn!

Staffing Changes

Program Director Annette Lewellyn stepped down after ten years at HERS. Annette brought considerable change to our organization during her tenure, including expanding our product line and facilitating the opening of our San Leandro and Livermore locations. She will be missed.

We are pleased to announce that Beast Care Specialist Carolyn Dillingham is now serving as Program Director. We are benefiting from her corporate experience, particularly in the areas of data and revenue analysis, organizational processes, and leadership.

We'll provide a more extensive look at Carolyn's skills when we profile her in our January newsletter.

Long-time accountant Michael Powers stepped down and is enjoying semi-retirement. We welcomed accountant Edward Young/Key Accounting Services who is providing our team with outstanding financial guidance and processes improvements. Welcome, Edward!

Board of Directors Updates