HERS Breast Cancer Foundation
January 2023 Newsletter
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Dear Friend,
We hope you're settling into the new year nicely and staying warm and dry! Our team has been hard at work following the holiday break, serving patients, planning events, and much more.
2023 is a big year for HERS -- it's our 25th Anniversary! This milestone is made possible by our generous supporters, our hard-working Board, staff, and volunteers, and our loyal and lovely patients.
Our dates are set for our annual major fundraising events:
Gala tickets are now available to purchase online. If you prefer a mailed invitation, those will arrive in mailboxes by February 1st. Not sure if you're on our mailing list? Please call me! I can be reached at (510) 790-1911 ext. 104 and will be happy to personally send your invitation.
Looking further ahead this year, we're planning numerous events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and we have a few ideas up our sleeves for Mother's Day, too! Stay tuned!
We hope to see you soon, whether you're a patient, one of our generous donors, or a 2023 event guest. Your kind words of support, your visits, and your contributions keep our spirits high and sustain our programs and patients.
A final thought: please forward this email to your friends, family, and colleagues; in doing so, you'll help others realize that HERS is here to serve breast cancer patients and we are eager to be their "soft place to fall" no matter where they are in their breast cancer journey.
With gratitude,
Tina and the HERS Team
Tina Fernandez Steckler
Executive Director
(510) 790-1911 ext. 104
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Our 14th Annual People with Purpose Pink Tie Gala will take place on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the elegant Casa Bella Event Center in Sunol, California. This fun, festive, and meaningful event will include a courtyard cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, fundraising games, a three-course gourmet dinner with wine, live auction, and a fund-a-need.
The highlight of our event will be our People with Purpose HERS Awards presentation in which we will recognize the outstanding contributions of this year's awardees:
Dr. Mimi Poon - Renewal Award
Doug Florence - Support Award
These organizations and individuals will be celebrated for their efforts to provide HERS -- Hope, Empowerment, Renewal, and Support -- for patients facing breast cancer.
Between our awards presentations and recognizing our 25th year of service, this year's gala may well be our most memorable to date so join us -- you don't want to miss this amazing celebration.
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Ways to support our event... |
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If you're looking for ways to support our gala beyond purchasing a ticket, consider these ideas: |
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Sponsorships are an excellent way to share your support with the community; levels start at just $250.
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Introducing Jonnie Loukili |
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We've welcomed several new staff members recently and will highlight each of them beginning with this month's newsletter.
First up is Jonnie Loukili, a Breast Care Specialist at our Fremont location at Washington Hospital. She is calm and compassionate, quick to lend a helping hand, and has a deep understanding of breast cancer's challenges. Jonnie also speaks conversational Arabic (standard, Moroccan, and Lebanese).
In Jonnie's words...
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"I was born in Texas and raised in the Midwest, and always wanted to settle in the California sun. In January 2021 my husband and I trekked across the country and here we are, enjoying life in the Bay Area. Our family includes two grown daughters, five beautiful grandbabies, and many brothers and sisters.
In late 2021 I received life-changing news: a breast cancer diagnosis. This was how I became acquainted with the incredible team at HERS. At a time when I needed hope and compassion, they were there for me and this inspired me to become a member of this close-knit family so I, too, support others. I spent over twenty years as a paramedic and in service to others; becoming a HERS Breast Care Specialist made perfect sense to me. I have come full circle. Not only was HERS my "soft place to fall," I am now extending benevolence and empathy to others in need.
In my free time, I enjoy visiting beautiful and historic sites around the Bay Area. My favorite place so far has been Half Moon Bay. Watching glorious sunsets over the Pacific truly takes my breath away. My all-time dream is to someday see migrating whales. When I am not working or exploring, I enjoy cooking delicious meals for my husband who is from Morocco. We also enjoy travel and sharing adventures.
I often describe the group of people who make up my breast cancer team as “superheroes." From nurses and physicians to my nurse navigators and to the team at HERS -- each holds an key role in my journey. Without them, the past year would have been much different. Today I am able to look to a future I didn't think I would have, and I pray I can give this same optimism to others through my time with HERS."
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Delicious See's candy is a Bay Area tradition and a beautiful way to show your Valentine that you love them!
Our Valentine's See's Yumraiser storefront is open for business. Purchase your Valentine's sweets for family, friends, or yourself and up to 50% of sales for featured items will be donated to HERS.
Note: complete your purchase by January 27th to allow time for shipping.
Eligible treats include truffles, Toffee-ettes, assorted chocolates, and gift cards! Yum!
Questions? Call Lorena at (510) 790-1911 ext. 105 for more information.
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Feeling Vulnerable
Many of our breast cancer patients have tearfully shared that one of their most devastating experiences was the loss of their hair.
Some have shared that they "held it together" until they began seeing hair loss related to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Some patients experience hair thinning while others have more extensive hair loss. Some patients see a fairly fast hair regrowth; others have longer-term hair loss, see a dramatic change in texture or color with regrowth, and some patient have permanent loss.
This change can be extremely traumatic and impact a patient's self-esteem in significant ways. Some patients have expressed that losing their hair made them feel exposed and even more vulnerable at a time when they were already reeling from worry and fear due to their breast cancer battle.
How HERS Helps
HERS carries a selection of soft caps and scarves in lovely prints and solids which some patients prefer to wear during treatment and recovery. Some patients, however, prefer the look of hair and so we carry a selection of gorgeous wigs in a variety of shades, textures, and styles.
The cost of a wig, also called a cranial prosthetic, may be covered by a patient's insurance provider. In that case, HERS will bill the patient's insurance. For patients whose insurance might not cover this cost, our Hair with Care assistance program provides partial or full wigs to help them look and feel their best.
Many Bay Area wig stores have shuttered in the past several years and closures escalated during the pandemic. Fortunately for Bay Area breast cancer patients, HERS continues to operate its beautiful wig salon at our Fremont location at Washington Hospital West. Our salon-like setting is a safe space where patients receive one-on-one private consultation and fitting services.
Seeking Cosmetologists Who Care
We are currently seeking volunteers to assist patients with this process. If you are a licensed cosmetologist, your gift of time and talent will be life-changing for our patients!
We know our volunteers lead busy lives so we're happy to work with with their schedules. Wig consultation services are offered Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm (we are closed 1 pm to 2 pm for lunch). We ask that our Hair with Care volunteers come in at just one day per week for a minimum of two hours.
If you are a licensed cosmetologist and are interested in supporting our dear patients, we would love to speak with you. Check out our post on VolunteerMatch.org or call (510) 790-1911 ext. 104 to learn more.
Please note that our staff members will schedule appointments for you and handle billing, sales, and insurance matters. This means that volunteers can enjoy the truly fulfilling part of the program: to assist patients with fittings and see the smiles on their faces when they find their perfect look!
Visit our website to learn more about our Hair with Care Program, including the wig brands we carry.
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HERS Will be Closed January 17 and 23 |
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HERS Breast Cancer Foundation's locations will be closed on Monday, January 16th in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. We will reopen Tuesday, January 17th.
Our locations will be closed on Monday, January 23rd, for our first staff retreat in three years. We look forward to returning to work on Tuesday, January 24th at which time we'll be feeling a renewed sense of purpose and eagerness to serve our patients!
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