Here’s a really great history about how Shades of Pink came to be. Vembra will be our speaker on October 9, 2024.
Christina Fulcher and Kianne Farmer, along with their mothers, Vembra and Sue, and friend Bridget Garwitz, founded Shades of Pink Foundation California in 2013. Inspired by a fundraiser for the Michigan-based Shades of Pink Foundation, they modeled their foundation and grant application process after Michigan’s, which worked well for several years.
However, in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, the organization observed that many women could not qualify for the grants. These women, often working in non-traditional jobs like caregiving and childcare, had low incomes and still faced the challenges of breast cancer. Realizing they were missing a significant group of needy women, the team launched a gift card program after consulting with healthcare providers and other local charities.
By the 2020 program launch, Christina and Kianne had departed from the organization. Vembra, the last remaining original founding board member, and two new board members, Kristine Quart and Debbie Anderson, led the effort. The new application process requires that the patient be treated in San Diego County and referred by a partner organization. This simplified process allows for quick approvals, such as getting gift cards for food, gas, and big box stores like Target and Walmart to patients swiftly to meet immediate needs. Many applicants reported monthly incomes of less than $2000, far below what is necessary to live in one of the most expensive cities in the US.
The gift card program has been highly successful, providing 455 grants totaling $186,125, with an average grant of $400. While they aspire to increase this amount, they are proud of their ability to serve as many women and families as possible. Their ongoing success, and the lives they touch, relies on the unwavering support of partners in the business and community sectors.
Join us in October for our monthly day meeting and to hear Vembra. You can sign up and pay online:
