Celebrating Life Foundation

About the Organization

Organization category

Public Charity

Country / State

United States / Texas

Mission

To educate, encourage, and empower those impacted by breast cancer by providing resources, advocacy, and compassionate support that improve access to care, reduce disparities, and inspire hope.

Programs or services

Celebrating Life Foundation Programs

1. Sister to Sister Fitness Festival
Our signature annual community event promoting breast health awareness, physical fitness, early detection, and healthy lifestyles. The festival brings together survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and families for education, screenings, inspiration, and wellness activities.

2. Pink Spoon Project
Provides practical support to breast cancer patients in active treatment, including nutritious meals, groceries, transportation assistance, gas cards, rental and utility assistance, and other essential resources that help reduce the financial burden of cancer.

3. Journey Fund
Offers emergency financial assistance to breast cancer patients facing hardships during treatment, helping with housing, utilities, transportation, food, and other critical needs.

4. National Chemo Day
An annual initiative observed on the second Friday in June that delivers comfort and encouragement through chemo care packages distributed to cancer treatment centers across the country, recognizing and supporting those undergoing chemotherapy.

5. Reclaim Your Beauty
A wellness program designed to help breast cancer survivors rebuild confidence through education, beauty workshops, photography, nutrition, exercise, mental health resources, and survivor empowerment.

6. Positively Pink Conversations
A free virtual educational series featuring physicians, researchers, survivors, and mental health professionals who discuss breast cancer prevention, treatment, survivorship, genetics, emotional wellness, and advocacy.

7. Breast Cancer Education & Advocacy
Community outreach programs that provide culturally relevant education on breast health, breast cancer risk reduction, early detection, clinical trials, and healthcare navigation, with a focus on reducing disparities among African American women and other underserved populations.

Detailed programs

Celebrating Life Foundation Programs
1. Pink Spoon Project

The Pink Spoon Project addresses the non-medical barriers that often prevent breast cancer patients from completing treatment. Many individuals undergoing chemotherapy or radiation struggle with basic living expenses, transportation, and proper nutrition.

The program provides:

Emergency financial assistance
Grocery assistance and nutritious meals
Gas cards and transportation support
Rent and utility assistance
Resource navigation and referrals
Wellness care packages
Emotional support through survivor mentors

By helping patients meet their basic needs, the Pink Spoon Project allows them to focus on healing rather than financial hardship.

2. Journey Fund

The Journey Fund provides emergency financial assistance to breast cancer patients experiencing unexpected hardships during treatment.

Assistance may include:

Housing and rent
Utility payments
Transportation
Prescription assistance
Food and household necessities
Temporary financial crisis support

The goal is to reduce financial toxicity and improve treatment compliance by removing barriers that could delay or interrupt care.

3. Sister to Sister Fitness Festival

Celebrating Life Foundation's signature annual event promotes healthy lifestyles, breast cancer awareness, and survivorship.

The festival includes:

Fitness activities for all ages
Breast health education
Survivor recognition
Inspirational speakers
Community health resources
Health screenings
Vendor marketplace
Family wellness activities
Educational exhibits

The event encourages prevention, early detection, and healthy living while bringing together survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community partners.

4. Reclaim Your Beauty

Reclaim Your Beauty helps women rebuild confidence during and after breast cancer treatment.

The program includes:

Beauty workshops
Professional makeup consultations
Skincare education
Nutrition education
Mental wellness presentations
Exercise education
Professional survivor photography
Self-esteem and confidence building
Survivor celebrations

Participants leave feeling empowered, beautiful, and encouraged.

5. Positively Pink Conversations

This monthly educational webinar series provides reliable breast cancer information directly from leading experts.

Topics include:

Breast cancer prevention
Early detection
Genetics and hereditary cancer
Treatment options
Clinical trials
Nutrition
Exercise
Mental health
Survivorship
Financial resources
Patient advocacy

Participants have opportunities to ask questions and connect with healthcare professionals and fellow survivors.

6. National Chemo Day

Observed annually on the second Friday in June, National Chemo Day recognizes individuals receiving chemotherapy while encouraging communities to support them.

Activities include:

Distribution of chemo care packages
Comfort items for treatment

Target Audience

Breast cancer patients and survivors, particularly medically underserved populations; caregivers; patient navigators; healthcare professionals; and community partners working to reduce breast cancer disparities through education, advocacy, and support.

Geographic Focus

United States

Current projects

Current Projects

1. Pink Spoon Project
Providing emergency financial assistance and supportive services to breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. The project helps individuals overcome financial barriers by providing assistance with groceries, meals, transportation, gas cards, rent, utilities, and other essential living expenses.

2. Journey Fund
Offering emergency financial assistance to breast cancer patients experiencing financial hardship during treatment. The fund helps ensure patients can continue receiving lifesaving care without interruption due to financial challenges.

3. 25th Sister to Sister Fitness Festival
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this signature community event promotes breast health awareness, healthy lifestyles, and early detection through fitness activities, survivor celebrations, educational sessions, health screenings, and community engagement.

4. Positively Pink Conversations
A monthly virtual educational series featuring physicians, researchers, survivors, and healthcare professionals discussing breast cancer prevention, genetics, treatment advances, survivorship, mental wellness, and patient resources.

5. National Chemo Day Initiative
An annual national awareness campaign observed on the second Friday in June that distributes chemo care packages to cancer treatment centers while recognizing and encouraging individuals undergoing chemotherapy.

6. Reclaim Your Beauty
A survivorship and wellness program designed to restore confidence through beauty education, nutrition, fitness, mental health resources, professional photography, and survivor empowerment workshops.

Organization goals

Organization Goals

The Celebrating Life Foundation is committed to improving the lives of individuals impacted by breast cancer through education, advocacy, financial assistance, and compassionate support. Our organizational goals are to:

Reduce Breast Cancer Disparities
Improve health outcomes for African American women, women of color, and medically underserved communities by increasing access to breast health education, early detection, quality care, and survivorship resources.
Expand Financial Assistance
Increase emergency financial support for breast cancer patients facing hardships related to treatment, including assistance with housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, prescriptions, and other essential living expenses.
Improve Access to Care
Strengthen patient navigation services by connecting individuals with screening, diagnosis, treatment, genetic counseling, survivorship programs, and community resources that remove barriers to care.
Increase Community Education
Deliver culturally relevant education through workshops, webinars, health fairs, community outreach, and digital platforms to promote breast health awareness, early detection, and informed decision-making.
Strengthen Survivorship Programs
Expand programs that address the physical, emotional, mental, nutritional, and social well-being of breast cancer survivors, empowering them to thrive beyond treatment.
Build Strategic Partnerships
Collaborate with hospitals, healthcare providers, patient navigators, advocacy organizations, faith communities, corporations, and community leaders to improve access to quality breast cancer care and support services.
Amplify Survivor Voices
Use photography, storytelling, video, podcasts, and media campaigns to educate the public, reduce stigma, celebrate survivorship, and inspire hope for those facing a breast cancer diagnosis.

Leadership

Board of Directors
Gavin Nichols, President
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Eloise Square, Secretary
Retired Financial Services Professional
Lynttee Fletcher, Treasurer
State of Texas Bank
Ada Drayden
Dallas Independent School District
Karen Faust, Development Chair
Brilliant Fulfillment
Lalanii Jones, Professional Development
Business Owner, Home Health Care
Taresse Jackson, Administrative Support
Hospital Administration
Kimberly McBrayer, Scholarship and Financial Literacy
FedEx Corporation
Jacqueline Stewart
Retired Financial Services Professional

Funding & Grant Guidelines

Grant categories you fund

Financial Assistance

Funding priorities

The Celebrating Life Foundation seeks funding to reduce breast cancer disparities and improve quality of life for individuals impacted by breast cancer, particularly African American women, women of color, and medically underserved communities. Funding priorities include:

Emergency Financial Assistance – Providing support for rent, utilities, transportation, groceries, gas cards, and other essential living expenses for patients undergoing treatment.
Patient Navigation & Access to Care – Connecting individuals with screening, diagnostic services, treatment resources, clinical trials, and support services.
Breast Health Education & Early Detection – Delivering culturally relevant education through community outreach, workshops, webinars, and health fairs to promote prevention and early diagnosis.
Health Equity & Advocacy – Addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer outcomes through advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and community partnerships.
Survivorship & Wellness Programs – Supporting the physical, emotional, nutritional, and mental well-being of survivors through programs such as Reclaim Your Beauty, Positively Pink Conversations, and the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival.
Nutrition & Basic Needs Support – Helping patients maintain proper nutrition and meet essential household needs through the Pink Spoon Project and related assistance programs.
Caregiver & Family Support – Providing education, resources, and encouragement to caregivers and families navigating a loved one's breast cancer journey.
Community Partnerships & Professional Education – Collaborating with healthcare providers, patient navigators, advocates, and community organizations to improve breast cancer care and increase access to evidence-based information.
Survivor Storytelling & Public Awareness – Using photography, video, publications, and media campaigns to amplify survivor voices, reduce stigma, and inspire hope.

Geographic funding areas

Texas - limited funding for other areas.

Typical grant size

$50 to $1,000

Typical number of grants given in a cycle

110

Deadlines

on-going

Eligibility requirements

Breast cancer survivor in treatment.

Grant application process

Journey fund and referral from navigators

Funding Needs

Grant categories you're seeking

BIPOC, Capital Funding, College Scholarship, Financial Assistance, Health and Medical, In-Kind Support, Mental Health, Nutrition and Food, Operating Support, Women

Funding needs

Funding Needs

The Celebrating Life Foundation seeks funding to expand programs that reduce breast cancer disparities and improve the quality of life for individuals impacted by breast cancer. Our funding priorities focus on meeting both the medical and non-medical needs of patients, particularly African American women, women of color, and medically underserved communities.

Funding is needed to support:

Emergency Financial Assistance – Providing rent, mortgage, utility, transportation, grocery, gas card, prescription, and childcare assistance to breast cancer patients experiencing financial hardship during treatment.
Pink Spoon Project – Expanding access to nutritious meals, grocery assistance, transportation, wellness supplies, and supportive services that help patients complete treatment successfully.
Patient Navigation & Resource Coordination – Connecting patients with screening, diagnostic services, treatment resources, financial assistance, support groups, and survivorship services.
Community Education & Early Detection – Increasing breast health education through workshops, webinars, health fairs, and culturally responsive outreach that promotes early detection and risk reduction.
Survivorship & Wellness Programs – Supporting initiatives such as the Sister to Sister Fitness Festival, Reclaim Your Beauty, Positively Pink Conversations, and other programs that improve physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Chemo Care & Comfort Programs – Purchasing supplies for chemo care packages and expanding the National Chemo Day initiative to reach more cancer treatment centers and patients.

Website & Social Media