December 2018 Newsletter - Zero Breast Cancer

From the Director's Desk - Wishing you all a festive holiday season and much health and wellness in 2019!

Dear Reader,

Breaking with our norm of a month-end newsletter I am sending this December letter out on Christmas Eve.This is a very meaningful time of year for many of you. For some of you it's a holy and spiritual time of year. For others of you its fun festive and full of atmosphere. Either way the Board and Staff of Zero Breast Cancer join me in wishing you Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays. It feels a bit strange that Hanukkah is already well and truly in our rear-view mirror this year but speaking personally it brought a lot of light into a world sorely in need of miracles! I trust the rest of the holidays will do likewise.

This may also be a difficult time of year for you. Ill health, loneliness and sadness don't magically disappear just because of these holidays or the start of a new calendar year. The Board and Staff of Zero Breast Cancer join me in reminding you that you are not alone and that our wish for you is improved health and the support and strength to manage your challenges.

Whatever you are going to be doing for the remainder of 2018 we trust it will be meaningful.

If you have already made a year-end donation thank you again! If you have not yet done so it isn't too late and your support will make a difference. You can make your online donation today for a tax credit in 2018 to the extent allowed by law! If you prefer to mail a check you need to ensure its dated 2018 even if we don't receive it until next week. Please remember our address is 30 N. San Pedro Rd, # 140, San Rafael, CA 94903

My last public duty for 2018 is to wish you and yours health and wellness in 2019!

Gratefully yours,

Rose Barlow

Executive Director

PS Your donation supports our work with youth, teens, survivors and the community. Its not too late to make your gift for 2018! Thank you.
PPS If you are not already following us on social media please check out our recent postings on Facebook here and here. Please also visit our website if you have not done so recently. And finally please enjoy and SHARE our new Girls New Puberty video playlists on YouTube

Very special support from a very special organization!

The Dipsea Race makes a generous donation to Zero Breast Cancer

In November Rose Barlow, ZBC ED received the following email:

"Rose: My name is.....and I am a member of the Dipsea Race Committee.

Back in April, we were the lead organizer for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Women's Dipsea Hike in Marin County. At that time, we, as a board, decided to donate any proceeds from the event to a women's organization in Marin in honor of the participants who took part in the celebration and all the women who competed in the Women's Dipsea Hike from 1918 to 1922. [You can read more about the history of this hike here.]

One of the Dipsea Race's principals is focused on the health and wellness of its competitors, volunteers, and anyone who hikes the Dipsea Trail. We recognize and appreciate Zero Breast Cancer's mission to promote breast cancer risk reduction through translation of scientific research and evidence-based recommendations that support health and wellness at key stages of life.

At our board meeting last night, the Dipsea Race Committee unanimously agreed to donate $7,000 to the Zero Breast Cancer. This decision was both professional and personal, especially for me. A couple of weeks after the Women's Dipsea Hike in April my wife, ... was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She had surgery, completed chemotherapy, and, last week, finished the final of 30 radiation treatments.

Hence, me and my fellow members of the Dipsea Race Committee have more than a passing interest in Zero Breast Cancer and its purpose.

We would like to present this $7,000 check/donation to you and Zero Breast Cancer sometime in December, perhaps at a Zero Breast Cancer board meeting or we could arrange some sort of ceremonial presentation inside or outside your offices. Some of our Dipsea Race Committee may be unable to attend the ceremony, depending on what date is convenient for you and your staff, but I would be present and I would wish that my wife could attend such a ceremony."

Needless to say we were delighted to arrange this presentation. Here we all are gathered in the main conference room of the business center at the California Academy of Sciences following the ZBC Board's final meeting and annual celebration on Sunday December 16, 2018.

From Left to Right
Back Row: Kevin Gay, Arbella Odishoo Parrot; Chris Kenz*, Anne Hartwig, Catherine Thomsen, Judy Wetterer, Edda Stickle*
Front Row; Melissa Felder, Lianna Hartmour, Caroline Albee*, Lexi Mele-Algus, Rose Barlow, Connie Goldsmith
* Representatives of the Dipsea Race presenting the check to the staff and board of Zero Breast Cancer.

CONDOLENCES

ZBC learned earlier this month about the passing of Bill Daniels, founder and President of United Markets here in Marin County. I want to convey deepest condolences to Bill's family, co-workers and employees on behalf of the staff and board of Zero Breast Cancer.

In 2003 Bill was a most worthy Francine Levien Activist Awardee at that year's Honor Thy Healer event hosted by ZBC. This award goes to “Individuals, organizations, businesses and community health or environmental activists [who] are honored for their outstanding efforts on behalf of our community, embodying the spirit of Zero Breast Cancer’s founder.”

Bill was a forward thinking and inspiring leader recognized for his decision to stop selling cigarettes some 16 years ago as well as for his support for employees dealing with cancer. All too sadly breast cancer touched the Daniel's family personally as their beloved wife and mother, Sandy, battled the disease with Bill by her side until her death in 2013.

Both in his personal capacity and as a business leader in Marin, Bill was a valued supporter of Zero Breast Cancer.

His memory will surely be a blessing to all who knew him. RIP Bill Daniels.

You can read more here.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT : SIX VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE!

Maritza Cárdenas and sound specialist Ian Walker of Hurricane Images record the narration for our Girls' New Puberty Spanish tips videos in Spanish

Zero Breast Cancer succeeds in very large part due to a dedicated cadre of volunteers, some of whom offer specialized and/or skilled pro-bono services. This month we thank and recognize 6 people who supported ZBC work in 2018 by translating, narrating, and/or reviewing new elements of our Girls’ New Puberty campaign: Chely Córdova, Frances Chiu, Hannah Barlow, Larry Chu, Maritza Cárdenas, and Perry Borders. You can read more about each of these special volunteers here.