Helping women. Today.

Annual Report 2016/2017

Helping Women. Today.The Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund is a national, volunteer charity that provides short-term financial assistance to breast cancer patients who are facing a financial crisis while undergoing treatment. We reimburse patients for medication, food, shelter, prosthetics, childcare, restorative treatments and special medical garments that may be required for conditions resulting from surgery.

Our mission is to support breast cancer patients on their journey to wellness by providing short-term financial support, educational workshops that promote breast health and raising awareness about the impact of the environmental factors affecting breast cancer.

Our vision is to be Canada’s leading voice in changing the conversation about breast cancer by raising awareness about the importance of prevention in breast cancer and the financial challenges that accompany a diagnosis.

A message from The Chair & Executive DirectorDear Friends,

Welcome to the 2016-2017 Annual Report of the Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund. 2016 represented another year of progress for us. With the commitment of our community, we are continuing to make a real difference in the lives of breast cancer patients. None of this would be possible without a reservoir of goodwill and generosity from our donors, partners, volunteers and supporters.

We remain committed to raising awareness about the financial impact of breast cancer. The truth about breast cancer is that the financial burden can be just as devastating as the physical and emotional impact and in fact, all of the patients we support are facing a severe financial crisis during their treatment.

We are grateful for the generous support from individual donations, family foundations, volunteers who manage special events on our behalf, as well as our corporate and Causemetics partners who enable us to provide a lifeline to patients who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table while they battle a life-threatening disease.

In this past year, we have been working behind the scenes to develop a new website. We sincerely thank Paul Bies and his team at Mystique Brand Communications (www.mystique.ca) for their tireless efforts in bringing our beautiful new website to life. Late in 2016 we welcomed three incredible new board members to the team: Georgianna Ma, Marcie Somers and Tara Wood. We also undertook an important strategic planning process which has helped us to focus our efforts as an organization with a view to helping more breast cancer patients in 2017 and beyond.

We would like to thank all of the board members, advisory committee members and volunteers who give so generously of their time and for their tireless efforts to build a community of support for the vulnerable community we serve.

Our goal in the coming year, with the help of individuals and organizations, is to continue our commitment to bridge the gap between the financial reality faced by breast cancer patients and the limited financial resources available. With your continued involvement and support, we know we can do it.

Thank you for your continued belief in the Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund.

Sincerely,

Donna Sheehan (Executive Director) and Melanie Cole (Chair of the Board of Directors)

Donna Sheehan, Executive Director

Melanie Cole, Chair of the Board of Directors

Aird & BerlisBrock UniversityCHEILCI InvestmentFASHION MagazineEtobicoke Dolphins Girls Hockey LeagueFuse MarketingKruger Paper ProductsManifest Communications

Mystique Brand CommunicationsPlates Barr StudioPURE CommunicationsRed Rocket CaféSnowy Owl FilmsUnited Services GroupUnited WayTD BankWell.caTerra20

Pure AnadaGlam Goes GreenThe Unexpected GiftFrockThe Cure FoundationThe Bras Family FoundationDotte and John Hecht FoundationBallard Family Foundation

Thank you for helping women. Today.Our sincere thank you to all of our individual donors, supporters, foundations and corporate partners. It is through your generosity that we are able to support 44 women this year and make a significant impact on the vulnerable community we serve.

ConsonantCocoon ApothecaryGraydon Province Apothecary

Pure AnadaPure + SimpleElla’s BotaniclasLovefresh

SapphoSigrid Natural Skin Care

CausemeticsGiving back through green beauty

In addition to our generous donors, a big thank you to our Causemetics partners who help us raise funds through the sale of healthy beauty products.

Board Paul BiesMelanie ColeGeorgianna Ma Donna SheehanMarcie SomersTracey RutledgeJill VoisinTara Wood

Advisory TeamAllan Austin Karen CannonLindsay KronenbergDeanna Nemeth

VolunteersKaty Paul-ChowdhuryDebbie BoncheffSara DanielsMary Anne DivjakLesa HannaAmanda HoranDaniela PagliaroRoula PangiotopolousJoyce PeatsMarilyn RathElaine RoperWendy TophamSarah Vartanian

Our VolunteersCBCSF is a volunteer run organization. Without the support and passion of a dedicated group of people, our work couldn’t continue.

Where the money goesEach year, 25,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Up to a quarter of those patients will face financial hardship while trying to fight the disease, when they should be focused on getting better. That’s where we come in.

2016 was a building year for our organization. We welcomed three new board members who expanded the expertise and skills of our board and we focused on establishing much needed infrastructure to enable us to be more nimble and effective in fundraising and achieving our mandate to help more women.

How patients use our support

Rent / Mortgage

Groceries

Utilities

Meds

Parking

Transportation

Child Care

Wig

Other

Financials

Year Ended February 2017 Year Ended February 2016

Assets and Liabilities

Cash 28,487 34,566

Inventory 5,573 7,233

Accounts Receivable 13,681 5,033

Accounts Payable -703 -1,522

Retained Earnings -44,497 -27,256

Total $ 2,542 $ 18,024

Revenue

Donations 88,507 77,826

Causemetics sales 3,430 –

Total $ 91,937 $ 77,826

Expenses

Programs 64,043 30,917

Marketing 3,175 3,138

Management and Administration 2,678 2,339

Consulting 19,500 16,534

Social Enterprise – 6,873

Total $ 89,396 $ 59,802

How we are funded

Foundations

3rd party

Corporate

In memoriams

Causemetics

Individuals

HighlightsWith the generous support of our donors, we have provided financial assistance to 44 breast cancer patients this year, and 143 since we began providing support in 2012.

To date we have provided almost $200,000 to patients in need.

CausemeticsGiving back through green beauty

In addition to our generous donors, a big thank you to our Causemetics partners who help us raise funds through the sale of healthy beauty products.

Testimonials

"I don’t know what I would have done without your help. I have been so sick and weak, unable to help myself. It gives me hope to know that there are still caring people in this world."

"Thank you so much for helping me. Everything for the last year has been going wrong in my life. This is the first good thing to happen that I can remember for some time."

"I wish to send you a heartfelt thank you for the financial aid that I recently received from CBCSF. Your support has helped me tremendously, both by easing the ongoing stress and by making my daily struggles more manageable. Having lived six years ‘cancer free’ only to be recently re-diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, I was not prepared for life’s changes and adjustments that were to ensue. Being single and living with these emotional and financial hardships are very overwhelming as I’m sure you can imagine. CBCSF’s financial support has truly been a blessing and a wonderful reminder that there are people and organizations that do care and want to help."

"With this being thanksgiving weekend – I count my blessing-they are many. Your financial support has added to it. I hope you realize how much you touch people’s lives –when they have been knocked down by life- not only by your monetary aid but by lifting people’s spirits-in knowing that there are good people in our world, and good things do happen."

The Canadian Breast Cancer Support Fund exists to support breast cancer patients on their journey to wellness by providing short-term financial assistance.

Help support women with breast cancer. Not someday. Today.

Because the rent is due. Groceries must be bought. Hospital parking is expensive. And lost wages during treatment and recovery means less

money for the bills.

So despite millions raised to find a cure, very little priority has been placed on providing much needed financial support for the nearly

26,000 Canadians diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

@CBCSupportFund @cbcsf_ca