First Continuing Education Session of 2012 Convenes February 11^th

Continuing its tradition of personalized information through relevant and reliable breast cancer education, ABCD is pleased to offer its first educational session of 2012.

This session features noted experts and opportunity for discussion:

• Learn more about what’s behind oncology surgical options and decision making with Amanda Kong, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin
• Understand plastic surgery decisions and outcomes with John Hijjawi, MD, Associate Professor of Plastic and General Surgery, also of the Medical College of Wisconsin
• Explore and reflect how serious illness affects our ability to connect as human beings during the presentation, “I’m sick.  Can we talk?” provided by Mary Carson, EdD, Chair of Communication Arts at Cardinal Stritch University.

Registration is now open to all ABCD mentors, as well as anyone who has used ABCD’s support services.

This event will be held at Summit Place, 6737 W Washington Street, First Floor Conference Room, West Allis.  Summit Place offers free parking and is easily accessible by public transportation.  The day begins at 8:45 am and will conclude at 1:15 pm, including luncheon.

To reserve your place or obtain more information, contact Jackie Adams, ABCD Program Manager at jackie@abcdmentor.org or 414.977.1785.

Online Shopping that Supports ABCD’s Work or Gifts that Honor Special People in Your Life?

You’re busy.  We know.  But you want to help.  We’d like to make it easy.  So…

To shop online, get great deals and support ABCD all at the same time visit the more than 600 merchants at Goodshop.com.  Retailers include Amazon, Best Buy, Toys R Us, and others, and a percentage of each purchase will go to ABCD!  Simply Visit www.Goodshop.com and enter ABCD as your designated charity to get started.  Make sure to sign up for special promotion notices for the best savings.

To make a gift that Honors someone special, choose to make a Tribute Gift to ABCD.  Tribute gifts are given in honor or in memory of anyone you select.  Perhaps your mother, sister or a dear friend.  Perhaps someone you know lost a loved one to breast cancer and would be touched to have her memorialized in a way that helps others.  Gifts may be made via mail, over the telephone, or online, using ABCD’s Donate Now.

ABCD will send a personalized gift announcement to whomever you designate, letting the honoree know of your kindness.  Whether your gift is via mail, telephone or online, please be sure to include all contact information when making your gift so that ABCD can send the gift announcement card promptly.  During December, please complete your gift at least three (3) business days prior to desired receipt of gift announcement card (more if being mailed outside of Wisconsin).

If you have any questions, please contact us at 414.977.1780 or 800.977.4121 or abcdinc@abcdmentor.org (please indicate “donation question” in subject line).

And thank you for generous support of ABCD’s personalized support of people affected by breast cancer.

Call ABCD’s Personalized Breast Cancer Helpline

Do you have a question about a term the doctor used, or where can you find reliable sources to learn more about breast cancer and not just read any web site at the top of a search engine list?  Maybe you need help talking to your family about breast cancer.

ABCD can help you through the Breast Cancer Helpline – a personalized approach to answering your questions about living with, through and beyond breast cancer.

ABCD is committed to personalized, one-to-one support for patients, families and friends affected by breast cancer.  Call us if you…

• Need someone to talk to who has experience coping with your kind of breast cancer journey
• Want to know where to get certain specialty items from comfortable wigs to pressure sleeves
• Are looking for a support group for breast cancer patients who are just diagnosed or a support group for those coping with long-term treatment issues or a support group for young women
• Need to learn how to manage financial or insurance issues related to breast cancer
• Think you would like to explore complementary care resources – from yoga to nutrition services to meditation to group exercise programs
• Have any breast cancer-related question at all…

Contact ABCD – our Breast Cancer Helpline staff and specially assigned volunteers are ready to answer your questions, identify and connect you to resources, or help find the answers for you.

Our support is always personal.  Always free.    414.977.1780 or 800.977.4121.

One of ABCD’s fundamental beliefs is that all of our services should be provided at no charge.  Always.

We are fortunate that area businesses and foundations – large and small – as well as individuals from every walk of life agree with us.  They contribute funds and in kind services – often doing all the leg work so ABCD can stay focused on its mission.

Fall is always an especially busy time for fundraising of various kinds.  For example, as a member of Community Health Charities, ABCD benefits from individuals’ generosity through work-place giving campaigns.  During campaign “season,” we have multiple opportunities to present information about our services at workplaces throughout the State.

There are also amazing partnerships between individuals and businesses and foundations.  In this “category” the lead-off batters (pardon the pun) this fall were the Brewers Community Foundation and the Pink Tie Guys efforts hosted by Ellen and Doug Melvin.  The Foundation allocates funds to many charitable causes, including breast cancer.  And, together with its fans, raises additional money through events such as the 50-50 raffle played at Brewers games.  The Melvin’s host an annual fundraiser and personally contribute to breast cancer causes.   In late September, ABCD became a grateful first-time recipient of generous support from Brewers Community Foundation and its partners – the Melvins and the fans!

Shortly afterwards, we kicked off breast cancer awareness month with an all-day radio-a-thon with B93.3 FM in Milwaukee.  This event raised funds and promoted significantly program awareness and the seriousness of the support those affected by breast cancer need.

Of course, the October pace never slowed down.  All month Neroli Salon & Spa/Institute of Beauty & Wellness sponsored special initiatives to raise funds and awareness for ABCD in all its location.  The capstone event was the second annual fashion show and silent auction – all managed and produced by the amazing students at the Institute of Beauty and Wellness.

And, this fall we celebrated the one-year anniversary of a year-round effort – Intercontinental Hotel’s Pink Room.  The Pink Room raises funds for ABCD, while offering a distinctive way to learn about our personalized one-to-one support for patients, families and friends.

And, every time you go to our web site or read an ABCD annual report – that was made possible because of donated talent and time from Thirsty Boy and the team of THIEL Design and Nienhuis Photography, respectively.

Nothing we say can adequately thank the people behind these efforts and so many other activities – from church and synagogue outreach to women’s clubs events, to flower shop and salon support to Mission River Band concerts at Fiddleheads Cafes.  But we say it anyway – THANK YOU!

For more information on all those who support ABCD, as well as important breast cancer support news, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  And, if you cross paths with those who support our work, share our thanks!

Cynthia Hooker is a committed ABCD mentor. Like all of our mentors and those who turn to ABCD for support, she understands the power of one-to-one. She has focused the principle of one person helping another on the issue of coping with financial stress accompanying a cancer diagnosis.

“Cynthia’s Breast Cancer Giving Circle, Inc.” is a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization and it is accepting its first round of applications. The deadline for this round of applications is October 31, 2011.

The giving circle aspires to “supplement financial needs of cancer patients,” says Cynthia. The focus is to help with basic living and medical expenses. Those eligible to apply for help are:

• Uninsured or underinsured women or men who are 18 years or older
• Cancer patients undergoing medical treatment
• Residents of Southeast Wisconsin (Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha Counties)

To ask additional questions or request an application should contact 414.828.8689.

To download an application, visit the giving circle’s web site: www.cbcgc.org.

Most people know that B93.3 is the home of great music – 80s, 90s & More. But for three years running, each October B93.3 has become Radio ABCD for one day. This year, join Jane and CV for a day of:

• ABCD personal breast cancer stories
• Updates on the fight against this terrible disease and great news on survivorship services
• Hour by hour on-air auction to support the personalized support services ABCD offers

Joining Jane and CV will be Julie Davidson, Stan Atkinson, and others, including ABCD mentors, volunteers, supporters and staff – all of whom have been personally touched by breast cancer. Behind the scenes, B93.3’s amazing “back stage team” keeps all the parts moving for this 13 hour marathon.

This third annual radio-a-thon is an example of true partnership. It is the kind of partnership that allows ABCD to focus on the services it provides and the needs of its participants and mentors – who are all survivors and co-survivors of breast cancer.

B93.3 contributes so much: its expertise and valuable air time, its staff to run the auction (from securing donations to all the paperwork), and the expansive personal time and true commitment of on-air talent. Why? Because B93.3 understands the power of communication, the power of sharing our stories and the power of community spirit.

One day, one radio studio equals immeasurable impact. Just like ABCD mentoring – it’s the power of one-to-one support for those affected by breast cancer, patients, families and friends.

ABCD is an active member of Community Health Charities of Wisconsin.  We are also proud of Community Health Charities of Wisconsin’s collaboration with two of Wisconsin’s United Way campaigns.   These collaborations are prime examples of charitable organizations working together to efficiently raise funds for the many causes that make our communities better places to live.

We hope you will choose to support ABCD’s mission through your workplace giving campaign by designating our mission as the focus of your generosity.

Why is workplace giving through Community Health Charities of Wisconsin important to ABCD?

We are committed to assuring that our distinct one-to-one mentoring services are of the highest quality and that they are available without cost at all times.  Our services are free because of the generous support of donors – lots of them – and our services are of the highest quality, in part, because we focus on fundraising efficiently.

How do we keep our fundraising efficient?  First, we let our mission do the “talking.”  Second, we steward the monies given to us very carefully.  Third and significantly, we belong to Community Health Charities of Wisconsin.

Through CHCWI’s independent federated workplace giving campaigns and its collaborative presence in the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Dane County campaigns, the importance of ABCD’s mission-focused message is conveyed to thousands of people throughout Wisconsin.  We simply could not reach that many people without the help of CHCWI and United Way.

ABCD sends it thanks to CHCWI and to the United Way campaigns of Greater Milwaukee and Dane County.  Because these organizations focus on donors – helping them to help others – ABCD’s one-to-one breast cancer mentoring receives vital support from Kenosha to Eau Claire and many places in between.

Wherever you live in Wisconsin, you can support ABCD through workplace giving if CHC is there!  To learn how to indicate ABCD should receive your workplace giving support, consult your campaign representative.  Or, contact ABCD and we will determine the right contact person together.

After all, everything we do is based on the power of one-to-one!

If you have compassionate listening skills that cause people turn to them for support…

If you believe that speaking with someone who has already experienced breast cancer – as a patient or as a patient’s loved one can help relieve stress or be a source of vital information…

Then, please consider joining us for our New Mentor Training programs.

October 22^nd and 29^th at the DeKoven Center, Racine
November 5^th and November 12^th at ABCD’s Summit Place, West Allis

Each two-day format begins in the morning through early afternoon and includes free breakfast and lunch.  Full attendance is encouraged, although some make-up classes are possible.

ABCD New Mentor Training, open to all breast cancer survivors and co-survivors, provides new mentors with the knowledge and skills needed to offer support to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, and their families and friends, in one-to-one customized mentoring matches.

Sessions include:
• Updates from a breast cancer physician on what’s new in breast cancer treatment.
• Information on how to recognize depression and other common issues confronting those affected by  breast cancer – and how to encourage them to seek help.
• Guidance on the legal and ethical issues involved with being an ABCD mentor.
• Opportunities to learn and practice effective communications skills.
• Tips and guidance based on real experience from established ABCD mentors.
• Tools on how to take care of yourself during the mentor process.

Anyone who has experienced breast cancer as patient, family or friend is welcome to train as an ABCD mentor. Previous contact with ABCD is not necessary.

Please note: generally, being one year from diagnosis is advisable before training as a mentor. However, if you are not yet one year from diagnosis and are interested in being part of ABCD, we encourage you to call us to discuss the situation in more detail. Our next new mentor training sessions will be in 2012.

Advance registration is required.

For more information about becoming a mentor, or to register for a training program, please contact us by telephone or email:  (414) 918-9222 • (800) 977-4121 • abcdinc@abcdmentor.org

ABCD is delighted to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure Southeastern Wisconsin and all it does for our communities.  We hope you will join thousands of area women, men in children on September 25^th at Milwaukee’s lake front for this annual walk to end breast cancer.  If you’d like to walk with us, remember on-site registration is an option.  Just contact ABCD’s office at 414.977.1780 and we will confirm our pre-race meeting location.

The local Komen Affiliate is a generous supporter of mammography and other services for those impacted by breast cancer right here in our backyard.  It is also part of a national organization legendary for its commitment to breast cancer research.

In addition, the team at Komen and its legions of volunteers are collaborators with ABCD and the family of nonprofit organizations throughout Wisconsin that serve the patients, families and friends impacted by breast cancer.  ABCD, the American Cancer Society, Pink Shawl Initiative, Sisters Network – Milwaukee, Young Survival Coalition, and the Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition represent  a short list of the organizations that coordinate their work and outreach with our local Komen Affiliate.  We are all one team fighting the scourge that is breast cancer.

So put on those walking shoes and plenty of sun screen and join ABCD Team or a team of your choice and come on down to the Lake Michigan shore in downtown Milwaukee.  Together, we can make a real difference.

ABCD is delighted to announce two internship opportunities; one in our Mission Services Department and the other in the Program Department.   Both internships offer opportunity for college credit (academic or community service), provide flexible time-commitments, and will help hone professional skills.

The Mission Services Intern will report to the Mission Services Director.  Duties will focus on mission communications on ABCD’s web site, scheduling and related support for outreach activities, and potential blogging.  Those with interest in the fields of public relations and/or communications may be particularly interested in this opportunity.

The Program Intern will report to the Program Director.  Duties will include research on and organization of up to date and ever-changing information on breast cancer support resource services, as well as related support for ABCD’s signature one-to-one mentoring program activities.  Those with interest in health information and/or library science may be particularly interested in this opportunity.

ABCD is conveniently located in West Allis, Wisconsin with easy access to public transportation and freeways.  Free parking is available.

Please review the position descriptions for Mission Services Intern and Program Intern, directing any inquiries as noted in the position descriptions.