TBBCF 20th Annual Walk for a Cure Program Letter

By Sandy Maniscalco

Dear Supporters,

Today is about all of us. Since 2005 we have raised over $6.8 million for breast cancer research. And today we are celebrating our 20th Annual Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut.

Twenty years ago, our founder Norma Logan had a vision to create a non-profit that would direct 100% of gross fundraising dollars to breast cancer research and, for that non-profit to be financially transparent. By that, Norma meant all administrative costs would either be sponsor-supported or volunteer-provided and all donation dollars would be directed to breast cancer research.

A tall order for sure. One that we have been able to keep all these years. We are beyond grateful to our many sponsors and volunteers who have made this possible. Building the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation was about as grassroots as you can get. While most new non-profits rarely survive the five-year mark, here we are two decades later with a record of granting over $6.8 million to breast cancer research and supporting the careers of over 60 young breast cancer physicians, scientists and researchers. Impressive, don’t you think?

We have become a regional, national and international icon. All thanks to thousands of donors, breast cancer awareness events and promotion hosts, our walk participants, our brave survivors who share their stories, and the past grant recipients who help spread the word. We are the “little non-profit that could”.

It is a privilege and honor to be a co-founder of this great organization. But there are many other people who have also contributed over the past 20 years to the success of TBBCF. The 15-member Board of Directors includes five original members chosen by Norma. The five member Scientific Advisory Board were also recruited by Norma and continue to serve today. With a small staff and 30 year-round volunteers, we have grown with a common goal to follow Norma Logan’s vision and to carry out her mission. We rock!

Cheers to us all,

Sandy Maniscalco

BBCF Co-founder and TBBCF Board Director