Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group

A nonprofit organization

ALL of the funds raised by the VBCAG stay local to help ease the financial and emotional burdens by those women in our community diagnosed with breast cancer. We provide each woman, regardless of her echelon, with a $500 check, and help pay for tests/treatments.

Testimonials

As a breast cancer survivor and a recipient of the support of The Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group, I want to express my gratitude. This group raises funds each year by having a benefit luncheon with a nationally prominent speaker…often another breast cancer survivor such as past invitees Robin Roberts and Elizabeth Edwards. Hundreds of women attend this function so that the women of Eagle County can receive The Groups financial and educational support as they battle this insidious disease. All of the monies raised stay in Eagle County and, after diagnosis, each and every woman is presented $500.00 to use as she sees fit…to offset medical bills, pay for childcare or even a much needed day of respite at a spa. This can be an extraordinary, unexpected gift for a woman who is battling breast cancer. The Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group deserves to become a beneficiary of funds in order to supply continued, and possibly, additional aid to the women of Eagle County in their fight to survive breast cancer. Please add my name to the list of grateful survivors who have appreciated this Groups generosity!
Greer

Mission

The Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group strives to ease the financial and emotional burdens endured by those women in Eagle County who are battling breast cancer.

Background Statement

Vail Valley residents Brenda Himelfarb and Patti Weinstein founded the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group in 1994; Brenda, to honor a friend who had been diagnosed with the disease and Patti in honor of her mother-in-law who had died from breast cancer. The first Celebration of Life luncheon featured former newscaster and documentary producer, Linda Ellerbee, who one of the board members approached as Linda was entering the MRI machine at the Vail Valley Medical Center because of a knee injury! First Lady, Betty Ford, was also an early supporter and appeared in the fashion show at that first luncheon. As it happened, Brenda was diagnosed with breast cancer two years after she co-founded the group. She had moved to Los Angeles (for her husband's business) and had entered the High Risk Program at the Revlon/UCLA Breast Center after being diagnosed with an atypical cell. At her six-month check-up, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and received a lumpectomy and radiation. While in LA, she chaired (volunteer) a committee of 26 that ran an Expedition Inspiration Take-A-Hike that raised money for both the UCLA and USC Breast Centers. Additionally, she wrote a book, Breast Cancer 101 - a basic introduction, with nurse practitioner, Sherry Goldman, who help Dr. Susan Love open the Revlon/UCLA Breast Center. While Brenda was in Los Angles, Patti was at the helm; upon returning to Vail, ten years later, Brenda took the reins. But really, it's the entire board that runs the group! Over the years, they have worked endlessly to keep the VBCAG a force in the community. As is said, "it takes a village." And although 11 is a very small village, they have a huge impact!

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group

other names

VBCAG

Year Established

1999

Tax id (EIN)

84-1515602

Category

Health Care

Address

PO Box 4043
Avon, CO 81620

Service areas

Eagle County, CO, US

Other

970-479-8595

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