2013 Hope Chest Foundation Annual Report

2013 ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Letter from our Founder .................................................................................................4-5
About Hope Chest for Breast Cancer ........................................................................6-7
About our Stores ................................................................................................................8-9
A Survivor's Story .........................................................................................................10-11
Volunteer Spotlight .....................................................................................................12-13
Social Worker Spotlight .............................................................................................14-15
Donors ..............................................................................................................................16-17
Our Partners ..................................................................................................................18-19
Our Board of Directors ..............................................................................................20-21
Fillies Race for Hope ...................................................................................................22-23
Patterson Dental, Third Party Events, & Galleria ............................................24-25
Financial Summary .............................................................................................................26
DEAR
FRIENDS,
2013 was a busy and productive year at Hope Chest for Breast Cancer. More people donated their time, treasure
and talent to support our good work. And good work it is.
Through your generosity, we provided the quickest access to help with breast cancer patients' most urgent needs.
Through our program partners, $389,857 went to 596 local breast cancer patients, averaging $654 per family.
Together, we kept them in their homes: warm, with the lights on, food on the table, transportation to treatment and
childcare during treatment.
We increased our Hope Chest Match Challenge, encouraging our program partners to raise money for the Hope
Chest Emergency Assistance Program & Hope Chest Meals that Heal. Their efforts raised $242,836 for our
programs. A portion of this money was used in 2013; the remainder will be used in 2014.
Our relationship with corporations continues to be strong. This past year, we increased awareness of Hope
Chest through our Fourth Annual UnitedHealth Group (UGH) Fashion Show. Three individual events, hosted by
UHG employees at the Hope Chest stores, followed. And multiple UHG employee groups volunteered with us.
Our stores continue to be a steady stream of income to help carry out our mission. Through a new partnership
with a local liquidation business, our stores have a new, ongoing source for surplus furniture and decorative
accessories. In addition, we received donations of furniture, decorative accessories and upscale women's clothing
from over 4,000 individuals and businesses in 2013. Our customers are as plentiful and enthusiastic as ever,
converting these donations into program funding. We have eliminated liquidation expenses and increased
program funding using merchandize that doesn't sell in our stores. We found an organization who pays us for
our surplus clothing and distributes it to people in need, giving new meaning to our “collaborate, don't recreate”
strategy.
You have made all of this possible. Without your support and kindness, without your willingness to reach out to
breast cancer patients, we could not have reached those 596 people who needed just a little more to make a big
difference in their lives and the lives of their children. You may already have noticed our new look. Our new logo
says it all: connecting neighbors and needs in the fight against breast cancer. Thank you for your generosity.
Barbara Hensley
Founder & CEO
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation
4
5
ABOUT
HOPE CHEST
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer helps under-served or financially distressed
individuals and their families touched by breast cancer. Our mission is to
provide the quickest access to help with the most urgent needs. Access is easy;
support is immediate.
6
Hope Chest provides for emergency needs – mortgage or rent payments,
phone and utility bills, transportation, food, etc. -- on the spot so patients
can worry less about day-to-day needs and focus on healing. Hospital and
clinic care teams determine need based on intake data – these knowledgeable
care providers decide which patients need help and have the funds for
immediate support. It's common for a patient to express a need such as a
mortgage payment that is overdue and the care team has a check in the
mail to the mortgage company the same afternoon.
7
ABOUT
OUR STORES
Fun Fact
We currently have 2 store locations:
3850 Shoreline Drive South
Wayzata, MN 55391
Normandale Villiage
5121 W. 98th Street
Bloomington, MN 55437
8
Through the resale of upscale furniture, home accessories and women's
designer clothing in our retail stores, we raise money and give back to the
community and those underserved women in it who have been touched by
breast cancer. The stores provide a built-in revenue stream that helps to
create an ongoing, sustainable funding source for Hope Chest's Emergency
Assistance Programs.
Our retail stores' mantra is: “Excellent quality, excellent experience, excellent
buys… all for an excellent cause.” A bi-product of supporting local breast cancer
patients with these locally raised funds is creating communities of shoppers,
volunteers, donors, supporters, doctors, nurses who support Hope Chest.
Our resale shops have an amazing collection of treasures. Discover a
fashionable, eclectic, upscale mix of new and next to new designer women's
apparel and accessories, furniture and home decor. Donations come from
individuals, retailers, showrooms and designers.
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HOPE HELPS AID RECOVERY
A SURVIVOR STORY
Michelle Gray is many things. She's an occupational therapist, a mother, a wife, an active church member, a
volunteer and a breast cancer survivor. Today, she is thankful to be going back to work full time, doing what she
loves: helping other people lead full, satisfying lives.
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer came into Michelle's life when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at Waconia's
Ridgeview Medical Center. But it was the financial counselor at Minnesota Oncology who first talked with her
about Hope Chest.
“It was so easy to fill out the paperwork,” explained Michelle. “I was out of work for five months and Hope Chest
helped with our mortgage payments. That support helped alleviate some financial concerns. All the decisions and
the fear are overwhelming initially. Having someone walk me through the process and give me money at that point
took some worry off my shoulders. It gave me hope.”
Michelle faced physical, emotional and financial strains following her diagnosis – not just for herself, but for her
husband and two teenaged children as well. “The stress was huge. But keeping my kids safe and reassuring them
was paramount. I wanted them to know we had a good medical team, an extended family and friends who
supported us and a good prayer warrior team through our church. And we had financial support from strangers –
Hope Chest was going to help us remain whole as a family and help us stay in our home.”
For Michelle and her family, these support teams were critical. Often it was the seemingly small, unexpected
things that made a difference. For instance, a gift of muffins meant her children had breakfast at a time when she
couldn't cook for them. The support meant she worried less and focused on the things that were most important:
her family and her recovery.
As Michelle returns to work and a life she has more control over, she plans to give back to Hope Chest – by raising
awareness of the people who made a big difference in her life and also by volunteering at Hope Chest fundraisers.
She and her daughter worked at the 2014 Galleria Fashion Show and she plans to walk in the Fillies Race for
Hope 2014.
“It's comforting to know people and services are available in our community to help people like me through
difficult times. I want to share my story with others. Hope Chest is an awesome organization. I thank them from
the bottom of my heart.
“They do so much good and help so many people and, while they ask for nothing in return, they have my heartfelt
gratitude.”
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LITTLE THINGS
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
For Deb Gjoraas, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer is important – its friendly and compassionate staff and volunteers
have been part of her life for nearly 10 years. Twice a month, she volunteers at the Hope Chest's Orono upscale
resale store.
“After seeing an article in the local paper about Barbara Hensley and her work, I wanted to see what the store had
to offer. At the time, I had three friends with breast cancer and doing something to benefit breast cancer patients
was important to me. I went to the store and fell in love with it.”
As a music therapist in the Wayzata schools, Deb knows the importance of little things making a big difference.
Before she retired last year, her career centered on bringing music into the lives of special needs children. She sees
her volunteering as providing those little things for others.
Deb tells of doing many different jobs with the ever-changing merchandise the store offers. “Even the shoppers seem
inspired to make purchases that benefit breast cancer patients. They know the money earned from the retail stores
immediately helps people going through a difficult time. Being there just makes me feel good.”
This past fall, things came full circle for Deb when her husband was diagnosed with breast cancer at North
Memorial's Hope Chest Breast Center.
“We'd just returned from vacation when my husband found a lump. He went immediately to North Memorial and
they walked him over to their Hope Chest Breast Center where he was diagnosed within 24 hours and in
treatment shortly after that. Fortunately, he is doing well. While we didn't need Hope Chest for Breast Cancer
Foundation's services, we're glad they exist for those who do need them.”
Accessing these services is fast and easy; the support begins within days, often within hours. Deb believes this makeit-easy philosophy transcends the entire organization. It's easy to buy goods at the stores – and the proceeds go to a
good cause. It's easy to volunteer – there's always a job waiting when volunteers arrive. It's easy to donate
merchandise – the intake process is straightforward and simple whether you're a retail merchant or an individual.
Best of all for Deb, she sees immediate feedback from her volunteering. “When I drive there, I'm always smiling.
I know that what I'm doing leads to immediate help for breast cancer patients. What could be better than that?”
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IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE IS MAGIC
“Having access to emergency assistance funds through the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer is like having a magic
wand,” says Aaron Graeser, MSW, LICSW formerly of Piper Breast Center. Although Aaron recently transferred to
Children's Hospitals and Clinics, his appreciation for Hope Chest and its programs remains strong. In this role at Piper,
Aaron saw patients struggling with cancer and, often, with financial issues. As a clinical social worker, Aaron provided
outpatient social services for patients being treated at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute and Piper Breast Center at
Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
“Helping people on the spot can be the best medicine,” believes Aaron. “Seeing the relief in a patient's eyes and the
huge smile on a patient's face is miraculous."
“Usually social workers provide information, support, referrals – and I do that as well – but no other program I
know of makes it so easy for patients to get concrete emergency help immediately. Hope Chest gives a whole new
dimension to my job as a social worker."
In his four years working with breast cancer patients, he has seen big changes – and Hope Chest is one of the
reasons. Two years ago, Aaron worked closely with the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation to request
Hope Chest support. At the Piper Breast Center, Hope Chest Emergency Assistance Program provides gift cards
for basic needs: transportation cards put fuel in the car so the patient can come to life-saving treatments; food
cards put meals on the table for the patient and his or her family; medical equipment cards bring needed compression
garments and other equipment; and basic living needs cards secure such things as clothing, personal care and hygiene
items. When the care team identifies a financial crisis in a patient's family, they recommend Hope Chest's assistance
and Aaron works directly with the patients.
Aaron sees many patients repeatedly who share their gratitude for Hope Chest's support. His patients tell him the
gift is life changing – a life saver on the stormy seas of illness and fear. These gifts are especially important to those
patients who are well into their treatment.
“The cost of cancer care can be devastating,” according to Aaron. “At Allina Health we have a standard screening
for all our patients. We don't need to do any additional paperwork or screening when we provide Hope Chest
assistance to our patients.
“Patients often tell us the support of family and friends dwindles over time which makes these unexpected and
undemanding gifts that much more significant,” Aaron believes. “Patients are shocked when I hand them their gift
cards. Generally they have no idea such a wonderful program exists.
Fun Fact
“Hope Chest makes this assistance so easy and so immediate. It brings relief on the spot. I hope to continue waving
this magic wand for our patients.”
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer resale shops
are open 7 days a week!
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HOPE CHEST
DONORS
Hope Chest Founder's Society $25,000+
LeeRyan LLC of Orono
LeeRyan LLC of St. Paul
Leadership Society $10,000 - $24,999
Canterbury Park Holding Corporation
MHC Companies
Minnesota Community Foundation
North Memorial Community Foundation
Park Nicollet Frauenshuh Cancer Center
Patterson Dental
Circle of Hope:
Star of Hope $5,000 - $9,999
Anonymous
Thomas Bonnett
Pat Cleveland
Fairview Health Services
Michael J. & Karen Frey Foundation
Pat & Tom Grossman Family Fund MN Community Foundation
HealthPartners
Liberty Diversified International
Minneapolis Radiology Associates
Minneapolis Women's Rotary
Minnesota Lynx Foundation
Miracle Logistics
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Circle of Hope: Beam of Hope $2,500 - $4,999
Apple Valley Ford Lincoln
Citizens Independent Bank Community Foundation
DRK, Inc.
Mike & Linda Fiterman Family Foundation
John & Jennifer Groves
Jim & Judith Shoulak
Circle of Hope:
Ray of Hope $1,000 - $2,499
16
American Legion Post 259
Amplifon USA, Inc.
Ann Hart
Apple Ford Shakopee
Richard Berscheit
Bureau of Engraving
Perry Camodeca
Cenco, Inc.
City Auto Glass
Paula DeLong
Egan Company
Niki & Jim Flavin
Funky Chunky, Inc.
Deb & Gerald Gjoraas
Brian & Janel Goff
Jeremy Neilson
Good Charity, Inc.
Ray of Hope $1,000 - $2,499
continued...
Supporter $100 - $499
continued...
Kathy Halvorson
Kristin Kodada Hanson
Virginia & Tom Harn
Gretchen Jansen
Kathleen Killian
Tim Kraemer
New Reflections
Optimum Health Chiropractic & Wellness
Premier Banks
Don & Jean Regan
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi
Dina Simon
Marie Tentua
The Yokefellow Foundation
United Charitable Programs
Watertown-Mayer High School
Cheryl & Curtis Burns
Ann Marie Butler
Nancy Cain Sommers
Katherine R Carman
Pam Cherba
Eric & Nancy Chalmers
Jamie Chismar Seebacher
Community Health Charities Minnesota
Julie Davison
Stacy Dean
DeMars-Kaiser Charitable Fund
of The Saint Paul Foundation
Marliee Des Lauriers & John Militello
Suellen Douglas
Cynthia Dube
Randy Eade
Elliot Associates, Inc.
Jeff & Patrice Erickson
Sandy Erickson
Elizabeth Faust
FeldMann Imports
Annette Fellows
Janet Foila
Shari Fisher
Timothy & Mary Flaherty
Marcia S. Forsberg
Mary Frederick
Galleria Shopping Center
Madeline Gartner
Georgia Society of Hearing Professionals, Inc.
Sarah Gregor
Greystone Construction Company
Kathleen Hadley
Julie & Ronald Hafner
Stephanie Hanson
Vernae Hasbargen
Susan Hedtke
Kellie Helgerson
James & Katherine Hengel
Laura Holasek
Friends of Hope $500 - $999
Rick & Danna Atherton
Patricia Bolander
Canterbury Park Minnesota Fund
Clarence Clofer Auxilary Unit 259
Teresa Daly
Barb & John Dusek
Gina Gottschalk
Mindy Hargrove
Stephanie & Gregg Larsen
Jay & Kerry Larson
Sara Malek
Judy Moore
Stacie Oberts
Diane O'Brien
Palen Family Foundation
Treva Paparella
Gene Phelps
Quality Resource Group
Heather Ramsdell
Brian & Emily Rice
Rush City Sno-Bugs
Robert Grant
Lori & Todd Sevoila
SHFL Entertainment
Marcia & Donald Trevarthen
Julia & John Yarwood
Supporter $100 - $499
Desiree Abele
Lynne Alexander
Mary & Pat Alexander
Rachel & Richard Alpaugh
Apple Chevrolet Buick Northfield
Patricia Armstrong
b d h + young Interiors
Susan Babcock
Becky & James Bakken
Maggie Barnett
Daniel Bissonnette
Kathy Blair
Bluedoor, LLC
Lezlie Bork
Susan & John Breon
Mary Beth Brody
Richard & Kim Brown
Annie Bullert
Margaret Holbrook
Karen Holdgrafer-Berry
Jerome Hughes
David Hunter
Pearl Jackson
Phyllis Jaeger
James & Alda Jensen
Rita Johnson-Mills
Corey & Tonia Jorgenson
Bruce Kahn
Janice Kastelic
Linda Kiernan
Kingsbury & Associates, LDT
Janice Kleven
Frank & Anna Kniebel
Michelle Koch
Lynn Koenig
Christopher & Dawn Kos
Garrett & Denise Kramer
Mary F. LaFave
Eva Lane
Craig & Ann Larsen
Phyllis Latour
Mary Lethert
Harriet Ludwick
Amber Lund
Gail Masterson
Kathleen & Michael McClure
Shannon McDonough
Meghan R. McKeon
Deborah & Brad Minkel
Minnesota Diagnostic Imaging
Partners, LLC
MMH Services, Inc.
Lois Moheban
Monique of Switzerland Jewelers
Shawn Moore
Kathleen Mucha
Jamie Mulder
Mary Murrow
Julie Nalepka
Anne Newell
Elizabeth Pavlica
Bill & Mary Ellis Peterson Family
Fund
Connie Polk
June Politis
Dennis Pottebaum
Mary Powel
Amy & Ken Pucel
Jan Putnam
Donna Ramsay
Scott & Denise Ramsdale
Mary Kay & Patrick Regan
Sharon Rhodes Dekko
Peter Robelia
Barbara & Robert Ross
Jeff & Debbie Scherer
Susan Schirber
Schult Homes
Nancy Schultz
Joanne Sigstad
Jodie M. Skolnick
Ben & Jeanne Smith
Gail Smith
Ann & Donald Smithmier
Rachel Soderfelt
Stacy Stambaugh
Jana Stawalt
Allison Stavrakis
Teresa Stewart
Sharon Stinson
Laura M. Stone
Sally & John Story
Dan & Christina Sullivan
Fred Sulzbach
Barbara Sundt
Cunthyia Terhaar
Becky Thorson
Aaron & Jessica Timmerman
Rick & Kim Timmers
Margaret & Ian Troup
Juan & Hope Villanueva
Tina M. Verburgt
Craig Weber
Ryan Weber
Patty Wendling
Diane Wentz
Wild Birds Unlimited
Scott & Jill Wine
Katie Winsel
Bethany Wiseman
Kathryn Winslow
Laurel Winsor
Renata Winsor
Charlie Young
Elizabeth Young
Kim Young
Mary Jo Young
Dan & Peggy Zdon
Yuqian Zhang & Xiang Cheng
In-Kind Sponsors
Advanced Dermatology
Apple Auto Group
Julie Baugnet
Beyond Beauty Aesthetic Clinic
Janel Bush
Kate Campion
Canterbury Park Minnesota
Fund
Molly Cronk
Dale Studios
Dance Esteem
Excel Family Chiropractic
Favre 4 Hope Foundation
Gabberts
Laurie Hacking
Jennifer King
KSTP/Hubbard Broadcasting
Stephanie Laitala-Rupp
Lexus of Wayzata
Liberty Diversified International
Minneapolis Radiology
Associates
Minnesota Lynx
Penny Mitchell
Monique of Switzerland Jewelers
Toni Monsivais
New Reflections
Optimum Health Chiropractic
& Wellness
OWL Bookkeeping & CFO Services
Park Tavern
Greg Peterson
ProSkin Esthetics & Laser
Saint Paul City Ballet
Kimberly Shelquist
St. Paul Athletic Club
Dawn Stebbing
Steele Training, Equipment
& Apparel
The Container Store
Jackie Urmann
Wallace Carlson Printing
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OUR
PARTNERS
Fun Fact
Hope Chest for Breast Cancer
was founded in 2001.
18
Our partners provide easy access for Hope Chest's unconditional giving to people
with breast cancer who need just that little extra support. We encourage matching
funds opportunities with each partner to stretch our support to those in need. We
also encourage our partners to seek additional funds for the Hope Chest Emergency
Assistance and the Hope Chest Meals that Heal programs at their locations.
Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation
Piper Breast Center
Virginia Piper Cancer Institute
Hennepin County Medical Center Foundation
North Memorial Medical Center Foundation
Hope Chest Breast Center of North Memorial
Open Arms Of Minnesota
Park Nicollet Foundation
Frauenshuh Cancer Center
Regions Hospital Foundation
Ridgeview Medical Center Foundation
University of Minnesota Foundation
University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center
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OUR BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Danna Atherton - Atherton Retail Consulting
Beth Brody - Special Counsel, Faegre Baker Daniels, LLP
Virginia Harn - Pricipal, CliftonLarsonAllen
Barbara Hensley - CEO/Founder, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer
Rita Johnson-Mills - President & CEO, United Healthcare Community Plans of TN & FL
Stephanie Laitala-Rupp - President, OWL Bookkeeping & CFO Services
Stacie Oberts - Partner, Intellectual Property - Robins, Kaplan, & Ciresi, LLP
Dan Zdon - President COO, Liberty Diversified International, Director
Dr. Barbara Bowers - Expert Advisor, Breast Cancer Oncology, Minnesota Oncology
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FILLIES
RACE FOR HOPE
On Saturday, August 17, 2013, Our 3rd Annual Fillies Race for Hope took place at Canterbury Park. The event featured
a raffle, silent auction, VIP Pink Buffet, survivor parade, derby hat contest, pony rides, kid's activities and, of course, horse
racing. Canterbury Park goes pink for the entire day with staff, volunteers, and patrons dressing in pink. Fillies Race for
Hope is about honoring those touched by breast cancer.
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PATTERSON
DENTAL
Patterson Dental helps fight breast cancer across the country through its "Grins for a Good Cause" initiative. In
this outreach, Patterson branch offices partner with breast cancer organizations to host inspiring activities and
events that help raise awareness of the disease in their local communities.
THIRD PARTY
EVENTS
GALLERIA
BRUNCH & FASHION SHOW
Our 11th Annual Galleria Brunch & Fashion Show took place on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at the Big Bowl Courtyard
in Galleria. This event is becoming a tradition for our guests who keep attending year after year. Whether it's the
delicious food from Good Earth, an amazing silent auction of items sold at Galleria, or the upbeat fashion show
featuring breast cancer survivors, we are honored this event keeps coming back!
Getting involved and making a difference is easier than you think. Here are a few ways Hope Chest supporters
raise money for us: Garage sales, car washes, school events (get your child's sport team involved by raising money
at one of their games), bake sale, blue jean day at work, chili cook-off, host a bike ride or golf tournament and
many more ways. Be creative, have fun, and help support a good cause.
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FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
SOURCES OF SUPPORT
In-kind
Grants
Special Events
Hope Chest Retail Stores
Individuals/organizations
$28,653
$15,000
$138,157
$121,224
$66,496
USE OF SUPPORT
Fundraising
Management/General
Program
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$48,673
$13,963
$917,046
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© Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation
3850 Shoreline Dr S. | Wayzata, MN 55391 | 952.471.8700 | www.HopeChest.com