The Breasties is the first all-inclusive nonprofit organization that creates community for survivors, previvors, thrivers, and carevivors, impacted by breast and gynecological cancers. This unique organization offers free events, like wellness retreats and informational webinars, trusted resources, such as information about products to use after radiation and ways to support mental wellbeing during treatment, and most importantly a forum that allows individuals from around the world to connect with others going through similar life experiences related to breast and gynecological cancers.

The Shades of Compassion Foundation is honored to support The Breasties by funding travel grants to their annual life-changing Summer Camp, and Sydney Heersink Grants in celebration of the life of Sydney Heersink, to be used to pay for groceries, medical bills, school expenses, etc. These grants are intended to lessen the stress of financial burdens so that individuals can focus on their health and wellbeing.

Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) establishes long-term relationships with medical teaching centers in politically stable, under resourced countries worldwide. One HVO volunteer at a time is embedded into a hospital system, where they provide support, guided by the capacity and needs of a nation’s healthcare system. Our Foundation provides funding for medical conferences where colleagues exchange ideas for improving patient care.

One example is an initiative in Nepal, a country with only 40 Oncologists for 75M people. (In contrast, the USA has 150x as many Oncologists per capita.) We are collaborating with Health Volunteers Overseas and another US-based non-profit to sponsor a 2-day Oncology workshop. The conference will bring primary care physicians and residents from throughout the country to a major Nepalese teaching hospital where they will learn the basics of diagnosing and treating people with cancer

Martha’s Mission Cupboard, Inc. provides up to 1,500 meals per month to disadvantaged families in rural North Carolina. When two of their industrial-strength refrigerator-freezers stopped working during the December 2024 holiday season, our nimble SOCF team quickly mobilized, securing funds for three new units.

The Tibetan Ability Centre’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for Tibetan people with disabilities throughout India in a respectful and dignified way by offering preventive, remedial and rehabilitative interventions. Our Foundation is sponsoring nationwide caregiver training workshops, physiotherapy camps, follow-up support, and mobility assistive devices.