History of Embracing U Non-Profit Breast Cancer Organization

Embracing U Organization was founded as a 501c3 non-profit organization on September 28, 2010, by three breast cancer survivors: Odessah W. Mackey, Sonya W. Simmons, and Cynthia Smalls-Middleton all from James Island SC. The three had been meeting frequently to discuss their personal experience with breast cancer and their passion and mission to do something for breast cancer survivors in the community. Out of those discussions Embracing U was formed.

 The Organization’s mission is to: Embrace, Educate and Empower individuals to live a healthy life before, during and after breast cancer.

 Embracing U has continued over the years to be a resource of support financially, emotionally, and spiritually for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer as well as uninsured and under insured individuals in the community needing assistance with paying for mammograms. 

 Our outreach has spanned throughout the Tri-County area of Charleston, Berkely and Dorchester counties.  We have also had the opportunity to assist and partner with other organizations in the communities of Cross, St. Stephens, Walterboro, Georgetown/Awendaw/McClellanville to provide outreach and assistance. We consider ourselves a grassroot organization, as we build lasting relationships with survivors, their families and persons in the communities that we serve.   

 We have been able to build local partnerships over the years with:

• MUSC Foundation – Hollings Cancer Center
• Roper St. Francis Breast Cancer Nurse Navigators
• ALALA, Inc.

 Lastly, this Organization with the support of donors and sponsors has been able to assist with financial funding to support Survivors and those in the Community.  Our two signature programs for funding are:

1. Breast Cancer Breast Health Assistance Program – funding for this program is to assist Breast Cancer Survivors; individuals in the community that are uninsured or under insured to secure financial assistance to pay for mammograms, other procedures, services, or breast prosthetic devices.
   1. Referrals for this program are received from Vendors, Hospital Nurse Navigators, Self-Referrals, Patient Advocate Foundation (patientadvocate.org),  Sister Network, Inc. (www.sistersnetworkinc.org), Family members, Embracing U Founders or Board members.
   2. In 2023 we solidified our partnership with ALALA, Inc. to support breast cancer patients that needed compressions sleeves and gloves for lymphedema and prosthetic bras.
   3. The funds are also used to support breast cancer patients at Hollings Cancer Center with parking fees. This partnership has been one that has been in place from 2022 to the present.  
   4. Embracing U coordinates payment of these funds directly to the provider/vendor for the services, procedure, or equipment.

2. Embracing U Giving Award – funding for this program is to support the personal needs of individuals diagnosed with Breast Cancer. So often we find that the individuals undergoing treatment experience financial hardships because of the effects of the treatment on their body.   Often it results in decreased work hours; in more extreme cases individuals have had to cease working.   Imagine a person who has been financially independent for years for themselves and their family now faced with inability to pay household expenses or additional expenses incurred due to traveling back and forth to treatment. 

1. 1. Referrals for this program are received from Vendors, Hospital Nurse Navigators, Self-Referrals, Patient Advocate Foundation (patientadvocate.org), Sister Network, Inc. (www.sistersnetworkinc.org), Family members, Embracing U Founders or Board members.
   2. Funds are paid directly to the Breast Cancer Survivor
   3. Our current goal is to provide a minimum of $350.00 per recipient, but our strategic goal for the future is to have funding in the amount of $500.00 for each recipient.

 We could not have accomplished all that we have without the support of those who have believed in our mission. For that the Organization is thankful and looks forward to continuing to expand on our mission and build strong partnerships.