F*ck Cancer Founders On Turning The F Word into a Rallying Call

Giving all of the F*cks.

Pink products to raise awareness and walks to raise money, but when it comes to a cancer diagnosis there is one word on everyone’s mind: fuck. 

When Yael Cohen Braun’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 it was certainly a word that crossed her mind. So she made a shirt for her mom to wear in recovery. That shirt read: Fuck Cancer. That slogan became a non-profit by the same name, one that addressed the perils of the disease with wit and humor and that rallied people around sentiments felt by everyone when facing down the Big C. It’s a message of empowerment with a built-in rallying call. A big FU to the big C, if you will. Even Yael’s title at the non-profit, “Chief Cancer Fucker,” reminds people to not get beatdown by the disease and that there is a community of support. 

Julie Greenbaum, co-founder and CRO, got involved in 2010 after her mother passed away from ovarian cancer. Honoring her mother’s legacy is what motivates and fuels her day-to-day. 

“My mother was one of my greatest mentors, her positive attitude was always something I admired, something she instilled in her children,” Julie shares. 

Yael was working in finance when her mom was diagnosed. She looked around for support, unable to find an organization willing to engage and do what Yael thought needed to be done: namely, activating youth’s participation in the fight, which including encouraging them to talk to their parents about early detection screenings and prevention efforts. Everything she found was pink and pretty— something that cancer is not. Engaging a digitally savvy crowd was also an important part of spreading the prevention message. 

The women came together after realizing, “that by joining forces we would be able to make a greater impact in the Cancer space. Our desire was to create and stronger more impactful charity. We bonded over this overarching goal.”

Now some people don’t love the word fuck. That’s a given. But the co-founders aren’t concerned. They aren’t trying to be doctors or politically correct. First and foremost they are daughters, bonded by an experienced shared by so many. “I'm learning how important it is to grant yourself the freedom to live your life authentically,” says Julie who dropped out of college to focus on running the charity full time. “To really get to know yourself by exposing yourself to as many opportunities as you can. It has taken time and maturity to develop this comfort.” 

In between running Fuck Cancer, and being new mom to Jagger, Yael also runs motherlucker.com, a honest breakdown of the realities of motherhood. The day-to-day can feel overwhelming; “we’re a smaller team and oftentimes we’re forced to juggle many different responsibilities,” Julie shares. But says, “Life doesn't owe you anything. You owe it to yourself to make your life the best that it can be.”

The includes remaining “constantly inspired by our team and the amazing people I continue to meet. I continue to feel a strong sense of determination and confidence in knowing that our charity is making and difference and playing an important role.”

Philanthropy: Alliance of Moms

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Creating an army of moms. 

“The Alliance of Moms' mission is to break the intergenerational cycle of babes born to teens in foster care and in my family my brother and I are the breaking of that cycle,” shares Jules Leyser, co-president of the non-profit. Her own mother grew up in residential foster care in the UK and was long-term fostered by the woman Jules knew as grandma. 

“My mum experienced an incredible amount of abuse and trauma throughout her childhood,” the activist explains. She had her first child, Jules’ brother at 17 and gave birth to Jules two years later. “In many ways she got lucky,” she says,“because my dad was a teacher and showed her a whole different world with opportunities she otherwise wouldn't have known.”

Jules, now 44, hasn’t strayed too far from her beginnings. She broke the cycle of teen pregnancy, giving birth to her first child at 39. And as co-president of The Alliance of Moms, an organization founded with Yasmine Delawari Johnson, who began working with kids in the foster care system when pregnant with her now 7 year old, her day-to-day is spent helping young moms and kids in foster care. 

Almost seven years ago, while pregnant with her son, Yasmine started volunteering at the Alliance for Children’s Rights. Later, when pregnant with her daughter, Malala, she joined their Board. Looking to do more, the “dear friends,” hosted a fundraiser in Yasmine’s backyard to support pregnant and parenting teens in foster care. But they knew they could be more hands-on. From those backyard conversations and volunteered hours, The Alliance of Moms was born. It is a membership-based auxiliary of the Alliance for Children’s Rights. 

Two years ago they were a group of five moms. Today, they have 500 members and are growing. 

Yasmine admits that the last two years have been some of her most fulfilling, but equally difficult. Coming from a place of integrity and intention has helped the co-presidents through. But that meant they really had to hone in on their mission. Around the 6 month mark they took a few days to nail it down. “As a start-up nonprofit,” says Jules, “we simply couldn't do everything and we were getting generous offers for things like doing hair for our girls and makeovers, but we knew that wasn’t what were were giving up time away from our own families to do.” Education with a focus on early brain development became an integral piece of the Alliance. With 80% of the brain developed by age 3, Yasmine and Jules knew that “if our girls' babies could start pre-school on track with other kids then they had a better chance of doing well and not falling behind and therefore they would hopefully avoid becoming teen parents themselves.” 

The full time volunteers recognize the challenges. “It is easy,” says Yasmine, “to be completely caught in the wheel of day-to-day demands of the business part of our organization and feel like you don't have time to pause. But like anything in life, you must make that time. It is in that space that you can grow with authenticity, grace and clarity.”

It’s with the aforementioned grace that Yasmine and Jules are dedicated to the commonalities, not differences, amongst mothers. “Luck and geography can make our lives seem very different, and in some ways our lives may be very different, but we all want our kids to feel safe. We want them to be healthy and educated. We want them to have opportunities and know their value. Many of our young mothers in foster care have come from such traumatic histories that they may have never experienced any of these things themselves, but if you ask them what they want for their kids, their answers are the same,” says Yasmine. 

“Luck and geography can make our lives seem very different, but we all want our kids to feel safe."

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“We aren't social workers or any authority figure who has power over them and their babies. We are just moms who know how challenging parenting can be even in the best of circumstances,” says Jules.“They've been let down and often abandoned many times in their lives so it’s important that our community of moms consistently wraps our arms around them.”

At the time we talk, the pair is in “deep strategic planning” about what comes next. They want to deepen their relationships with teen moms, well aware that in order to have the kind of impact they want they have to focus beyond how many girls they can reach, but “how often we can reach the same girls.” They also want to expand outside of Los Angeles within the next five years. 

As full time volunteers, the realities of dedicating their day-to-day to a cause can be exhausting. And to do so with "grace," Yasmine shares is probably the hardest, but most important part. But the mom of two  insists that you do the work, especially when you don’t feel like doing it. “In my mind, I am still the high school student cramming for the test, and yet nothing in my life today actually reflects that. It's funny how we hold onto these ideas about ourselves. I rarely feel like doing the hard work, but I just sit down and do it.” 

Adding, “I am in a very fortunate position where I do not need to work to help support our family. I work because it is important for me to model for my children a mother who is dedicated and passionate, and I work to try to do my part in our world. I don't look at my work as a career path as much as a life path. In that sense, I don't ever see myself not working. There will always be ways to engage and give back.”

Quitting is not an option for either. "Understandably there is a self-esteem epidemic amongst our teen moms and although it is hard to quantify," says Jules, "I believe that our alliance makes the girls feel seen and important in ways that are not typical in their everyday lives."

Together, they’ve launched a parenting movement with the hopes of shattering every current  statistic about teen moms, their babies, and foster care.

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Philanthropy: Kelly Sawyer & Norah Weinstein, Baby2Baby

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Bridging the diaper divide.

"As a mom of two girls, I want nothing more than for them to grow up as strong decision makers who go after what they want and make it happen. They're growing up and seeing that women can run for president, lead any company, and win gold medals. They believe women can do it as well, if not better, than men and it’s a belief I hope they keep strong as they head into the world." -- Kelly Sawyer Patricof

Baby2Baby, the non-profit founded by co-presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein is all about the diaper domino effect: providing children ages 0-12 with diapers, clothing, and the basic necessities that every child deserves to start life off right.  

After meeting over dinner in Los Angeles, Kelly and Norah knew that they both wanted to “move into the [philanthropic] world exclusively, instead of having it on the periphery,” but weren't sure where to start. As moms themselves, they knew they wanted to help children and began to meet with various non-profits, asking where they could be most effective and most useful. Many of the narratives they heard highlighted the same problem: basics were in short supply. The diapers, the gear and clothing that allowed those in need to learn and benefit from their services. The idea for Baby2Baby was born. They knew plenty of women who had softly used or new goods that could be donated. 

They started with 12k and an 800 square-foot space. A kickoff party at that space hosted 30 friends. Among those in attendance were Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba. Huggies took notice. “We got a call,” Norah says, “that Huggies wanted to send 100,000 diapers and $75,000. They asked if we accepted pallets.” The co-founders joke they had no idea what that meant at the time and they ended up unloading those 100,000 diapers themselves with the aid of one intern. “We gave them away in two days,” Kelly adds, which was eye-opening. The need was that great. 

Their motto after that was simply to say yes. Items are now currently distributed to over 100 non-profit partner organizations.

What many people don’t realize is that diapers are not considered a necessity by the government and thereby not covered by food stamps. A third of mothers in the United States are forced to choose between diapers and food. In that exists a “cycle of poverty,” explains Norah. “You can’t send your child to daycare without diapers and you can’t go to work if you don’t have daycare.” Many childcare centers require 6-8 diapers per day, per child to attend. It creates a barrier many low-income families cannot topple on their own. 

“We had big aspirations and dreams that many might have thought were unrealistic,” shares Kelly about their launch five years ago. But since its founding Baby2Baby has “reached those goals and we’ve served more low-income families that I had imagined we could.” They are nowhere close to being done or fulfilling the needs of struggling families. “I now realize,” says Kelly, “that it’s time to make bigger goals and push forward with confidence that we can meet them.”  

"It’s time to make bigger goals and push forward with confidence."

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In 2016 Baby2Baby served over 125,000 low income families in Los Angeles area and they are currently distributing more diapers than any other organization in the country. But the women divulge that there are over 300,000 children living in poverty in Los Angeles. “Our reach is big,” they say, “but it’s not reaching everyone.”

Yet the growth patterns bring optimism. In 2015 they expanded with their Baby2Baby National Network, extending the reach out of Los Angeles to an additional 20 cities in the United States. They also continue to gain the support of high-profile names. Mothers like Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, and Drew Barrymore. “We’re proud that it’s a group of moms and that the whole board is women,” they say. 

And while the names help visibility Norah, a former lawyer who interned for President Clinton during his presidency, says her legal background helps as well. From dealing with corporate giving from big names like Disney and The Honest Company, to developing holiday product lines with Paul Mitchell, to putting donated products through their rigorous Baby2Baby golden standard, the day-to-day operations are every bit a business. “I loved my firm,” shares Norah, “but I knew I wasn't meant to defend securities litigation.” Instead she’s using her life and her acumen to defend the basic rights of mothers and children. 

“To do that,” explains Kelly, “we need to ensure that the low-income children in our country, and around the world, have access to basic essentials—food, a solid education, diapers, schools supplies, clothing to keep them warm, and more. They need and deserve this foundation so that they can grow and succeed.” That’s why they are also focused on education and fighting laws in California that classify diapers as a luxury. 

“Awareness is paramount and now more than ever our work is cut out for us,” says Kelly. “I strongly believe that to help women succeed we need to focus on helping girls succeed.”  

With a staff of 20, a committed brother and sisterhood of volunteers, and clear goals in mind, they are on their way. "When I see people post about Sunday night blues and hump day, I cannot relate anymore," says Norah. "I love the work week and love what I do." 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Why Philanthropy Will Always Be at the Core of the Kendra Scott Brand

As the woman behind Kendra Scott’s creative strategy, Katie Marston dedicates her work to building Kendra and her brand’s strength on an international scale through the reinforcement of Kendra Scott’s founding pillars: Family, Fashion and Philanthropy. Her main goals? To connect on a genuine, personal level with the consumer through fashion and always find a way to make a positive difference. 

Kendra Scott founded her company in 2002 with only $500 and just after the birth of her first son. Seeing herself as a mom first, she was driven to create a work culture unlike any others in the industry. To Kendra, it was just as important to tuck her kids into bed at night as it was to become a leader in the business world. And she made it her priority to hire individuals with those same family values, making the “Family First” mindset a crucial part of the Kendra Scott work culture. Kendra Scott’s three core pillars built a strong foundation that has led the company to incredible growth and success, and set an example that other companies are eager to follow. 

But for Marston, another priority has become just as essential to the company’s future: Telling the story of Kendra herself. Many brands’ founders fade into the background and let the business become the focus. But Kendra, as lead designer, founder and CEO of Kendra Scott, LLC, remains at the heart of every aspect of her company’s growth. From the design of a new collection and visits to her growing number of stores, to philanthropic partnerships on local and national levels, the Kendra Scott brand continues to be the actualization of Kendra’s personal vision.

Kendra Scott began designing jewelry in the spare bedroom in her Austin home. She was inspired to craft the jewelry she wanted to wear, jewelry that she says “filled the void between high-end brands and pieces that would fall apart after a few wears.” She walked, with her baby on her hip, selling her jewelry door to door to the local boutiques in Austin. When she sold out of her first collection in her first day, she knew she was onto something special. “Although to this day I don’t know if it’s because they really liked my jewelry, or they just felt sorry for me!” Kendra jokes. Kendra Scott has made a name for herself in the fashion industry through her impactful designs, which evolve alongside the world of fashion and provide customers with high value product at an accessible price.

Kendra’s desire to give back is in her bones. When she was 19, Scott began a company called Hat Box. Inspired by her stepfather’s own battle with cancer, the store was focused on using the proceeds to raise money for cancer research. That philanthropic business focus followed her into her next venture, Kendra Scott jewelry, and has become a genuine and differentiating factor for the company. Kendra Scott lives by the belief that there is always something to give, and is driven to “do good” and make a positive difference in the world through her business.

"Kendra Scott lives by the belief that there is always something to give, and is driven to 'do good.'”

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It was that unique approach to business that first caught Katie Marston’s attention when she joined the company nearly two years ago. “Philanthropy was not merely an add-on. They weren’t following a corporate giving model,” Marston said. “Giving back was the heart of the Kendra Scott brand, bringing life and loyalty to the business in a way no other brand could match. And I knew I had to be a part of it.” 

As Kendra Scott’s VP of Marketing, Marston has identified a few key points to consider when developing your company’s giving initiatives. First, and most important, is a genuine passion for giving back. For Kendra, that passion came from her stepfather Rob, who spoke the message “You Do Good” to her during his battle with brain cancer.

“Because of Rob,” says Scott, “I was inspired to create a business that did something more, that gave back to the community in real, meaningful ways.” It’s this incredible dedication to philanthropy that has become a hallmark of the Kendra Scott culture. “‘You do good’ aren’t just words; it’s a motto I carry into all choices throughout my business.” 

“I was inspired to create a business that did something more, that gave back to the community in real, meaningful ways.”

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Katie Marston echoes Kendra’s passion for philanthropy, and explains how this key part of their business has strengthened the company in a powerful way. “A philanthropic element to business can inspire fierce customer loyalty, but it has to be authentic,” Marston explains. “People want to support companies that care about what they care about. That’s why we value the grassroots connection so highly.” 

This hits on another mantra of the Kendra Scott company: “What Matters to You Matters to Us.” Whether it’s donating jewelry to a silent auction at a local school, hosting fundraising events in our store for a neighbor in need, or participating in a walk for a local organization, Kendra Scott believes there is always something to give. “We genuinely care for our customers and the causes they care about,” Marston says. “As a company, we believe that giving back in our communities is the greatest way to make a difference.” 

"As a company, we believe that giving back in our communities is the greatest way to make a difference.” 

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With the opening of every new Kendra Scott store, there is a team dedicated to getting involved with the community on the ground level, researching and figuring out how to get involved with local organizations. Scott admits, “It’s certainly not the easiest business model to follow, but philanthropy has become an integral part of who we are. And the relationships we have built with our customers as a result are truly invaluable.” 

Today, Kendra Scott partners with thousands of philanthropic organizations nationwide through her Kendra Gives Back program, which just last year gave back $1.4 million and donated over 50,000 pieces of jewelry. On a national scale, Kendra Scott supports The Seton Breast Cancer Care Center, MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, and the National Down Syndrome Congress. 

To learn more be sure to check out Katie Marston on panel when she joins us at #CreateCultivateATL. 

Giving Back: Lauren Scruggs Kennedy on building philanthropy

Lauren Scruggs Kennedy, the founder and editor of Lolo Magazine, is truly a beautiful person. And no, we're not just talking about how gorgeous she is. She recently started The Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Foundation with a mission to help provide prostheses to women in need, and, alongside Bethany Hamilton, she co-founded a yearly retreat for girls with missing limbs. We caught up with Lauren—who'll be speaking at #CreateCultivateDallas and also just happens to be a Dallas native—to talk about building philanthropy, her own story, and where to get Dallas's best almond latte. 

How did the idea for Lolo come about and how did you want to differentiate it from other fashion websites? 

Ever since I was little, I have been very artistic and was always so enthralled by beautiful editorials. To me, style has always been more than appearance; I see it as a reflection of personality as well as a depiction of how you view yourself. After interning for the Gossip Girl wardrobe department and the Michael Kors showroom in New York, I truly gained an understanding of what I enjoyed specifically in the fashion industry. To keep myself challenged and infused with creativity in Texas, I decided to start my own blog. It kept me very engaged, and for the first time I had an interest in dissecting fashion into words. At the same time, my good friend connected me with a woman in Dallas who had her own online fashion magazine, and she took me under her wing. She introduced me to the Fashion Week world, and I became enthralled with reporting on shows in NYC, Paris, and Montreal. After graduating college, I wanted to encompass my love for people, business, and creativity into one. That’s what led me to starting my own website.

How did you meet the other Lauren of Lolo and how did you decide to work together? 

So it's kind of crazy, but I had just moved to California when a mutual friend introduced me and Lauren. We immediately connected over the phone, and she was running the mag for a year before we finally met in person!

Can you tell us a little bit about your story that inspired some of the philanthropic work you do now? 

Almost four years ago, my life took a big shift. My calendar paused, my career path changed, and my platform increased after a night of injury, or what my subconscious defined as a 'depletion of beauty.' I was sucked into a plane propeller; the blade cut into my brain and the left side of my body, resulting in the loss of my left eye, left hand, and half my head of hair post-surgery. I have realized brokenness can be so beautiful even amidst the unexpected suffering. I feel like I relate so much more to pain now after experiencing it, and that has led me to want to give and pour specifically into young girls about the aspect of beauty.

I have realized brokenness can be so beautiful even amidst the unexpected suffering.

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How did you meet Bethany Hamilton?

She reached out to me shortly after my accident, and we connected instantly on Skype! It was one of those "friends for a lifetime" moments that happened initially. I am so grateful for her. She has the most precious heart! Her life, perspective, and ambition is such a picture of beautiful hope! Working with her has been such an amazing experience. We have learned so much, and it's such a joy to work together to encourage girls who have been through similar life-altering experiences.

What has been one of your most memorable experiences from the retreat that you put on?

Watching the girls surf is so moving. It represents something so much more than the action; I watched so much fear diminish as almost every girl entered into the circumstance thinking it would be impossible to accomplish. It was empowering to see the excitement pouring out of the girls, and watching them work together represented how much close community can change our lives.

How did you decide to start your foundation?

After my accident, I was in the rare situation of my insurance covering the entire cost of my prosthetic arms. I thought this was typical until I started meeting precious girls who either heavily disliked their fake-looking prosthesis, could not get one because of the high cost, or were unaware of where to go to receive a beautiful customized prosthesis. I developed a huge burden after hearing so many stories, especially after knowing the wholeness and healing my prosthetic arms brought me. Soon after, I partnered up with a wonderful mentor of mine and a dear friend who each had a similar story and an identical vision! After much research, we recognized that there was no organization that provided the beautiful coverings to the prostheses, and that is one of the most important parts for women! We want to bring hope, restore dignity, and ignite faith in young women with limb loss by providing beautiful prostheses. I am so excited to build relationships with these women and stand alongside them in their journey. 

Why is it important to you to give back? 

I want to share the same comfort I received and still receive from others! I am still overwhelmed as I reflect on how people close and far encouraged and provided for our family in every imaginable way!

What advice would you have for women who are looking to add a philanthropic element to their work? 

I believe it's so important to be involved in something you feel deeply passionate about. It causes you to fight harder for the cause and encourage giving so much more if it stands as a personal element in your life! 

Finally, what are your favorite spots in Dallas and where do you recommend people visit when they’re in town for C+C? 

R + D Kitchen is my second home...the food is insane and the service is beyond and has become like family. My other all-time-love is the almond milk latte from the T room at Forty Five Ten. Nothing compares! La Duni on McKinney Ave is so adorable and delicious for brunch too + you can walk around the cute shops after!

Catch Lauren in Dallas speaking on our panel Style Vibes: How to define your personal brand, manage transparency and define your voice.