Posted on January 18, 2022

By Lopa Pal, Development Manager

Every year, Breast Cancer Action receives hundreds of donations in memory of people we have lost, and in honor of the bold activists who work to address and end this disease.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation in memory or in honor of a loved one. These gifts don’t just sustain us financially, they fuel the fire of our activism. We are honored to acknowledge the tributes made throughout 2021, and we hope this inspires your continued activism as well.

At the end of 2021 we lost our dear friend and former board member, Julie Morgan. Julie was a true champion of Breast Cancer Action who was willing to jump in and help any time a board or staff member called. I still smile when I think about the rowdiness and joy that she brought to our annual Action Speaks Louder Than Pink: Food for Thought fundraising dinner by filling multiple tables with her community. It was so very clear how much they loved her. Though Julie did all she could to prepare us, we weren’t ready for her to go. This moving tribute to Julie’s activism was written by our Program Officer, Zoë Christopher.

The philanthropic community, and the LGBTQIA community in particular, also lost one of our most noteworthy leaders last Summer. James Hormel was a dedicated supporter of Breast Cancer Action, who challenged us to think strategically and logically about our financial health. At BCAction, we are grateful for the support and advice he provided us over the years, and we want to recognize the profound impact he had on LGBTQIA rights. The Advocate published a powerful tribute to Jim, including accolades from people like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David, National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon, and many more.

Our grief over these losses, and our rage about the persistence of breast cancer, drive our mission forward. We envision a world without the maddening and often-preventable losses caused by breast cancer, and a world where our communities are healthy and thriving. We will continue to do our part by doing what we do best: advocating for environmental protections to stop the disease before it starts, holding the Breast Cancer Industry accountable through our watchdog work, and being a trusted resource by providing information and analysis free to anyone who wants it.

Thank you for your support and for your part in this work.