5 minute read
TO LIFE
The Joy to Life Foundation was not only THE FIRST AND LARGEST PRIVATE PROVIDER for the Alabama Department of Public Health and its Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and since 2012, it has provided MORE THAN $1.4 MILLION to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
“We wanted to see SOMETHING POSITIVE come from my personal experience with breast cancer, and we saw a need in our community for better access to preventative care. Now, almost two decades later, WE FEEL THAT OUR IMPACT WITH THE ABCCEDP HAS BEEN MONUMENTAL.” -Joy Blondheim, CO-FOUNDER, JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION
PINK YOUR RIDE
IMPRESSIVE IMPACT WITH
Joy Life to
Giving that equals lives saved
After battling breast cancer and winning, Joy Blondheim formed The Joy to Life Foundation in Montgomery with her husband Dickie in 2001. The non-profit raises funds to ensure that un- and under-insured women in Alabama have access to mammograms and other screenings to detect breast cancer earlier and therefore, greatly increase their chances of survival. It also raises awareness about breast cancer in general and has become a shining symbol of hope and support for people of all ages and walks of life who are facing and fighting breast cancer.
The vehicle through which JTL Foundation provides mammograms is the Alabama Department of Public Health and its Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP). Money that the foundation brings in from sales of its car tags, money raised at its Walk of Life 5k event, donations and other avenues are given to ADPH, which in turn “pays” for mammograms and other breast screenings for women who cannot afford these lifesaving services. When it comes to the foundation’s record in practicing what it preaches, the numbers speak for themselves. The foundation was not only the first and largest private provider for the ABCCEDP, since 2012, it has provided more than $1.4 million to the Alabama Department of Public Health. In 2001, the ADPH was providing approximately 1,500 mammograms per year. Today, they provide more than 17,000 per year, in large part due to the foundation’s consistent financial support and Breast Cancer Awareness Programs. Since 2007, the foundation has directly and indirectly been responsible for more than 91,000 mammograms, meaning thousands of lives have been saved because of its work.
It’s a fact that Nancy Wright, Director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Division at ADPH can't stress enough. “Without funding from Joy to Life, the program would be unable to offer its free screenings and diagnostic services to women across the state in their 40s who have no insurance and a low income,” she said. “We would only have the funds to
Beautiful lives matter
In the 16 years since the Foundation began its work, it has racked up a staggering list of statistics.
• JTL was the first independent provider for the Alabama Breast & Early Detection Program.
• JTL is the only provider of mammograms for qualified women ages 24-39.
• Since 2012, JTL has paid out more than $1.4 million to the Alabama Department of Public Health for breast cancer screenings, plus an additional $257,000 for ages 24-39.
SINCE 2001, JOY TO LIFE HAS RAISED MORE THAN $6,000,000 FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.
GIVE GOOD
DRIVING CHANGE
“The biggest benefit JTL provides ADPH actually comes from our PINK CAR TAG PROGRAM. Not only does it raise additional funds, as the sixth most popular car tag out of more than 130 different specialty tags in the state, it acts as A MOVING BILLBOARD in every county in Alabama that reminds everyone to be sure to pay attention to their breast health and to ALWAYS GET THEIR MAMMOGRAMS.” -Dickie Blondheim, CO-FOUNDER, JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION
provide breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to women 50 to 64 years of age with no insurance and a low income. Fewer cancers would be detected and fewer lives saved.”
But the reach of the foundation goes so far beyond numbers. Every digit represents a life, someone’s mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend. Foundation founder, Joy, explained her and her husband’s motivation in creating Joy to Life. “We wanted to see something positive come from my personal experience with breast cancer, and we saw a need in our community for better access to preventative care,” she said.
Wright also pointed to another facet of the foundation’s work. “Often the women helped by Joy to Life are the primary caregivers in their home,” she said. “Providing the chance for women to take charge of their health and get breast cancer screening not only helps them, but their family as well. It helps to ensure they will be there in the future for their children, grandchildren, and often, to take care of their parents.”
And it’s not just the screenings making a major difference. Dickie believes that the foundation’s general breast cancer awareness efforts are just as important. “Our pink ‘fight breast cancer’ car tag has been a key marketing tool for early detection,” he said. “Serving as a moving billboard, the JTL pink car tag reminds every woman in Alabama to get her mammogram.” He also pointed to the role that JTL’s supporters, its billboards, its pink trash cans, the annual Walk of Life and other efforts, including the Joy to Life magazine, play in keeping breast cancer a top-of-mind issue. “They are all great ways to increase breast cancer awareness and education,” he said.
GOOD NEWS
good news about good work
TRASH CANCER
Great news for the scenic city of Wetumpka: The Joy to Life Foundation’s pretty pink trashcans are now available for residents. Order yours online for free delivery to your home and to add a pop of color to your curb, all while supporting the life-saving work of the JTL Foundation all at the same time.
Let your fingers do some walking and type in JOYTOLIFEFOUNDATION.ORG. Then, go ahead and register for the next Walk of Life on April 22, 2018. Since 2001, this event has brought the community together in downtown Montgomery to support and honor breast cancer survivors and victims while raising the funds needed to keep the Foundation’s important work going strong. PROUD PARTNERSHIP
The Joy to Life Foundation is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Montgomery Biscuits Baseball. To kick things off, the Biscuits organization hosted a JTL volunteer and donor appreciation party at Riverwalk Stadium on November 28. Watch JTL magazine’s website and social media to find out more ways these two Montgomery institutions will be benefiting each other and how you can get involved.
