Founded 15 years ago by Robyn Hersey, the Pink WAY (Women Around You) Foundation supports breast cancer patients and survivors in Western Massachusetts by alleiviating financial stress. Big Y has supported this nonprofit organization through its Community Bag Program.
Tell us about the Pink WAY Foundation.
The mission of the Pink WAY Foundation is to financially help women in Western Massachusetts who are going through breast cancer treatment. The last thing breast cancer patients and survivors should need to worry about is bills, but people are often out of work and have really high copays.
The last thing breast cancer patients and survivors should need to worry about is bills, but people are often out of work and have really high copays.
The reason I started the foundation 15 years ago was because I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, the company I worked for didn’t have a problem paying my insurance. They covered me for a year, but I was out longer than expected. I didn’t know how much longer it would be, whether five months, another year, or longer.
I ended up having to sell my house. I used the money to pay off all my bills, and the small long-term disability payments I received from my company helped me with my rent. After a few years of returning to work, I knew I had to do something. I started the foundation hoping that by giving women a little bit of money here and there, I could ensure others didn’t need to make huge sacrifices, like selling their house, to continue their care. The end of my story is that almost four years ago, I was able to buy my house back. What goes around comes around.
What services do you provide to the community?
We usually receive referrals from the D’Amour Cancer Center or other similar groups. We try to eliminate any red tape. We ask patients to email us about what their needs are. Sometimes, we can fill their oil tank for the winter or help them with any copays that may have piled up. Sometimes, they just need groceries or cash for Christmas shopping. It depends on each individual’s needs. We’re always happy to help.
What sets the Pink WAY Foundation apart from other nonprofits in your community?
Everyone in our foundation is a volunteer. Nobody gets paid. If you are a board member or committee member, you’re there because you care about this cause. These volunteers support our cause without expecting to take anything back financially. Any donations go directly and completely to patient care.
Tell us a story that illustrates the good work of your organization.
We always get letters and hear so many wonderful stories. Someone recently requested money for oil. We got ahold of her oil company, Vickers Oil, and sent a check directly to the company. Knowing that she would be warm all winter touched her so much. I don’t know whether it helped her more financially or emotionally. She was relieved she didn’t have to worry about heating her house all winter while undergoing treatment.
Every single person we’ve sent money to has been extremely grateful. Everything we do helps women focus on healing. We receive so many letters that tell us how much we have helped.
Everything we do helps women focus on healing.
We have three board members and four committee members. The support we have behind our group is just amazing. Everyone who works with us has incredibly supportive families, including my own two daughters. Everyone who is with us is either a survivor or knows someone who is, so they all want to be here to help.
What is your most outstanding achievement or contribution to the community?
We work with the Ludlow community a lot, and their support of the Pink WAY Foundation is something I’m really proud of. We recently hit a milestone of serving the community for 15 years.
Generally, we’re simply proud of being able to help people. We read letters from recipients at our board meetings, and we cry. We also were able to help people even during the pandemic. The pandemic was here, but breast cancer didn’t go away. The need was even greater than before, and we were there to help.
What do you want people to know about the Pink WAY Foundation?
We are 100% volunteers, and we are here to help! Somewhere down the line, we would like to build up and become a bit bigger as an organization. For right now, we want people to know that we are out here and can help anyone who is struggling.
How will you use the funds you’ve received from the Big Y Community Bag Program?
We will use these funds the way we use all our donations. We will help people who are struggling, whether it is by putting oil in their tanks or food on the tables.
We will help people who are struggling, whether it is by putting oil in their tanks or food on their tables.
We’ve also been part of the Partners of Hope with Big Y. Our connection with Big Y is so much more than this program, but we know we can always count on the Community Bag Program every year. Being able to help people locally and having support from Big Y is really important to us.
Interview with Robyn Hersey, Founder
Published December 17, 2024.