I moved back to Seattle in late 2018 to be near family. The following year, in October of 2019 I met with a team at Microsoft for the first time to present my story as a patient advocate, nonprofit leader, and two-time breast cancer survivor. Each October since then, I speak to teams at Microsoft providing information and education on the topic of breast reconstruction during their Microsoft Give Day. Each year I do these presentations I am inspired by the power of education, connections, and giving.
How is the Power of Education Spreading?
I often discuss this with my life-long friend, Thomas, who so generously sets these meetings up for me each year along with his Microsoft colleagues. We know, according to statistic from The National Breast Cancer Foundation, that one in eight women in the United States alone will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. The United States! DiepCFoundation serves a global community. Breast cancer does not discriminate, knows no cultural boundaries, and occurs globally. Additionally, in the United States, in 2022 an estimated 2,710 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Each year, someone in the audience who attends the presentation I give at Microsoft either knows someone by association or has a loved one who has been affected by breast cancer. There has also been an attendee who herself, was undergoing her reconstructive process at the time of one of my presentations. By educating at Microsoft each year, we can collectively bring support through these educational presentations. It humbles me each year because it consistently happens. We realize these statistics in real time but thankfully, we are there as a team to provide support.
The Power of Connections Becomes a Catalyst to Continue Our Work
There are times the connections are felt in ripples going beyond the Foundation and Microsoft. Let me share one of these connections made via my presentations. There was a Microsoft attendee at a presentation who knew developers of the Jasper Health App, A digital oncology platform for cancer patients. The Foundation became a nonprofit patient advocate partner with Jasper via this connection. DiepCFoundation is now able to provide more educational and emotional support for those facing breast cancer surgery because of this connection.
The Power of Giving Time, Talent, and Treasure
At the Microsoft Give Day DiepCFoundation presentation, I requested volunteer hours to guide me in a new venture, a podcast. Microsoft employees spent time after the presentation sharing their technical expertise and ideas for the DiepCJourney podcast. I knew I was capable of interviewing guests and looked forward to planning who they would be. The technical aspect overwhelmed me. The Microsoft team advised me on equipment that would work best to produce a quality podcast. Since the first published podcast in January of 2002, there over eleven thousand unique downloads. Thank you for your guidance! Because of you, my podcast became a reality.
Managing and running a nonprofit organization requires funding. This is “the ask” and honestly has always been the most difficult part of my job. But it is necessary. Without funding, the podcast, videos, personal support, and global connections cannot happen. There is more that requires financial support but suffice to say, the Microsoft Give Day with their matching funds has allowed the Foundation to continue its work each year during the presentation. The Power of the giving portal at Benevity helps us to realize the mission of our nonprofit and for Microsoft to be part of a larger global community serving nonprofit organizations like DiepCFoundation.
I am poised and ready to be at the Microsoft campus this week for an onsite, hybrid event to present more education. I look forward to updating the team about what we have accomplished this past year since the last presentation. It feels so comfortable being there. It feels like talking to good friends and I know I will meet new ones this year. There is no limit to the power of education, connections, and giving. Thank you, Microsoft teams and Microsoft Give Day! I appreciate you!
