Many people think that we are a charity evaluator or a watchdog. We aren’t. Instead, we are a 501(c)(3) public charity that collects, organizes, and presents the information you want in an easy-to-understand format while remaining neutral. Providing nonprofit information to a broad audience at no cost to those users is an important part of our public service, one that we pledge to continue.

How We Support Our Activities

One-third of our operating revenue comes from our Membership Programs, program-related grants, and contributions. The other two-thirds is made up of subscriptions and licensing fees for our services, which allow users to benchmark multiple organizations, verify charitable status, access compensation information, and interpret nonprofit financial data all on GuideStar.

We hope you’ll connect with nonprofits through our site and support their good work. If you like what you find on GuideStar, we’d also appreciate your support for our work.

FAIRFIELD, N.J., April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ —

Genie™ brand, makers of the number one selling bra in America, the Genie Bra™, is proud to announce a partnership with My Hope Chest™, the only national charity of its kind focused solely on breast reconstruction for uninsured patients. As a part of the Granting Wishes campaign, Genie will donate 20% of proceeds from sales of a designated pink Genie Bra to My Hope Chest to be used for reconstructive surgeries, ultimately helping women realize a dream and put their cancer journey behind them.

“Genie Bra and the Granting Wishes campaign will be transformational to our program and mission,” said Savoretti. ” The partnership will allow My Hope Chest to educate survivors on breast reconstruction options, raise awareness of the problems that the uninsured and under-insured survivor faces, and most importantly provide many more surgeries to survivors on our wait list who have been desperate to attain this healing and final step of breast cancer treatment.”

“The Granting Wishes campaign is all about taking action and creating a positive change in a woman’s life,” said Keith Mirchandani , CEO, Tristar Products, Inc., makers of the Genie brand. “My Hope Chest is pioneering change for women in need, and we are very proud to be part of such a life-changing effort. We listen very closely to our fans, and we quickly learned that the Genie Bra has been instrumental for cancer patients during recovery and beyond due to its comfort and lack of wires. This spurred our interest in helping cancer survivors even more.”

(Read Full Story here)

Please visit the Genie Bra Website to purchase your PINK My Hope Chest Bra today! A list of retailers will follow shortly! Share, Share, SHARE!

Linda Hurtado abreast cancer survivor herself, understands the importance of breast reconstruction and closure from the disease.  Watch Linda here with Dr. Antonio Gayoso and patient Laurie Gilsdorf as they share Laurie’s journey of healing and new beginnings.

My Hope Chest is beyond hearing about this notorious month and the obvious “commercialism” that it has created… kind of like the Easter Bunny at Easter… not really the point of the holiday.  October is breast cancer ACTION month and we will tell you why.

What this “awareness” movement has done to grassroots organizations like MHC, fueled by multi-million dollar pink ribbon marketing campaigns targeting mostly breast cancer survivors and friends and family, has made our effort to raise funds and provide surgeries for our important and unique mission amazingly challenging. The power of the BIG pink ribbons has keep MHC in the shadows and created an “assumption” that every aspect of the disease is being covered… and if it were, we would be happy!

“Breast cancer Awareness” is not a charity.

It is not an organization nor do most folks really seem to care where the “awareness and education” funds go.  How many, MANY organizations hold events to raise money for “awareness”… we haven’t counted lately but too many is accurate.

LOOK…at this map!

Pink pinpoints are popping up weekly denoting where breastless applicants of MHC are waiting.  While we have surgeons in 4 states, the funding is simply not there to recruit and navigate these survivors.  My Hope Chest is helping 7-10 women a year but it should be 70+ as we know the need is far greater than even this map shows… survivors needing breast reconstruction simply don’t know we exist yet and many probably gave up” the thought of there every being an opportunity to acquire this surgery with a “cash pay” price of $20-$25,000.

View My Hope Chest in a larger map

My Hope Chest Founder Alisa Savoretti chosen WINNER of “Engaged Philanthropist Award

Congratulations to Alisa as she receives another nod from community leaders!

Alisa Savoretti, first a finalist and then the winner on March 21st, 2013 as the Be More …. Entrepreneurial Engaged Philanthropist.

Savoretti was selected amongst a line up of well deserving non-profit leaders including Karen Mertes, Natasha Nascimento, Harold Oehler and Ginger Williams.  The Be More Awards™ were created to pay tribute to the many unsung heroes in the community served by WEDU – the area’s leading PBS station and public media company. Each year, this multifaceted program celebrates the human spirit and showcases the best work by nonprofit organizations, the individuals that support them – and WEDU.

Be More… Entrepreneurial~ Engaged Philanthropist Award

This award recognized the individual who distinguished himself or herself in the nonprofit community by engaging entrepreneurial skills to build a successful nonprofit endeavor.

To give Alisa a “thumbs up” visit MHC’s facebook or twitter at www.facebook.com/myhopechest or www.twitter.com/myhopechest !

Making the best of our short winter..…Starting in January and every Friday through Feburary, Whiskey Joe’s beach front Bar and Grill will host weekly concerts in the crisp night air as party goes gather around warm and cozy new fire-pits.  Great music and Whiskey Joe’s usual hospitality is sure to make this the spot to be for happy hour this winter.   Concert goers will support My Hope Chest during the event via the $10 Cover charge, participating in drink specials, raffles and more!

HOPE’S ANGELS… MHC Angel Volunteers will be handing out information regarding the breast reconstruction program and selling My Hope Chest Tshirts and jewelry and accepting donations too benefiting My Hope Chest and breast reconstruction!

Plan to spend winter “happy hour” enjoying Tampa Bay’s hottest bands as they ignite Parrotheads, reggae enthusiasts and music lovers under the stars!

(January)
Caribbean Chillers
Impulse
Highway
Jimmy Parrish & the Ocean Waves
(February)
Deja
Trop Rock Junkies
Jimi Pappas
The Land Shark!

Special thanks to Sponsors JJ Taylor Distribution and Red Bull for helping make this event possible!

For directions and restaurant information visit whiskeyjoestampa.com  To learn more about visit My Hope Chest on Facebook at www.facebook.com/myhopechest

…the kind donations of time, treasure and talent of the many supporters of our grassroots effort to the new faces and FANS of our facebook presence…  We wish you and yours a most hearty, healthy and loving holiday….

Be reminded to keep close in our hearts and prayers those affected by the recent storm, chaos in other lands and any souls who may be less fortunate than we that they soon see relif from their worries and struggle… usually in our darkest days, things can always be worse.

Be Grateful.

spooooktackular event of the season..!!!

It’s heeearrrrrrrrr…

Gathering PIrates, Wenches, gooolies and goblins….

Join FUNraiser HOSTS,

Ye Loyal Krewe of Grace O’Malley at Tampa’s Floridan Palace for the 2nd “Booooobie Ball” Halloween Bash ~ Saturday October 27th

It’s THE Halloween party of the year!

Entertainment by Late Night Brass

Seee you sooon!

WHAT: 2nd Annual Halloween Ball and FuNraiser!
WHERE: Newly restored, historic Floridan Palace! Tampa
ENTERTAINMENT: Amazing sounds of Late Night Brass!
TICKETS- $100 includes Hors d’oeuvres, Entertainment,
Costume Contest for prizes, Silent Auction and more!
Cash Bar
Attire: Costumes or Formal w/ Mask
Tickets online and through Krewe members.

Get your tickets soon….and be here or the boooooooo’s on YOU!

Proceeds benefit My Hope Chest and Breast reconstruction for uninsured breast cancer survivors.

There is BIG NEWS at the My Hope Chest camp!

Things are moving UP for My Hope Chest in a very big way.  In the October, 2012, issue of “O” The Oprah Magazine, My Hope Chest Founder, Alisa Savoretti is honored in their “Breast Cancer Heroes” section … Read below for yourself!

Breast Cancer Heroes

Meet three spectacular women who are making a difference in ways as unique as they are.

By: Dana Hudepohl and Sushma Subramanian

Alisa Savoretti

Seminole, Florida

When Savoretti found a lump in her breast in 2001, she was 38 and uninsured. After Medicaid turned her down, a social services program helped her pay for a mastectomy and chemotherapy, but not reconstructive surgery. Desperate for insurance and money to pay her mounting bills, Savoretti returned to her former career as a professional dancer in Las Vegas, billing herself as the Lopsided Showgirl to raise awareness of her plight. “It helped—a lot—to have a sense of humor,” she says. “When I finally got my reconstruction, I named my girls Zsa Zsa and Eva.”

In 2003 Savoretti founded a nonprofit called My Hope Chest, to assist other patients in paying for reconstructive surgery, a procedure that can cost more than $50,000. While struggling to get her organization off the ground, she made ends meet by working a series of jobs (nanny, deli clerk, gardener); during her breaks she worked the phones to organize fund-raisers and set up pro bono operations. Nine years later, My Hope Chest has transformed the lives of nine breast cancer survivors, and five more surgeries are scheduled for this year. “We’ve served only a handful of patients to date,” says Scott Sullivan, MD, a volunteer surgeon, “but each one has gained a new sense of hope.”

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Women-Fighting-Breast-Cancer-Breast-Cancer-Survivors-and-Doctors#ixzz29QElHgii