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You are cordially invited to Hats and Gloves With Tea On The Mississippi.

On Sunday, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m., Edna B. and Joyce Fay Washington Breast Cancer Foundation Inc. is sponsoring its 14th annual fund raiser.  The theme this year is:  “On The Strings Of  Hope.” Truly fitting since our guest presenter is Dr. Lisa Beckley-Roberts, Harpist.

The contribution is $35. However, if you are unable to attend the event, but you want to make a substantial difference in your community, feel free to forward your tax-deductible contribution to our attention. Wear your most stunning hat, fascinator, or just show your favorite hair style, we welcome you.

Dr. Beckley-Roberts is the Dean, Department of Music, Jackson State University.  She is skilled in playing several music instruments. However, as a young child, the harp was her favorite. Her parents traveled around the state and surrounding areas, of course in a vehicle large enough to safely transport her harp, to harp lessons and concerts. Within a reasonable period, Lisa became proficient.

Washington Breast Cancer Foundation is celebrating 30 years of service to women and their families in New Orleans and the Miss-Lou. The Board of Directors is extremely excited about this accomplishment and looks forward to many more years that will allow the Foundation to broaden its horizon. Washington Breast Cancer had its very first event, “A Look At The Woman in the Mirror: An Opportunity to Nurture the Spiritual and Physical You,” on Oct. 25, 1994, at the United Medical Center, New Orleans. Two years later, the Foundation became a Donor Advised Fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) which has continued and is also a 501(c) 3 organization.

On June 1, the Foundation held its Annual Meeting in New Orleans in recognition of 30 years of service. What a celebration to remember! There was standing room only where survivors and supporters joined hands in support of the Washington Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission, which is to promote healing through culturally sensitive programs that address the psychological, emotional, spiritual, and educational needs of medically underserved women.

The very first program that was initiated was a support group for breast cancer survivors, where more than 300 women have received service.  This program is appropriately named, Sisters In Touch. This support group has remained a viable entity in the community for 30 years.

The group meets on the second Monday of each month and convenes on Zoom for 9 months but meets in New Orleans in June, November, and December.

We are very excited that a breast cancer survivor, who is a native Natchezian, joined in for the September meeting.

For the past 12 years, the Washington Breast Cancer Foundation has provided free mammograms to medically underinsured and medically uninsured women in the Miss-Lou. During the past seven years, the Foundation has maintained a working relationship with Merit Health Hospital Natchez where the Foundation provided $5,000 annually. Since 2020, however, the Foundation has provided $10,000 annually to the hospital. Since the initiation of this program in 2012, “Journey to Save A Life,” the Washington Breast Cancer Foundation has provided upward of 700 mammograms to women in this community.

We encourage you to visit the Foundation’s website, www.washingtonbreastcancerfoundation.com where you may purchase your ticket and read about the other services that have been and are currently being provided to women in the Miss-Lou and New Orleans and their families.

Joyce Washington Ivery is the founder and CEO of the Edna B. and Joyce Fay Washington Breast Cancer Foundation.