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Between Us Newsletter:
Winter 2003
Happy New Year Everyone!
We've had an exciting year and wanted to reach out to you now that everyone is settling back into their desks for the next push of work. When you have a moment, check out our website - http//:www.betweenus.org - thanks to our wonderful webmaster, Susie Hipp, we've got lots of new photos and news.
Highlights in this newsletter include:
Thanks to current sponsors/grants!
- Thank you to the Rasmuson Foundation of Alaska for a grant to purchase a new video camera, deck and much needed editing and accounting software!
- Thank you to the New York Mercantile Exchange Foundation for general support- the NYMEF is a returning sponsor and we so appreciate the pat on the back!
- Much appreciation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for the significant contributions made in 2002 which are allowing us to produce and distribute our companion film, Beyond Flowers, now in rough cut form.
- Breast Cancer Focus Inc. of Anchorage - for providing the first funds on the Beyond Flowers film- thanks for your belief in us!
- Alaska Run for Women - our faithful supporters- this time for a grant to do our "Alaskans in Pink" stills photography project.
- Wisdom Herbs & Eden Foods - for supplying tea for the last 700 kits
- Alaska State Council for the Arts for a grant to put on an editing workshop in March 2003
- Shippers- Northern Air Cargo, Arctic Circle, and Alaska Central Express
Updates our our new film,
Beyond Flowers:
What to Say and Do When Someone Your Know is Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Principal photography was completed in October 2002. Alaska foliage was in full splendor and the weather Gods were on our side- each day we had to fly, we got sunshine! We are very happy with our footage and access- wonderful access to intimate moments. Our film includes Lilly Shockney, Team Towanda from Connecticut, Dr. Carolyn Hendricks, Carole O'Toole, Margie Stohner, local caregivers plus five brave families from Alaska who shared their experiences and lessons with us. We're also very excited to say that Beth Neilson Chapman, a musician (Deeper Still) and survivor herself is allowing us to use some of her music in the film. We are now editing the film and look forward to unveiling it in May.
Improvements in this round of kits: thicker journal covers, new cooler pens, resource lists added inside the cover of our journals which give a number of new contacts including Mothers Helping Daughters with Breast Cancer, Men Against Breast Cancer and Y-Me.
Along with the premiere screening of Beyond Flowers, we will be showing our new film, Two by Two: a day in the life of nine 2 year olds. Since 2003 marks the 20th year of our work with social issues documentary films, we will be including a montage of clips from all our previous works at each screening. You can read about some of our 18+ productions on our website. If you would like to be invited to this screening, please respond via email with mailing information.
Congratulations to new providers:
- Gerald Champion Regional Hospital of Alamagordo, New Mexico
- Pittsburgh Library System
- Southern Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program
Thanks to returning providers:
- Alaska Run for Women for the entire state of Alaska
- Port Huron Hospital of Port Huron Michigan
- Legacy Cancer Services, Portland Oregon
- South Shore Women's Health Care in St. Joseph MI
Special Offer from now through the release of our new film in May:
- All kits are 25% off plus shipping.
- We are updating our product to include the new film and will also be offering a 25% discount to anyone who is a previous customer at the time they make their first order of our NEW kits.
New Projects: Alaskans in Pink Photo Exhibit:
This exhibit will honor 12 people making a difference on the local breast cancer scene with artistic portraiture by our best photographers and an exhibit which will travel around the state in May, 2003
Special thanks to our wonderfully dedicated intern, Fumiyo Sato who, even after her stipend has run out, is still helping us out!
And a special thanks to the 40+ volunteers who showed up to help with our last assembly in November- we packed 500 kits in record time- thanks to you.
On our New Year's wish list:
SPACE- would love to have a corporation donate about 1000 square feet of space for us to keep all our supplies and to allow us to assemble our kits on a regular basis- as it is we have to line up space each time we need to assemble more than a dozen kits at a time. Help us by spreading the word- we are nonprofit 501©3 and will be a tax deduction.
BIG DREAMS- we have proposals out there- for the Ford Foundation and for Echoing Green Organization, the Playboy Foundation and others- all great intentions accepted!
And of course, we continue to search for just the right corporate sponsor so we can provide thousands and thousands of our needed product across the country. Just in case you happen to know that special company.
In the interim, we keep packing and shipping, editing and duplicating, writing our proposals and traveling when asked.
"Meaningful work is the key to health and happiness."
-Someone Wise |
