Today, we’d like to introduce you to Nilo G. Nilo was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Malibu Dana Richards.
Nilo , can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a teenager, I witnessed my best friend’s mom receive devastating news – she had breast cancer. I’ll never forget those years of watching her fight for her life, and her femininity, while continuing to stay strong for her husband, kids, and all her family and friends (including me). After a few years, while pursuing a college degree, I organized a small cocktail party in my parent’s backyard to raise funds for breast cancer research. Mostly in honor of Tiziana’s battle with breast cancer. 30 friends attended and each person donated $5 per person, raising $150 for Susan G. Komen. What I initially believed to be a one-off event, quickly turned into an annual affair and year after year, the fundraiser grew. By its 7th year, we were raising over $30,000 each year and hosting over 500 guests annually.
In 2011, I founded THE Breast Cancer Fundraiser (THE BCF), a 501c3 foundation dedicated to preserving the dignity of breast cancer patients and their loved ones by providing tangible, compassionate care. Over the last 20+ years, we have had the honor to support thousands of breast cancer patients in need.
We’ve heard great things about your organization. For our readers who might not be as familiar, can you please tell them about the organization?
Our vision is that no breast cancer patient feels alone. This is done through our WeCare Program, which is focused on five categories of care: Beauty, Comfort, Wellness, Journey & Loved Ones. Our signature WeCare Packages are a vessel of strength and hope for newly diagnosed patients, full of resources and products to help alleviate the challenges they face on their path to recovery and healing. From a yoga mat and a chemo beanie to comfy socks and a neck pillow, the goal is to make sure that patients know they are not alone. Each quarter, we partner with a hospital to host a WeGive Day, which provides an opportunity to connect with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and give each a WeCare Package. It is here that we see the power of human connection – it provides a platform for voices to be heard, to share, and to create community amongst other breast cancer survivors and their loved ones. Between each WeGive Day, we also provide direct distribution of WeCare packages to breast cancer patients directly, on a requested basis. Companies also have the opportunity to get involved through our WeBuild program where they can engage their employees, clients or friends in an event that gathers people together to “build” the contents of the WeCare package. Throughout the journey of the last two decades, I am most proud that we are still a grassroots nonprofit that keeps overhead expenses low. Many of us are philanthropic, but often we do not see the impact of our donations. THE BCF’s funds go directly to tangible goods for those patients in need and donors get to be a part of meeting patients, hearing their stories and building community.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Malibu Dana Richards and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Malibu Dana.
I met Malibu Dana through my event agency, Kapture, over a decade ago, when we worked on a show TV show together – a show she created and executive produced. I noticed her short haircut but didn’t think anything of it, later learning that she was a recent breast cancer survivor. I later asked her to get involved with one of our LA events and she politely declined but later found a calling to get involved. When Malibu Dana “gets involved” it’s a definite impact! Through the many years of her involvement at THE BCF, she has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the breast cancer patients we serve, mobilized hundreds of volunteers who have made their own individual and collective impact, and spread the word about our WeCare Program touching thousands of breast cancer patients.
Having the opportunity to know and volunteer with Malibu Dana reaffirms that there are no “coincidences” with the people you are fortunate enough to meet. I have always said that Good Attracts Good, and that’s definitely been the case with our two worlds coming together.