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Mission Statement
Message from Making Memories
How Making Memories Came About
Mission Statement
“To provide an opportunity for metastatic breast cancer patients’ dream or wish to be fulfilled by providing a special time of 'Making Memories' together with their families, a chance that might not have become a reality without the assistance of the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation."
"To advance the awareness of breast cancer and to educate the public about the vast resources and support available to breast cancer patients and their families."
Message from Making Memories
It is estimated that this year alone over 200,000 women and nearly 1,200 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly, breast cancer will take the lives of almost 40,000 people this year in the United States and over 300,000 worldwide. In the United States one person will be diagnosed with breast cancer every 2½ minutes, and one person will die of breast cancer every 12 minutes. Many know that this disease is the second highest killer of women in the United States, but a little known fact is that breast cancer is the number one killer of women between the ages of 15 and 54.
The human toll of these statistics is staggering. Small children are left without their mothers. Husbands are left to raise families on their own. There are now 2.8 million women in America diagnosed with breast cancer—this number is increasing rapidly.
The tragedy of this illness, as with any terminal disease, is not limited to the physical and emotional impact. In many cases an enormous financial strain is placed on the family. The staggering cost of treatment must be paid, all the while hoping to buy time until a cure is found. When the insurance is exhausted and the hospitals are paid there is often no money left for extras. This means that many families cannot afford special moments together that might lift spirits and ease the turmoil of “saying goodbye.”
It is our intention to “make a difference” in the lives of those suffering from this devastating disease. Our wish-granting service helps put the realities of this terminal illness aside, if just for a few days, while providing the opportunity for a family to spend quality time together. Our hope is that every metastatic breast cancer patient will be able to pass from this world comforted with the joy of having left his or her family a final beautiful memory—something the family will look back on and remember for a lifetime.
Corporate Sponsorship, businesses, family memorials and private individual sponsors are urged to help support and grant wishes.
At this time our primary fundraising branch is Brides Against Breast Cancer. We accept thousands of new and used wedding gowns every year from private and corporate donors, then sell these beautiful gowns to brides at exceptional savings over retail prices. Dozens of these gown sales events are scheduled annually in major cities all across the country. Other fundraising activities include Diamonds for Dreams and the Pink Envelope Project.
Additional Information
Making Memories was co-founded in 1998 by the mother/daughter team of Fran Hansen and Anna Nelson. Their story has received national coverage from Oprah, MSNBC, Redbook, Martha Stewart Living, Newsweek, Woman’s Day, and Shape magazine. They were named 2005 Trendsetters of the Year by Modern Bride Magazine and they were honored as “Women Who Make a Difference” in a recent issue of Family Circle.
How Making Memories Came About
Fran Hansen’s Personal Story
In 1997, I had a personal scare with breast cancer. During a regularly scheduled mammogram, my doctor discovered a suspicious lump that immediately brought additional tests and a false positive report that I may have breast cancer. Additional tests revealed that I was perfectly fine, but not until several days later. However, six months later, during a precautionary follow-up, the same thing occurred again.
Fortunately, I was found to be cancer free, but in the ensuing days, I poured over the internet and every book I could find about breast cancer. I wanted to be totally informed and have all the right questions if I faced a diagnosis of breast cancer. During these days, I found on the internet a “list serve” where over 600 women in 30 countries around the world were writing one another, seeking information, comfort and friendship, all the while dealing with their own diagnosis of breast cancer. Some of the women were just being diagnosed, while others were dealing with end of life issues. The letters were simply incredible. The kindness they showed towards one another, the concern and their desire to share personal treatment options in hopes that it might help someone else.
During these days of quietly reading their letters, I couldn’t help but cry as I read of their struggles and heartbreaks. They were all so brave amidst their fear. They all expressed the same desires and hopes that were mine and those of my healthy friends, but so many of them wrote of their knowledge that time was drawing near and they would soon leave their husbands, children, grandchildren, and loved ones. Their heartache was overwhelming.
Then one day, I read the letter that changed my life. “Please pray for my family. Christmas is almost here and my husband just lost his job. We have no money to buy gifts for our children. I just wish this were over, so that my family could get on with their lives.” I was overcome with tears. “If only I had the means and the ability to help this woman. If only I had $500 or $1,000 to send to her, what a difference that would have made in her life that last Christmas with her family.
Just a few nights later, December 11, 1997, I awoke in the middle of the night, my mind spinning with visions of how I could make a difference in their lives. I literally SAW three things in that moment I awoke. I saw Oprah Winfrey, 10,000 wedding gowns and a truck and trailer with big logo’s on it. In that instant I knew women across this nation would literally donate one of their most treasured and prized possessions IF they knew it would “Make a Difference” for someone facing a diagnosis of terminal breast cancer. I just KNEW IT!!!
My next thought was, “There is NO way I am going to do that!!” I had owned bridal shops and a catering business in the Northwest years earlier and had promised myself when I left that there was no way I would ever go back. I was perfectly happy in a new career as a Financial Aid Officer at a local college. However, I could not get the thought out of my mind — I could not sleep, my heart would race when I laid down and my mind would swirl with thoughts of HOW it could work. I simply said, “NO…. I have no earthly idea where to begin to form a foundation where wishes could be granted...and I just KNEW there had to be someone else granting wishes and helping women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. But there was not! Still, I could not sleep. Finally, I shared my vision with my daughter, Anna Nelson, who immediately said, “MOM, you MUST to do that! You didn’t come up with this idea on your own!! God had to have inspired that vision and HE will help us.” Anna became the Co-Founder of Making Memories that very moment! She may have only been 19 years old, but her wisdom and understanding went far beyond mine!
Together, Anna and I slowly began to put the details together that would someday become the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. My vision of December 11th, 1997 was fulfilled in its entirety in October of 2002, when after having been surprised as one of Oprah’s Angels in May of 2000 and given $250,000 worth of new, designer wedding gowns from the famous New York Designer, Demetrios. Oprah also asked her viewers to send their weddings gowns. Up to that time, we had collected nearly 2,000 gowns in two years. Three days later, at my home in Portland, OR we received our first gown in response to Oprah’s request. The next day, two UPS trucks pulled up, filled with hundreds and hundreds of gowns to be sold to grant wishes. To date, bridal shops, manufactures and individuals from across the nation have donated over 25,000 wedding gowns and more arrive every day.
Anna and I continue to be blessed by the kindness and generosity of donors, volunteers and coordinators across the nation who have truly made our dream come true! Anna became America’s youngest Fairy Godmother and has now made dreams and wishes come true for terminal breast cancer patients that have included nearly one thousand loved ones and family members participating in those wish requests. On April 12, 2005 we were honored in New York City as one of Modern Bride Magazine’s 2005 Trendsetters of the Years, alongside other notables as Vera Wang and Wolfgang Puck. Family Circle magazine featured our story in their June 15, 2005 issue as “Women Who Make A Difference.” It has been an incredible journey!
Best selling author, Geralyn Dawson, became intrigued with the Making Memories Foundation. She was overwhelmed after reading thousands of letters written and sent with the donated wedding gowns. Letters filled with hopes and dreams, joy and sorrow — letters wishing that their gift would truly make a difference. Geralyn decided to write her twelfth book using the Making Memories story as the background for her novel. In her book, The Pink Magnolia Club the “Diamonds For Dreams” program was introduced as part of the story line. To date, her readers have generously donated thousands of dollars worth of beautiful diamonds and estate jewelry in hopes of granting wishes. The ”Diamonds For Dreams” program is now being promoted nationwide. Gowns, diamonds and estate jewelry may be sent to:
Making Memories Foundation
12708 SE Stephens Street
Portland, OR 97233.
You can write to Fran Hansen at
fran@makingmemories.org
You can write to Anna Nelson at
annnanelson@makingmemories.org
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