FAQs

Cash Your generous cash contributions help to underwrite the costs of our memory-making expenses, Donations may be made in any amount. Please give generously. Donate Now

Tribute – In Memory or In Honor Your gift in memory of a friend or loved one provides a lasting tribute and will make a wish come true for another that will last a lifetime. Your honorary gift recognizes a special person or special event in your life. Making Memories will send an acknowledgement to the family of those memorialized or to the person whose gift was given as an honorarium.

Matching Gifts Companies often offer to match their employee’s gifts of cash to non-profit organizations. Your companies may also donate "in-kind" gifts of their products or services. Check with your Human Resources Department for the necessary forms to send to Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation along with your contribution.

Planned Giving Your planned giving can continue to make a difference in the lives of others, for many years to come, when you designate a portion of your estate, establish a charitable Trust, or donate appreciated stock. In some instances, it can mean more
(in regards to your taxes) to contribute to a charity than to pay capital gains on the increased value of your estate or stock. Your gift of planned giving is always tax deductible.

Donate Stock You can donate your stock to Making Memories Foundation. In some cases of appreciated stock, it makes good financial sense to donate them to a charity versus paying capital gains tax. For additional information Contact
fran@makingmemories.org

Become a Double Ribbon Donor An exclusive group of donors who, with a donation of $1,000 or more receive special recognition for their gift to Making Memories.

Grant an Entire Wish You, your family or your company could select an entire wish or any small part of a wish waiting to be granted. In some cases, the recipient requests your name to personally
thank you. (Unless you request your gift be given
anonymously.)

How to Donate your Wedding Gown

Hundreds of emails ask each week if we are still collecting gowns. The answer is a resounding YES! And thank you so much for your kindness and generosity!! We have received gowns as old as 126 years and as new as from a cancelled wedding two weeks ago. Once received, the gowns are separated, cleaned, tagged, priced and readied for an upcoming event. We also accept veils, slips, shoes, Mother's gowns and flower girl dresses.

Thousands of women across America and from seven countries around the world have donated one of their most treasured and prized possessions to help grant wishes to terminal breast cancer patients. Bridal shops and manufactures have also donated thousands of beautiful new, designer gowns. These gowns are sold in a nationwide tour of gowns, called “Brides Against Breast Cancer.” Nearly 60 events will be held this year where gowns are tried on and purchased for upcoming weddings.

Be sure when sending your gown to Making Memories to include your return address INSIDE the package to ensure you receive a donation receipt. If possible, please include an $10 donation which will help with the cost of preparing your dress for sale. Although most gowns are sent to us cleaned, the pressing and steaming of your gown often takes up to an hour to complete.) Gowns may also be donated during show hours at any “Brides Against Breast Cancer” event across the nation.

Hundreds of gowns have been sent to Making Memories through mailing services such as "Mailboxes, etc" and the ONLY return address on the boxes are for the business from where the gown was sent. (Their label covers the senders address.) When sending a gown this way, PLEASE include your name and address inside the box. AND please, please, please write clearly. We have received many returned receipts because we "2nd guessed" the address incorrectly.

Please send your gown to:
Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation
12708 SE Stephens Street
Portland, OR 97233

How to value your gown for a tax deduction. Your gift is 100% tax-deductible, including your shipping costs. Please consult your tax professional to determine the ultimate value of your gift to our foundation.

Please note: If you have made a donation or sent a gown of less than a $250 value, you do not need a receipt in order to take the donation as a deduction on your federal income tax return. If you have made a donation of $250 or more, you will need to retain the receipt sent to you in order to take the donation as a deduction on your federal income tax return.

Does Making Memories collect bridesmaid gowns? Yes, we are accepting bridesmaid gowns from weddings held since 2000, especially if you have a "set". It is more difficult to sell the colored bridesmaid dresses if we receive them singly, as most brides are searching for several matching gowns in various sizes. You may send them to the same above location as wedding gowns.

How to Donate your Diamonds and Estate Jewelry

Making Memories Foundation is now collecting donated diamonds, estate jewelry and other specialty jewelry items from individuals and businesses across the nation. Each donation is sorted, evaluated, appraised, photographed and then sold to raise additional funds to grant dying wishes.

Please send your jewelry items by CERTIFIED MAIL, DHL, UPS, or FED EX requesting a signature upon delivery. If your items have been previously appraised, a copy of that appraisal and any additional information you can share about the piece to assist us in properly evaluating your gift is greatly appreciated.

Please send your diamonds and estate jewelry to:
Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation
12708 SE Stephens Street
Portland, OR 97233

How to Make a Wish Request

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with metastatic, stage 4, generally considered to be terminal, breast cancer, they are eligible to apply for a wish or memory-making event. Please send an email to annanelson@makingmemories.org requesting a Wish Packet. You may also send a request to:
Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, % Anna Nelson,
270 Probe Street, Molalla, Oregon 97038.

What is a Priority Wish Request? Making Memories grants wishes on a first come/first served basis, meaning that most wishes are granted in the order in which received. The only way to advance a wish request is if individual donations are received and designated specifically to a particular wish. This is called a Priority Wish Request. Family, friends, loved ones, neighbors, working associates, business acquaintances, and others make a donation on behalf of their friend. 100% of these gifts go directly towards the request or if the donations do not equal the cost of the wish, 100% of the funds given on their behalf go directly to the patient.

Please note that we are unable to grant the following wish requests.

Requests from family members to surprise a terminal patient; patient must determine wish
Requests for automobiles, cash or property
Requests for large animals - such as horses - Alpaca's - Llama's
Requests to fund college education
Requests for foreign travel
Requests to fund medical treatments
Requests for home remodeling, room additions, pools or spa's
Exceptions may be made for Priority Wish Requests

How to Help Grant a Wish

Visit our Help Grant A Wish page and you, your family or your company could choose to grant an entire wish or any small part of a wish waiting to be fulfilled. Contact Anna Nelson, annanelson@makingmemories.org for additional information. Southwest Airline Vouchers and unused time-shares are always sincerely appreciated.

How to bring a Making Memories event to your city

We are searching for “Tour Coordinators” and donated space to hold “Brides Against Breast Cancer” charity wedding gown sales in cities across the nation. If you or someone you know has
4,000 – 6,000 sq. ft. of ballroom space available to host our event, please contact fran@makingmemories.org. If you are interested in coordinating the event, please send an email and ask for the “Tour of Gowns Guidelines”.

What is the Pink Envelope Project?

Quite simply, you host a small party or event by inviting 6 to 15 of your closest friends to an activity planned by you. Your Pink Envelope Activity can be themed around just about anything from a small sporting event, office party, a girl’s night out, card game, gardening activity, recipe club, dinner and dessert party, whatever you and your friends enjoy. Some ideas also include hosting your own brunch, Oscar night party, Super Bowl party, golfing activity, scrap booking or holiday party. You will surely have your own ideas. Click here for additional information on receiving your Pink Envelope Activity packet.

How to Volunteer for an Upcoming Event

Volunteers are the backbone of the Making Memories Foundation and we could not accomplish our mission without you. Invite your office group, club, family and friends to attend. It is great fun and you will meet the nicest people! In many cities, Mary Kay, Avon or other makeup consultants, bridal consultants, wedding professionals, and seamstresses attend to help brides choose the gown of their dreams. T-shirts are provided for each volunteer. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes! If you would like to volunteer during an event in a city near you, please send an email to fran@makingmemories.org with “Volunteer for (the name of your city)” in the subject title. Each Volunteer receives an Earth Angel Award for participating during an event.

Questions About “Brides Against Breast Cancer” Event

How much will I pay for a gown from Making Memories? Prices for the gowns range from $49 to $799, including hundreds of beautiful, new, name brand and designer gowns valued up to $4,000. “This is a very unique opportunity for brides-to-be to find one-of-a-kind gowns at fabulous prices and help grant a wish for a woman or man with terminal breast cancer.” Wedding gowns that originally sold between $4,000 and $10,000 can be purchased up to $1299. We accept cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express as payment for gowns.

Where will the next show be held? Hundreds of emails are asking this question. Please click on calendar of events to see currently available dates, times and locations for the city nearest you. Over 1,000 gowns are available at each sale. Check back often to see other sale dates as they are scheduled.

Questions about the Nationwide Quilt Contest

How can I receive gowns to participate in the Contest? The quilt contest is a way for Making Memories to sell gowns that have been "specifically" sent to us as unsaleable, terribly damaged or unable to be restored for use as a wedding gown. We receive hundreds of such gowns. These quilts are sold to grant wishes and to date have sold for upwards of $2,000 each. Each quilt is queen size and made to YOUR specifications and imagination. (We have no special pattern for you to follow)

Each person or group committed to making a quilt will receive 12 DAMAGED wedding gowns of different fabrics and trim. There is enough fabric in 12 gowns to make 3 quilts; however, we ask only that you make one quilt for Making Memories to be sold to grant wishes. (We ask that you pay shipping charges on the gowns you request. The shipping charges are also tax deductible.) REMEMBER, the gowns we send to you are damaged and unable to be used as wedding gowns for numerous reasons. IF you have a gown you would like to add to the fabric or to send to Making Memories for this express purpose, please send your gown with a letter attached "for the purpose of making quilts." (Sorry, but damaged chiffon gowns cannot be turned into quilts)

If you are interested in participating, please send an email with the subject "Request for quilt information” to quilts@makingmemories.org.