Overcomers #GivingTuesday (How you can help!)
As you may already know, #GivingTuesday, one of the largest charitable events of the year, is almost here. We need your help! Overcomers provides vital support to breast cancer survivors and their families through workshops, retreats, one-day classes, and our new program, Pink Under the Tree. Overcomers needs funds to continue to provide these resources.
Who is Overcomers?
Overcomers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a sisterhood for breast cancer survivors. Our mission is to be real in sharing our needs, build strong foundational relationships, and walk out our journey in victory serving others in our circle of influence. Together we can rebuild lives one piece at a time.
We offer a 9-week faith centered workshop for breast cancer survivors in the spring and fall every year, one-day workshops for the spouses of breast cancer survivors, annual retreats for breast cancer survivors, and adopting breast cancer families during the holidays. These classes focus weekly on different topics and address many of the concerns that face breast cancer survivors following active treatment.
Our purpose in scheduled workshops is to draw each survivor towards wholeness with God as the center of their healing. As a sisterhood of breast cancer survivors, we are active in our local communities raising awareness for breast cancer initiatives and monetary funds towards our goal of supporting those initiatives. We remain diligent in bringing awareness and support to more women about the different physical, mental, and spiritual needs of breast cancer survivors.
Overcomers believes that every woman that has faced breast cancer should be encouraged to rebuild their lives. Many times they are left with questions of what now, why did this happen to me, how do I move forward? We know that without application there is no real change.
#GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and communities in countries around the world. Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.
This year, Paypal and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match every dollar donated for #GivingTuesday up to $7 million dollars.
How can you help?
These are some of the ways you can help us on Giving Tuesday:
- Create a Facebook Fundraiser for Overcomers
- Donate on Our Facebook Fundraiser (Every dollar counts!)
- Share our Facebook Fundraiser. Let your friends know that you support Overcomers.
Watch our video for a quick snapshot of the year:
#InTheNews | Overcomers Volunteer wins SABJ Volunteer Award!
Alexander Small, the Overcomers online marketing volunteer, was recently nominated for the SABJ Volunteer Award! Alexander volunteers his time to maintain our website, social media, and all other marketing tools that Overcomers uses. We are very grateful for his service to our nonprofit!
#InTheNews | Overcomers Article on ASPS
Overcomers made the front cover of American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) 2018 magazine for the fall!
The article told the stories of both our Founder and Co-Founder, Genny Small and Jessica Meyers, as well as our recent fundraiser, The Men in Pink Gala. An excerpt from the post reads as follows: “Serving breast cancer survivors is a communal effort for the Small family. Genny’s husband, Paul, teaches the men’s workshop to help spouses process their emotions and support their wives as a co-survivor, and their children, who range from ages 4 to 16, also volunteer. (You can read one of there testimonies here) Genny hopes these charitable efforts and community outreach inspire them to follow in her footsteps.
“All of our children are involved, whether it’s helping me stuff envelopes for the gala, working behind the scenes with the organization or updating the organization’s website,” Genny says. “They all see the positive part of joining together as a family. I hope they’ll find a way to give back no matter what challenges come their way. That’s what life is about. It’s not about us. It’s about giving back in whatever season we’re in. If someone has a need, and we can meet it, why not be a blessing to someone else?”
Jessica and Genny crossed paths at the end of their breast-cancer journeys. They discovered a shared passion to help survivors rebuild their lives after cancer and joined together to create Overcomers: Daughters of the King of Kings, a nonprofit organization and sisterhood to encourage, equip and empower breast cancer survivors and their families. “Right after I was cancer-free, I made a vow to help as many people as I could, so when Genny first approached me about her idea, it was a definite yes,” says Jessica, Overcomers Co-founder, and Vice President. “We dove into it together without any hesitation. As survivors, we try to focus on the things we experienced and spread awareness to let people know about our services, so they won’t feel alone. We have a huge sisterhood. We take these women under our wings, and they become family.”
Genny and Jessica hope to expand their reach to help women beyond the San Antonio area find their new normal after breast cancer and remind them they are not alone.
“I want to be a voice to let them know it’s OK to be vulnerable, and it’s OK to have these scars,” Genny says. “My breasts represented nurturing, so it was hard to lose that part of me. But having reconstruction helps me look in the mirror and say, ‘We’ve been through some stuff together. I’m thankful. If you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘This is the new me – I’m stronger, I’m more resilient, that’s powerful.” “Reconstruction has helped me feel whole again,” she continues. “We have scars, but I think scars are amazing. They represent a battlefield and remind me that I am a warrior.”
[Note:] We want women to know that reconstruction is a personal choice and to do what you feel is best for your journey. Sadly, the statics show that many women are not offered reconstruction as an option and that shouldn’t be happening. Be your own advocate and get the care you need when it comes to all of your choices in your health care. Overcomers recommend seeking places that can help you navigate your questions with breast cancer. We support a new App called Breast Advocate for both you and your family members as questions arise. Thank you to Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo for creating this incredible resource in an app.
You can read the full article below:
Link to the online copy of the magazine here.
You can learn more about what Overcomers does for breast cancer survivors by visiting our About Page. Overcomers also needs volunteers to help us at events, so if you are wanting to know more information about volunteering with Overcomers, please visit our Volunteer Page.
If you have any questions for Genny or Jessica, please leave a comment below!