In April 2001, after several years of research and input from the community, AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) launched a new initiative: The Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF). Modeled on the successful work of AEF in providing direct financial assistance to low-income San Franciscan fighting HIV and AIDS, the new breast cancer initiative honors the compassionate commitment of the caregivers of the women’s community who came to the aid of many gay men in the early years of the AIDS pandemic.

In developing BCEF, the board of directors of AIDS Emergency Fund relied on the expertise and input from a distinguished Advisory Board comprised of the leading breast cancer advocates and experts in the city (see list below). They welcomed the initiative being taken by AEF to expand its financial assistance expertise to serve low-income women suffering from breast cancer.

Just as in the early days of AEF in 1982, board members working to launch BCEF were guided by both a general sense of community needs and their own personal experience of illness. Board members and volunteers at AIDS Emergency Fund were eager to befriend and support breast cancer patient Rebecca LePere, the domestic partner of Leslie Ewing, who was had served on the AEF Board and was a past Board President. Rebecca lived to see the launch of BCEF, but succumbed to breast cancer on January 4, 2002.

In 2001, BCEF was able to provide emergency financial assistance to 44 low-income women and men disabled by breast cancer or its often debilitating treatments. Qualified applicants with incomes below $1,960 per month were eligible for up to $600 in assistance to cover housing, utility or medical expenses. Fundraising efforts kept pace with client demand, and no eligible client was turned away for lack of BCEF resources.

In 2002, BCEF launched an outreach effort to inform breast cancer clinics and care providers of the availability of grant monies. Over the course of the year, BCEF established collaborative relationships with more than 20 other breast cancer care organizations. As a result of this expanded outreach, 77 clients suffering with breast cancer applied for funding and BCEF made grants in excess of $39,000. Again, community and foundation support for BCEF kept pace with client demand, and no eligible client in need was turned away. 

Early and ongoing support from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Junior League of San Francisco enabled AEF to launch the initiative professionally and thoughtfully. Their support also helped open doors of many other breast cancer care organizations who embraced AEF’s efforts. Over its first two years, BCEF has been blessed to receive funds from Universal Care, Kendal Jackson Wineries, Castro Lions Club, and others (including a large gift via the Tides Foundation from an anonymous donor). 

Community support has been crucial to BCEF’s success and will be the key factor in BCEF’s ability to continue to fully fund all client needs as the case load increases. In addition to hundreds of individual donors and fundraising events, BCEF’s star community fundraiser is Sandy “Mama” Reinhardt whose annual BCEF dinner and other events raise vital funds that go directly to client grants.