About Pretty In Pink Foundation

Pretty In Pink Foundation serves people diagnosed with breast cancer who have limited health insurance benefits, or in many cases, no health insurance at all.  Typically, these people do not qualify for government funded or assisted programs.  When breast cancer is present and medical insurance is not enough, care is delayed or simply not ever received because of cost barriers.  Once diagnosed with breast cancer, many people experience financial hardships in trying to keep up with paying for quality treatment.  Oftentimes this is simply because they are choosing between breast cancer treatment and quality of life needs like shelter and food.

In North Carolina, nearly 20% of the women have no health insurance coverage and more than 14% live at or below the federal poverty level (FPL).  Adding to the statistical impact is that nearly 1/3 of North Carolinian households are managed by single or divorced women with limited financial resources.

The process of managing breast cancer treatment includes the careful coordination of medical professionals, surgeons, hospitals, oncologists and radiation oncologists.  Once diagnosed, people with breast cancer are immediately thrusted into a process unlike anything they have ever experienced.  To make managing breast cancer a little easier on you and your family, Pretty In Pink Foundation provides access to quality of life support, education and resources through relationships with vendors and providers who understand your individual needs.

The mission of Pretty In Pink Foundation is simple . . . to ensure that quality, life-saving medical treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy) is available to breast cancer patients residing in North Carolina, regardless of their ability to pay.

About The Founder

Dr. Lisa Tolnitch, a breast cancer surgeon founded Pretty In Pink Foundation in May, 2004 as a vehicle for breast cancer patients who desperately needed care, treatment and surgery, but had no means of paying for service.

Dr. Tolnitch is the principal at Tolnitch Surgical Associates, a Raleigh, North Carolina practice that has focused exclusively on women and breast cancer since 1991.  Dr. Tolnitch has worked to bring the most effective and least invasive treatments of breast disease to the Raleigh metro area and is a key sponsor and contributor to a multidisciplinary conference to keep all the specialists involved in breast care current on the advances in the treatment of breast disease and breast cancer.

Pretty In Pink Foundation Mission

Pretty In Pink Foundation's mission is to provide financial assistance to uninsured and underinsured breast cancer patients with treatment and surgical needs and the inability to pay for it.  Pretty In Pink Foundation promotes life after breast cancer through the work we do with volunteers, the donations we receive and the sponsorships that are created.

Pretty In Pink Foundation Vision

The ultimate vision of Pretty In Pink Foundation is to eliminate financial barriers and provide financial resources to any and all breast cancer patients with a true financial need for treatment and surgery. The first step to realizing this vision is to expand our efforts throughout North Carolina.  By 2020, Pretty In Pink Foundation foresees a point of presence in every state.

The Board of Directors

The Pretty In Pink Foundation Board of Directors is a diverse group of medical and business professionals representing expertise and specializations that contribute to the Foundation's overall success. The Pretty In Pink Foundation Board Members work in tandem with our contributors, volunteers, sponsors, donators and staff to share in the attainment of the vision.

Pretty In Pink Foundation 2009-2010 Board Members:

Lisa Tolnitch, M.D., Founder & Chairperson, Principal, Tolnitch Surgical Associates

Keith Amos, M.D., Asst. Professor of Surgery, UNC School of Medicine

Jayne Byrd, RN, MSN, Associate VP Surgical Services, Rex Healthcare

Nora Lynn Finch, Associate Commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference

F. Stephen Glass, Attorney At Law, Johnson, Hearn, Vinegar, Gee & Glass, PLLC

Rebecca Horn, President, Carolina Global Enterprises, Inc.

Renee Jankowsky, Owner, Generations Salon & Day Spa

Kelly Keller, Partner, Dogwood Developmen Partners

Andrew S. Kennedy, M.D. FACRO, Co-Medical Director, Wake Radiology Oncology

Glenna Musante, President, Musante Communications

Mary Lou Powell, Sr. VP Patient Care Svcs, Chief Nursing Officer, Rex Healthcare

Duncan Rougier-Chapman, M.D., Co-Director Breast MRI Services, Wake Radiology