A Women’s Bakery, Orphaned Elephants, and Rural Breast Care: Giving With a Bigger Picture
Nonprofit leaders dream of someone walking in and saying, “I’m going to give you a million dollars.” Very few ever see it happen. In this episode, a longtime supporter explains why she chose to fund multiple mobile coaches, help open an East Texas hub, and seed The Rose’s Mammogram to Medical Home program instead of paying for brick and mortar. She talks about dividing her mother’s unrestricted giving fund among education, medical care, and conservation, and why she looks for small organizations whose work sends “tentacles” into whole communities and generations. From a women’s bakery in Africa that feeds thousands of children and sends girls to school, to knowledge mobiles, orphaned elephants, and seed grants for students, she returns over and over to one idea: food and health give people a chance at any future.
Dance, Culture, and Commitment to Breast Cancer Awareness
During this mashup episode, you’ll hear from supporters of Hats and Henna High Tea, a community driven event that celebrates survivors, supports patients, and raises critical funds for The Rose. These are supporters, caregivers, and champions. They talk about mothers and mothers in law facing breast cancer, the sacrifices families make, and the resilience that shows up in hospital rooms, small businesses, and dance floors. Hats and Henna Hight Tea brings culture, art, and local leadership together to focus on The Rose’s mission.
Keeping Access and Compassion First In Every Board Decision
Board Chair Shannon Wiesedeppe carries a deep family history of breast cancer into every decision she helps make at The Rose. From hurricanes and COVID to a Co-Founder and CEO transition, she keeps The Rose focused on access, reimbursement realities, mobile coaches, and identical care for uninsured and insured women.
Luncheon Lessons: Stories That Inspire Hope (and Change)
The Rose stands strong because of supporters who gather each year for the “Everything is Coming Up Roses Luncheon,” celebrating survivors, donors, and advocates who drive the mission forward.
God Winks, Ringing Bells, and The Rose: Nancy and Shelley’s Shared Journey as Honorees at the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon
Nancy and Shelley didn’t plan to share a breast cancer story, much less two very different diagnoses, eight years apart. One faced stage zero DCIS at 41 after pushing for a 3D mammogram; the other walked into an annual screening, felt no lump, and still heard “stage two HER2‑positive.” In this conversation, we talk about what happens when two pragmatic, organized women lean on faith, friendship, and their networks to move fast on treatment—then turn around and use their experience to champion The Rose and the women who rely on us for access to mammograms, diagnostics, and compassionate care.
Luncheons, Legislation & Lifelines: Behind the Scenes with Mitra Woody
Mitra Woody shares how her story led her to champion The Rose and its mission to save lives through early detection. She draws on her healthcare law background to explain why access to preventive breast care remains out of reach for many uninsured and underinsured patients. She points to mobile mammography and patient navigation as the most critical lifelines The Rose offers in vulnerable communities. During this episode, she lays out clear goals for the Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon: raise serious funds, recognize longtime volunteers and spread the word about the work happening every day at The Rose.
The Studio That Heals: Ballet, Children, and the Heart of Survival
Cookie Joe has spent her life teaching dance, shaping not just technique but character, faith, and compassion in her students. When cancer struck, she embraced it as a purposeful challenge, inspiring her community through fundraisers, open conversations, and shared strength. Her story is a celebration of resilience, community, and faith over fear.
How One Woman Danced through Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis
What does it take to turn a breast cancer diagnosis into a mission to help others? Carol Grimaldi is the co-founder of Together in Pink, an organization born from her own breast cancer experience.
Empowering Volunteers, Empowering Patients: One Woman’s Journey to Saving Lives
Shannon Lecoq has spent nearly 30 years fighting cancer, supporting patients, and building partnerships that save lives. Her work with the American Cancer Society and The Rose has led to some surprising stories, unexpected lessons, and a focus on Raising vital funds so that everyone can access breast health care, navigating patients through their toughest moments, whether insured or uninsured, and empowering volunteers and communities to make a difference, one event at a time
Mission Moments: Stories of Courage and Connection at The Rose
Support comes to life at the “Everything’s Coming Up Roses Luncheon,” where advocates, survivors, board members, and friends stand shoulder to shoulder for women’s health in the community.