My Hope Chest

“Once prepared, the Form 990 is reviewed by the CEO and Treasurer of the Organization prior to filing.”

“The Board of Directors determine the CEOs compensation based on performance and median salary for the position.”

“The Organization makes its governing documents and Form 990 available upon request.”

“Continued from Page 2, Form 990 - DUE TO THE RECENT PANDEMIC, IN 2020 MANY HOSPITALS WOULD NOT ALLOW ELECTIVE SURGERIES, WHICH BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY IS CONSIDERED, PREVENTING MY HOPE CHEST MHC FROM PROVIDING SURGERIES FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WE KNOW THIS IS TEMPORARY AND FOCUSED SUPPORT ON OUR OTHER PROGRAM, BILL PAY ASSISTANCE. OUR INCOME HAS BEEN IMPACTED BECAUSE AVAILABLE GRANT DOLLARS WENT TO OTHER FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER CHARITIES. RIGHTFULLY SO, BUT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR INCOME THESE PAST TWO YEARS. PPP LOANS KEPT US AFLOAT IN 2021. MHC HAS NOT HAD A FUNDRAISER SINCE 2019, ALSO ADDING A LOSS OF REVENUE. BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE A VIRTUAL EVENT THIS YEAR AND HOPE TO SEE MORE GRANT FUNDS AND DONORS SUPPORTING OUR UNIQUE MISSION AS THIS TIME OF LIFE PASSES. THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT BEEN KIND TO OUR IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION... BUT WE ARE NOT GIVING UP IN FACT, WE ARE RESTRUCTURING AND REBRANDING. WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR SUCCESS IN 2022 AND CONTINUING EFFORTS FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS AND BEYOND. WE HAVE CREATED A NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD EXCITED TO HELP US GROW AND ELEVATE OUR ORGANIZATION. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE THIS STRONG LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT IS COMMITTED TO OUR SUCCESS. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE CHARITY WILL NOT ONLY GET BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC SUCCESS BUT MOREOVER, SURPASS OUR MISSIONS GOALS TO HELP MANY MORE WOMEN ATTAIN BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY THAN EVER BEFORE. THE ORGANIZATION USES ITS FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT THE IN-KIND SERVICES AND TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. MUCH OF THE COSTS INVOLVE THE ARDUOUS PROCESS OF SECURING THE SERVICES OF THESE TALENTED PHYSICIANS AND THEIR FACILITIES AND TO EDUCATE ON THIS GAP IN INSURANCE COVERAGE WITHIN AND BEYOND THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. WHERE MAJOR BREAST CANCER ORGANIZATIONS COVER EDUCATION, AWARENESS, PREVENTION AND RESEARCH, MHCs SERVICE PICKS UP WHERE THEY LEAVE OFF, PROVIDING BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY, THE FINAL STEP IN TREATMENT. WE OFFER ASSISTANCE NATIONALLY PROVIDING HUGE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO LOSE THEIR BREASTS TO CANCER IN A CHOICE TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. THESE SURVIVORS ARE STUCK WITHOUT OUR PROGRAM, THEY FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND ARE UNABLE TO RESTORE THEMSELVES IN BODY, MIND AND/OR SPIRIT TO PUT CANCER BEHIND THEM AT LAST AND EMOTIONALLY MOVE ON WITH LIFE. ADDITIONALLY, MHC FUNDS CO-PAYS FOR INSURED INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH DEDUCTIBLES OF UP TO 7,000 PER WOMAN. DURING THE YEAR WE HAVE REACHED HUNDREDS OF WOMEN SEEKING INFORMATION, CANCER AND BILL PAY RESOURCES, AND EDUCATION OF RECONSTRUCTION OPTIONS. MHCS OPERATING COSTS ARE SUPPORTED PRIMARILY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH MEDICAL FACILITIES, SURGEONS, MHC SIGNATURE AND 3RD PARTY FUNDRAISERS, CORPORATE PARTNERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROVIDERS.”

“My hope chest provides financial assistance to breast cancer survivors in need of reconstructive surgery without insurance or funds to cover the cost. Our program operates by appealing to surgeons to provide these services free of charge or at a medicaid rate. This generosity, included in program service expenses in grants to individuals, totals 40,221 this year, including medical in-kind contributions of 37,500 and non-medical, in-kind contributions of 2,771. Because of this generosity, many women over the years have been able to feel whole again and good about themselves. The organization uses its funds to supplement these services and to cover their administrative costs. Much of the costs are involved in the arduous process of securing the services of these talented physicians and their facilities and to educate on this gap of insurance coverage within and beyond the medicalcommunity. In addition, in-kind services for administrative and other services totaled over 2,700 this year. See form 990, part iii, line 4a for a complete program description.”

“Employee Benefit Savings Expense - My Hope Chest has survived nearly 20 years as a grassroots charity. We were birthed, created from dust, and worked diligently changing lives of breast cancer survivors across America with a small team with big hearts We were not an arm of an existing or larger organization having complex employee policies in place. We worked hard every year to sustain and grow but did not have employee benefits in place due to our size and grassroots income. In 2015, we started an Employee Benefits Savings accounts with the goal to one day set up our 401k program. Our fulltime salaried employees deferred much of their benefits to keep the charity going, while at the same time, working at a reduced salary so My Hope Chest could hire additional staff to best serve our mission. Employees are truly passionate and dedicated to our mission. My Hope Chest is committed to paying these benefits to the people that paid it forward. We will pay benefits due when funds are available, over time, so as not to jeopardize the Organizations stability and financial future.”