MAKE LEMONADE PROJECT
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to help cancer patients turn lemons into lemonade with heartfelt gifts and fundraising to ease the financial burdens of treatment.
About This Cause
Make Lemonade Project · Executive Summary From the second you are diagnosed with cancer, no matter where you are in your disease, you are deemed a Survivor. This badge of courage and strength earned in a single moment is defined by the physical and mental battle waged, lifelong wounds carried, and gratitude for life’s most treasured. There was a time when cancer was referred to as the bad “C” word in conversation, if it came up at all. Today, 40% of men and women can expect to be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes. Cancer rates are highest in countries whose populations have the highest life expectancy, education level, and standard of living. Survivors face tremendous challenges beyond the often debilitating surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation-financial toxicity. The first year of survivorship can cost the average American household an incredible $100,000 of out-of-pocket expenses. Can you imagine this scenario? Middle class and even upper middle class households define Hawaii’s families who earn too much to qualify for assistance but certainly too little to shoulder such a catastrophe as cancer. What results is financial toxicity. These Survivors are small business owners, teachers, administrators, nurses, retail and hospitality workers, and everyone in between. These are the hardworking people of Hawaii, our neighbors, who often are living paycheck to paycheck and simply do not have the savings to battle financial toxicity. Make Lemonade Project (MLP) was founded in May 2021 to combat financial toxicity. We stood up this organization with the sole purpose to alleviate the financial burden of as many cancer survivors as possible…full stop. We effectuate this goal by raising funds and awarding grants in partnership with medical institutions such as the Queen’s Cancer Center. Since inception, MLP has been honored to award 15 grants totalling more than $70,000 to qualified families providing them added strength when needed most. It has been proven that alleviating stress will accelerate healing processes and help patients look to the life after cancer with hope instead of fear of crippling debt. In the unthinkable event a patient does not survive, we also aim to protect grieving loved ones from inheriting financial strain in the form of unpaid medical bills and living expenses. Make Lemonade Project is personal. Our non-profit was founded because I, too, am a loved one of a cancer survivor. My husband and best friend, Michael, has battled stage IV cancer relentlessly for the past 8 years. He was diagnosed shortly after we were married and our journey has defined our love and emboldened our commitment. Make no mistake, we have seen many very dark days; I have witnessed the devastation cancer treatment leaves in its wake and experienced the monumental financial toll that manifests an unimaginably painful psychological strain. With my husband disabled, I am the sole provider for our household. Our 8 year journey has tabulated over $300,000 in medical expenses so I know first-hand the marks financial toxicity. Recently, we were able to grant a newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer patient, Mr. Kim, financial respite. Mr Kim was too sick to work and needed to bridge the gap for his rent until Social Security funds kicked in. Prior to the MLP grant, Mr. Kim had planned to live in his car while receiving chemotherapy. The Lemon-AID Grant flywheel is simple. We partner with social workers at medical institutions such as the Queen’s Cancer Center. Cancer patients are qualified when social workers deem a patient in imminent need of financial assistance beyond or in lieu of low income programs such as Quest and Social Security. Applications are submitted to MLP by email directly to me, the Founder and Executive Director. I then contact the respective social worker and have a discussion on how best to support the patient; I also contact the patient directly for additional information. A grant letter is typically sent within 24 hours of the application receipt and a check is in the hand of the patient ideally within the subsequent 24 hours. The goal is to address the emergent need with the expediency the patient deserves. We know that when we lighten the financial burden, the patient can sleep a bit easier that night. Lemon-AID Grants are not awarded based on need. We believe that need is subjective and not for us to judge. Rather, grants are awarded as applications are received - if the funds are available, we do our very best to help. Soon, MLP intends to partner with additional medical institutions with the Hawai’i Pacific Health universe - namely the Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women and Children and Pali Momi Cancer Center. Current Revenue Since inception the Make Lemonade Project has been funded by multiple revenue sources to include private donations, the Lemonade Shop, and corporate and foundation grants. Private Donations $86,001.97 Lemonade Shop (e-commerce site) $57,513.77 Corporate and Foundation Grants $44,572.87 (as of Dec 2021) In addition, we have been privileged to partner with over 200 other organizations who have partnered with the Make Lemonade Project. Examples of such organizations include Fighting Eel, various small business markets, Central Pacific Bank Foundation, and the Hawaii Community Foundation. Retail partners like Fighting Eel have donated products for us to auction raising thousands of dollars, well above retail value. Organizations like the CPB Foundation have fundraised on their own to champion our Free Lemonade Stands and grant program. Hawaii Community Foundation has advocated for donors to select the MLP for donor advised funds distributions. Finally, over 10,000 in-kind donations have been received in support of our Free Lemonade Stands where cancer patients and providers can help themselves to meaningful gifts for free as they give and receive cancer treatment. Going forward, all of the above revenue sources will continue to be amplified. An added revenue source will be an annual fundraiser gala and other creative partnerships that are presented to MLP. Anticipated Challenges The primary challenge for the Make Lemonade Project will be the persistent fact that need will always outpace available grants due to the increasing cancer diagnosis statistics. What MLP can and will do is accelerate and amplify fundraising efforts to keep pace. A secondary challenge will be operational resources including staffing. In order to raise more funds and effectuate more grants, more human resources are needed to not only grow but sustain the growing enterprise. We seek to scale MLP in the right way with proper data management, donor stewardship, and integrated communications while still maintaining our grassroots personality and simple grant flywheel. We believe that exceeding the expectations of all of our stakeholders is critical to engagement and growth; this level of high engagement will require adequate and trained personnel. With Respect, Kelsey Nishi Darling Founder and Executive Director Make Lemonade Project www.makelemonadeproject.org kelsey@makelemonadeproject.org (808) 277-4000