Every year, I pause and reflect on what this journey has meant—not just for me as a survivor, but for the thousands of women who have trusted Tigerlily Foundation.
Advocacy work is often seen as inspiring, hopeful, and uplifting—and it is. But most don’t see behind the scenes: the hard decisions, the financial realities, and the emotional weight of carrying a charge that some are trying to eliminate. Last year, we were tested—and threatened. We were told to stop using the words that define who we are, Advocacy. Black. Brown. BIPOC. Vulnerable. Underserved. Diversity. Community, the words we use to support women navigating the most difficult days of their lives.
There were moments when we had to ask ourselves hard questions. What truly matters? Where should our energy go? How do we ensure every decision actually serves the women we are here for?
How do we keep advocating when we are at risk of being silenced? In that silence, I heard my father’s voice: “This is who you are…do it anyway.”
When I founded Tigerlily nearly two decades ago, I did not imagine the movement it would become. I was simply a young woman living with breast cancer who saw the gaps—gaps in information, in support, in how systems treated women of color. What began as a mission to help one woman became a commitment to support all women.
Facing this pressure, I was reminded that “No” is not a new word for me. For 20 years, “No” has been the fuel driving me to speak for those who have been historically ignored and told they did not matter. Faced with the threat of being squeezed into obsolescence, I remembered my roots. I remembered what people of color have known for generations: We are resilient. We overcome.
So, last year, we didn’t shrink. We unleashed the power of our community with more passion and purpose than ever before. The impact was a sight to behold. This year, I see that fire burning bright in the eyes of our ANGEL Advocates, our partners, and the thousands of patients who continue to show up for one another.
We rebounded stronger—in our partnerships, in our faith, in our commitment to the community that is the heart of this work. This year, Tigerlily is curating more community gatherings, educational experiences, and advocacy events than at any point in our history. Throughout the country, we are bringing survivors, advocates, clinicians, and researchers together to educate, empower, and influence. Gatherings that remind us what makes this work powerful: community. As women come together, healing becomes possible. Change becomes inevitable.
To the Conquer community: Thank you. Your courage reminds us every day that this work matters. Your commitment drives this movement forward. Thank you for extending your community to Tigerlily and for giving me a platform to share our work. And thank you, Dad, for reminding me of who I am. We will always turn our faces to the sun and move forward with pride.
What gives me hope is the strength of the community rising with us: survivors who share their voices so others feel less alone, advocates who refuse to accept inequity as normal, and partners who believe in a future where equitable care is not an aspiration, but a reality.
If there is one message I hope you carry with you today, it is this: Together, we are unstoppable.
With gratitude and purpose,
Founder, President/CEO
Tigerlily Foundation
