Slipstream - October 2020

My Start with Mavs Breast Cancer Philanthropy
by Julia Cleath
Throughout my life I have been eager to lend a hand
where needed. While raising children fulltime, this
began to take over my life, as I was volunteering for
their schools, classrooms, PTAs, church groups, and
the like. When those volunteer efforts began to slow
during their high school years, I’d step up to the plate
elsewhere, for the city, the church, or just to help a
friend out.
I was certain in reaching the current season of my
life that my volunteer days would be winding down
to just lending a hand now and then. With the PCA,
my husband and I really enjoy the Mavs & Mochas
gatherings and meeting all the great folks. We have
made many good friends over the years. And as usual,
whenever we could, we would pitch in help here and
there if needed.
PLOT TWIST: So in steps my friend Jimmy Gallegos,
and his lovely wife Phyllis. On February 4 I received a
message from Jimmyg regarding the new philanthropy
efforts for the club. He was asking me to volunteer
with the Breast Cancer Awareness project. It would
involve bringing awareness, raising funds, and would
culminate in October. I wrote back that I wasn’t very
good at fundraising, and had never been personally
touched by Breast Cancer, but that I would try to help
where I could. Truth be told, some of the breast cancer
charities out there today have a bad reputation, and I
didn’t really want to align myself with them.
As I was pondering all of this I had a flashback
to a trick-or-treat Mav event at The Star in Frisco.
We happened to be parked next to a new maverick
member, Kevin Hail. As we were waiting for trick-ortreaters
to come by, I was taking the opportunity to get
to know him. At my prodding (I can be “like that”) he
told me he was the President and COO of the National
Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) here in Frisco. I
was a little brazen in my questioning about where the
NBCF foundations monies went to (sorry Kevin), but
- lo and behold - I was extremely pleased to hear that
the NBCF and its mission put all my personal issues to
rest. NBCF is NOT like other breast cancer charities
out there.
I immediately wrote back to Jimmyg with my
recollection and details of having met Kevin. From
that point forward we both KNEW that the National
Breast Cancer Foundation was who we would partner
with for this wonderful philanthropy!
We quickly set up a meeting with Kevin at their
headquarters in Frisco. We wanted to learn more about
their mission and tour the facility. While sleeping the
night prior to the meeting, I suddenly awoke out of the
blue, with an IDEA: a fundraiser T-shirt image I had
in my head. So I sat up in bed and created the idea on
paper so I’d have something to present in the morning.
Jimmyg, Phyllis, and I enjoyed our tour of the
very impressive NBCF offices, and learned so many
wonderful things about the foundation. We were
also lucky to happen to meet Janelle, Kevin’s Mom.
She started the foundation in 1991 after she survived
breast cancer.
My T-shirt idea seemed to be a hit, and by March, I
was picking up the first 100 T-shirts! Since then, even
with multiple Covid-canceled events, we have met our
goal, and are almost sold out of the second batch of
100 shirts we ordered. At our October event, we will
see the fruits of all your generous donations! It will be
a great event.
So, between Jimmyg contacting me (of all people)
about the new charity and my light bulb moment with
the T-shirt idea, and also remembering having met
our fellow Maverick member, Kevin, I believe that I
was never going to be in charge of when or where to
volunteer my time. Seems there is a greater power at
work here.
See you in October, and wear something PINK!
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