Friends of Mel Foundation Offers Grants Through Mel's Magic Program

Non-Profits Awarded Mel's Magic Grants to Serve the Cancer Community

HINGHAM, Mass., Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Over the past four years, the Friends of Mel Foundation has gifted over $2,500,000 to non-profit cancer organizations including Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center; The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing; Facing Cancer Together; Ovations for the Cure; Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation; SCAN Foundation and many more who offer support to cancer patients and their caregivers. Friends of Mel continues to focus their efforts on grassroots organizations, like themselves, who touch the lives of so many.

Mel's Magic was created by the Friends of Mel Foundation in May 2009 to familiarize their supporters with other grassroots organizations that work tirelessly to make a difference in the cancer community. Each month, the Friends of Mel Foundation designates $1 from the proceeds of every Mel's Bracelet ordered online at, www.friendsofmel.org or by phone (781-740-2511) to a deserving organization who parallels in their mission to help those affected by cancer.

To date, the Friends of Mel Foundation has awarded over $90,000 to 23 different recipients of the Mel's Magic grants. Those awarded include Facing Cancer Together, Imerman's Angels, Stowe Weekend of Hope, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Okizu Foundation, and many other deserving organizations. Individuals and supporters of the Friends of Mel Foundation can view a list of all the past Mel's Magic recipients at www.friendsofmel.org/mels-magic/past-campaigns. A new organization or two is announced on the first of each month on the Friends of Mel website and their Facebook page under the Mel's Magic tab – www.facebook.com/friendsofmel.  

The Friends of Mel Foundation was founded in 2006 in memory of an exceptional woman named Mel Simmons. Mel was a spiritual woman of legendary generosity and boundless energy.  Humor was her trademark.  She managed to turn every crisis into an opportunity.  In 2000, Mel was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and began her five year journey. Mel's legacy is now spearheading fundraising efforts by Friends of Mel Foundation that benefits cancer research and education programs, as well as making non-medical grants to individuals in treatment and under financial stress as a result of their disease.

To learn more about the Mel's Magic program or to request a grant, visit the Friends of Mel Foundation's website at www.friendsofmel.org.

About Friends of Mel Foundation

Friends of Mel Foundation's mission is to provide quality cancer care for the whole patient by funding cancer research, education and support. Their goal is to support creative and promising projects that impact patient care at both the grassroots and institutional levels. To date, through donations received for Mel's Bracelet, over $2,000,000 has been gifted to programs that support their mission. Currently, the Friends of Mel Foundation is in the planning process for their first-ever conference for survivors and caregivers called The Art of Living – Life Beyond Cancer at the Quincy Marriott in Quincy, MA on June 4th, 2011. To make a donation and join the thousands of women around the world who are wearing Mel's Bracelets, visit www.friendsofmel.org or call 781-740-2511.

SOURCE Friends of Mel Foundation