On Sunday afternoon at 22420 Old Santa Cruz Hwy, inside Nestldown’s enchanting grounds, a garden party unfolded. This was not an ordinary party. This was Cancer CAREpoint’s “CCP” annual fundraiser. Nestldown is a little over six miles away from downtown Los Gatos. “We are very grateful to Nestledown in offering their venue for our major fundraiser,” Pam Klaus, executive director at CCP, said. This fundraiser received over 100 auction items, and was mostly held online.
Partying in the garden with purpose
What began as a simple gathering has blossomed into one of Silicon Valley’s premier summer events. This Garden Party welcomed over 350 guests and plans to raise more than $1 million dollars. Funds generated by the auction help CCP to support the Bay Area’s only community-based nonprofit that offers personalized, one-on-one cancer support services.
“CCP is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of Bay Area residents impacted by cancer by providing compassionate, personalized support services and programs tailored to meet individual cancer survivor needs” is how their mission statement puts it.
‘Crushing the Cancer Curveball’
At the sponsors reception, author Joelle Kaufman addressed the attendees with a hope-filled message. Kaufman is a 43-year-old breast cancer survivor. Kaufman also hosts a podcast called “Kicking Cancer’s Ass.” In her book, Crushing the Cancer Curveball: A Playbook for the Newly Diagnosed and Their Family and Friends, she offers a helpful playbook.
It’s a guidebook full of tips on how to survive—and thrive—during the recovery periods needed to “kick cancer’s ass.” In her family there’s a four-decade history of cancer. Kaufman goes from fearful to fierce. She ends each chapter with a “Lessons Learned” checklist.
Author Hanna Jayne (Hanna Haworth) Cancer CAREpoint client
Haworth, a San Jose resident who works with CCP, spoke during the garden party meal. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 cancer at age 41. Her husband was the one who first connected with CCP. Her personal essays on cancer survivorship have been featured in “Wildfire Magazine” and “Storycatchers.” With CCP one is not alone in the diagnosis and treatment—not to mention the journey back from the darkest days of battling cancer.
Personalized, one-on-one support
This was a celebration of Cancer CAREpoint’s 13th year. “This evening we will be honoring the journey, the generosity and the community that makes healing possible,” Klaus stated. The theme for this event was “Pathways to compassionate care.” Klaus added, “This theme reflects not only the journeys of our clients but also the very heart of Cancer CAREpoint’s mission.”
From the garden party brochure, written by Executive Director Klaus and Board Chair Sarah Schiltz: “Because of the generosity shown tonight we are able to provide free, personalized services—nutritional guidance, counseling, support groups, wigs, financial assistance and so much more. We are able to provide this to anyone impacted by cancer in our community. These services do more than meet practical needs; they ease the emotional burden of a cancer diagnosis and offer comfort during one of life’s most difficult chapters.”
How common is cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, over a lifetime your chances to contract cancer is about 1 in 2 for men and 1 in 3 for women. For men, the most common cancers are prostate, lung or colorectal. For women it’s breast, colorectal area or lung cancer. The good news is that with better screening and improved treatments, cancer is often survivable.
Working only with adults, CCP offers a wide variety of programs and services. All of these services are provided at no cost to patients and their families.
CCP does not receive any federal or state funding, instead relying on grants and donations to keep serving the community.
CCP is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, located at 2512 Samaritan Court, Suite A, San Jose. For more information, call 408-402-6611 or visit CancerCAREpoint.org or in**@*************nt.com.
