Mission and History

Mission

The mission of Heartwood Foundation is to provide free high-quality holistic healthcare education and services to low-income and minority women living with cancer.

Our goals are:

1. To facilitate health and well-being for women with cancer.
2. To educate women about the benefits of holistic healthcare.
3. To provide opportunities for women to experience the interrelationships of body-mind-spirit.
4. To empower women to advocate for themselves in making healthcare decisions.
5. To assist women in learning about and accessing other supportive services.
   

History

The Heartwood Foundation Women & Cancer Program was initiated in 2004 by former State Senator, Carol Ronen, and Nancy Floy, owner of Heartwood Center for Body Mind Spirit, an Evanston-based holistic healthcare center. Ms. Ronen, a breast cancer survivor, was treated with acupuncture and massage at Heartwood Center while undergoing chemotherapy. Her positive experience became the impetus for a program where every woman with cancer, regardless of limited financial means, could receive these supportive services.

The Women & Cancer Program at Heartwood received its first grant in 2004 from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women's Health, with the Rogers Park Community Council acting as its fiscal agent. With continued IDPH funding, community grants, and private donations, the program is now entering its seventh year. Since its inception, the Heartwood Women and Cancer Program has provided over 700 free holistic healthcare treatments and classes to women in need.

In April 2009, Heartwood Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit corporation to house the program. All donations to the Women and Cancer Program are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Heartwood Foundation was awarded a community grant in January 2010 from the Ticket for the Cure fund, an Illinois lottery-based program whose proceeds benefit women in Illinois with breast cancer. This fund is managed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women's Health. With this grant, the Women & Cancer Program will expand to serve more women in various locations throughout Chicagoland. Holistic practitioners of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds will be available to meet the needs of our participants.