Dear Betsy:

On behalf of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana, I want to express our gratitude for the tremendous work WIN Against Breast Cancer has accomplished at our Center with the Breast Buddy Program. This has proved to be a wonderful collaboration. This program was launched three years ago and quickly earned praises from our patients as well as the trust and support from our surgical staff. It began as a pilot project but has developed into a self-sustaining program and has become an integral part of our women's medical care program.

In addition to our collaborative efforts in providing direct service to patients, we continue to work together in developing outreach materials and training curriculum. This is a significant benefit to women throughout Kaiser Permanente facilities and beyond to the underserved women throughout our communities.

I wish to commend you, again, not only on your work at our Southern California sites, but also for creating an organization that provides greatly needed services and education. The numbers of patients served are growing and we now have a very effective framework for providing high quality, multi-faceted breast cancer services.

I look forward to our continued work together and offer my full support as you continue to grow and reach out to the underserved communities of California.

Sincerely,

Laurence C. Oliver
Assistant Medical Group Administrator

It gives me great pleasure to write this letter because in my 3 1/2 years as a volunteer, helping women deal with breast cancer, I found the breast Buddy Program to be one of the best programs around to meet the needs of women through and after the traumatic diagnosis of breast cancer.

The monthly programs, educational material and the camaraderie with a great group of ladies has been a great help to me and the breast buddies who I have been helping.

As a breast cancer survivor, I feel there is a tremendous need for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients to see and talk with other women who have been through their treatment and have gone on with their lives. We, as Breast Buddies, are living proof that life can be a s good or even better after breast cancer.

The leadership is terrific in this program. Laura, Betsy, Pat and all the wonderful ladies who help are to be commended for their dedication to the Breast Buddy Program.

God Bless You All,

Virginia
Breast Buddy