My Nonprofit Reviews
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Review for SWEET RELIEF MUSICIANS FUND, Fullerton, CA, USA
My husband is a musician, who was lucky enough to be on my health insurance policy when he was diagnosed with cancer. His bills were over a million dollars, but insurance covered most everything. We have lots of friends, his bandmates, other peers in the industry that are not so lucky. Musicians spend their lives feeding our souls, nurturing the parts of our spirit that are inspired by creativity, art, community, and love. Even professional players who have supported themselves playing music their whole lives... may one day lose the ability to move their hands. Or they may have an accident, suffer financial hardship, or get cancer. Lots of charities will help get instruments to children. Lots will help school programs develop this love... then what? Those children grow up to be adults who give back to society, share the talent they were born with, work very hard their whole lives... and no one is there to offer them help when they need it most. SWEET RELIEF DOES!!! This incredible team, run by only a handful of experienced, dedicated souls..are able to provide emergency financial assistance to musicians in need, due to disability, age, or illness. Even more impressive- they do so with administrative overhead costs around 7%. They are personally involved in all their work, and care deeply about the musicians they help nationwide. Lastly, this group allows you to give by genre (love jazz?), region (yay new orleans!), by individual (through private funds), or many other ways to make sure your intent is matched very specifically with the people they are helping. I jumped in to help with social media on an event they were benefitting from...this led to an increased role as production manager, and now into spreading the good word about such a great group! They truly allow their volunteers to do what they love, with the common goal of helping musicians who have all given us so much.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Review for The Oral Cancer Foundation, Santa Fe, NM, USA
When my husband was diagnosed with Stage IVb throat cancer, i grabbed every pamphlet in the hospital. The foremost organization that offered information, education, and support was OCF. Exploring the website, i was immediately grateful to discover the widespread community, dove into the research and information available, and communicated with Brian Hill about how to give back in the future. My husband is now TWO YEARS ALL CLEAR from this disease, and we hold OCF as the clear leader in public information and outreach on this disease.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
nearly every facet of our facing this disease. I have spoken to the founder (amazing man!), i have read all the literature, I have benefitted from the information I had access to, and it helped in my husband's recovery and treatment.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would alter the language of the website, pamphlets, and educational materials to focus on the positive possibility of not only surviving but thriving after oral cancer. HOPE.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the founder's personal commitment to be involved in all aspects of the foundation. He spends HOURS every day responding directly to patient inquiries and counseling patients one on one. utterly inspirational!
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Brian and Megan, the only two staff, work tirelessly to spread the good word, the information, and resources.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
launch a national campaign to bring the same level of awareness to oral cancer as breast cancer. A simple screening could save lives, and hardly anyone knows they can still get oral cancer if they don't smoke.
Ways to make it better...
I had seen more HOPE in their messages. I was so traumatized by the statistics and possible horrors on the front page of the brochure or website that didn't seem balanced in stories of survival.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
funding to allow more staff. Brian is spending every waking moment handling the patient inquiries one on one, which likely puts a strain on his ability to lead a national campaign of advocacy. As it is, he does amazingly well with what he has.
One thing I'd also say is that...
Kudos to Brian and the organization he has established. Without it, there would be a huge empty space in the hospitals, where information, support, and advocacy are now.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
