My Nonprofit Reviews
Patients
Review for Voices of Survivors Foundation, Houston, TX, USA
Not only is Voices of Survivors a welcome and needed part of the cancer survivor's world but so is Lynn Lane, their founder and director. Daily, I follow the website and the VoS social media (twitter & Facebook) that networks us survivors and patients together to offer aid, support and information to one another throughout the day. The powerful and moving videos of survivors mean so much to us who want so badly to survive, too. And not just hang on but do it in style, as Lynn and his many featured survivors do! Lynn's super spirit permeates everything he does. His joy, gentle wit and rollicking humor are something I look forward to every day whether he's introducing a written voice telling someone's heartfelt story or eliciting someone's inner beauty and humanity in a survivor video. I look forward to Lynn's various postings each day and eagerly look forward to the videos of survivors telling their stories especially. Lynn is a hero to so many of us and his infectious good humor and bright outlook on life are such a boost in everything he and VoS do. The powerful stories of cancer survivors mean so very much to a patient who struggles with uncertainty, fear, fatigue and sometimes pain. I repost many of Lynn's videos and get such great feedback from other survivors. By example and explanation, we learn coping tips, strategies, successful attitudes, how to reach out for the right kind of help or a second opinion, how to be pleasantly proactive, how to communicate better with our health care teams, how to have a better relationship throughout the strain of illness and treatment. It's valuable stuff. Men, women, young, older, from all around the world, each survivor Lynn captures has something to teach us about dignity and life. Sometimes we lose people. Not all survivors survive. When cancer claims someone, it is so very dear to have these videos or their written words to remember them by. The videos and written word essays are quite an archive if anyone wanted to study the qualities of survivorship. My only criticisms? I wish Lynn had help & the budget to do even more of the videos. One a day would suit me fine! I also wish it were a little easier to access older videos on the website. I imagine Lynn could solve this problem with a large bequest or a grant or two! And the
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seeing the responses from cancer patients and survivors on facebook and twitter.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Add staff that had a similar level of passion, enthusiasm, warmth and genuineness. Growing while preserving the intimacy and personal feeling.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The amazing range of humanity captured in the videos.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
I've only met Lynn and he is the unsinkable Molly Brown on the Titanic that is cancer.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Be a powerful voice in cancer advocacy. Make some great documentaries. Organize & run some kick ass physical training programs & bike races for cancer survivors. Sport is the antithesis of cancer. it's a great way to overcome the shadows of helplessness
Ways to make it better...
The website made searching and accessing archived material easier. Costs $$, though.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Finding the right staff, growing without losing the intimacy & power
One thing I'd also say is that...
Lynn himself is so much a part of the while spirit. These videos are so deeply personal that growing too big might endanger the truthfulness and power.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
