YSC Affiliates are Offering Travel Grants to National Conference!

Apply Today! <--click on this link to go to application!!

Your local YSC Affiliate will once again offer travel grants to the 10th Annual Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. This is a one-of-a-kind educational conference, solely dedicated to the unique needs of young women and breast cancer. Travel grants will cover transportation, 50% of room costs for two nights and conference registration. Applicants will be selected based on specific criteria set by the affiliates and the conference planners. All applications must be completed by January 22, 2010. You will receive a notification by email within two weeks of the application deadline.

Become a Fan! Win a Vespa!

Vespa USA has partnered with Lifetime Networks in celebration of Lifetime's 15th annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign, Stop Breast Cancer for Life: The Power of 15. And, you're invited to join the fight.Young Survival Coalition is pleased to be the recipient of a limited-edition pink LX 50, which is being offered as the grand prize in our "Win a Vespa" sweepstakes. No purchase is necessary to win, but you must be Facebook Fan of Young Survival Coalition to win, so become a fan today. See Official Sweepstakes Rules for eligibility and complete details.

Product Details
70 miles per gallon

Automatic, just twist and go

Robust steel chassis for ultimate safety

Fine Italian styling of the original scooter

Freedom from traffic congestion

Save fuel!

Reduce your carbon footprint!

A Vespa goes forever!

Large comfortable seat made for two!

Great storage under the seat for your helmet!

Share your BLISS!!

One of our favorite corporate partners, HERSHEY’S®, is holding a blissfully fun contest!

Just submit an essay on "Why you want to experience ‘bliss’ by sharing the 16 ct. HERSHEY’S BLISS® diamond necklace" and you could be one of the 5 lucky winners who will get to wear this gorgeous necklace for 2 weeks!

Here's the buzz:

First Prize: posession of a 16 ct. diamond necklace for 2 weeks!!, a paperback copy of The Necklace by Cheryl Jarvis, two 9.6 ounce bags and two 1.3 ounce bars of HERSHEY’S BLISS Candy.
And here, in our humble opinion, is the best part!:
Winners will also be given the opportunity to travel to New York to attend the Young Survival Coalition’s In Living Pink event scheduled in 2010.

At the end of each Winner’s respective 14-day period, Winner must return the Necklace to the Sponsor, and the Necklace will then be sent to the Winner selected for the next Individual Contest Entry Period until all five Winners have received the opportunity to wear the Necklace.

ENTER to WIN — RULES
Contest open only to legal U.S. residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry.
Limit one online entry per name per e-mail address per day.
This Share the Bliss Contest ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on 12/4/09.

Hershey's Pledge for Breast Cancer and the YSC!!

For the fifth year, Hershey's will turn pink in October to help raise awareness and honor survivors affiliated with the Young Survival Coalition (YSC). On the newly launched promotional page for the Pledge campaign, Hershey's will be profiling 5 very special YSC ladies!! "Beginning September 1, 2009. . . Alane Davis, Lisa J. Frank, Amy Johnson, Laurah Turner Jones and Maureen Parrish, will share their courageous, inspirational stories of breast cancer survival and training for the HERSHEY'S Tour de Pink through their personal video testimonials, photos and blogs. We encourage you to follow along, lend support and encouragement to the women as they document their training for the HERSHEY'S Tour de Pink." Get it all here!

First Annual Congressional Women's Softball Game to Benefit YSC!!

Women lawmakers will participate in the first Congressional Women's Softball Game, a bi-partisan and bi-cameral event, to be held on Tuesday, July 14 at Guy Mason Field.

The first pitch will be thrown at 7:35 pm. Proceeds from the game will help the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) continue its fight to educate and support young women living with breast cancer.
Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and Capitol, including Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), will be competing against Democratic and Republican political committee staff from the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Republican National Committee (RNC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

"I can't tell you how appreciative we are that the women of both the House and Senate recognize the importance of education and support for young women with breast cancer," said Marcia Stein, chief executive officer, YSC. "More than 28,000 women under the age of 45 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Initiatives like the congressional women's softball game will enable YSC to continue to touch thousands of lives and be there for women who need us."

Organizer of the event, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year at the age of 41. Wasserman Shultz recently introduced the EARLY (Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young) Act to Congress, legislation which seeks nine million dollars annually from 2010 to 2014 to educate the public, particularly young women and their doctors, about the need for a much earlier approach to breast cancer detection. The legislation would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to begin educational campaigns in high schools and universities. It has a particular focus on ethnic minorities such as young African American and Jewish women, who are at higher genetic risk.

The free event is open to the public and Congressional Federal Credit Union is a sponsor. Donations and sponsorships are encouraged. The following members of Congress will participate in the softball game:

MEMBERS: Rep. Shelly Berkley; Rep Shelley Moore Capito; Rep. Kathy Castor; Sen. Susan Collins (Captain); Rep. Susan Davis; Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper; Rep. Donna Edwards; Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (Captain); Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (Captain); Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick; Rep. Betsy Markey; Rep. Betty McCollum; Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Rep. Grace Napolitano; Rep. Laura Richardson; Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; Rep. Jean Schmidt; Rep. Betty Sutton; Rep. Nydia Velazquez; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Captain).

DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN COMMITTEES: Sarah Bard, DNC; Sindy Benavides, DNC; Johanna Berkson, DCCC; Erika Brees, DNC; Natalie Buchanan, NRCC (Co-Captain); Sabrina Caprioli, DNC; Emily Charlap, DCCC; Brynne Craig, DNC; Jennifer Crider, DCCC; Grace Cushing, RNC; Lauren Dikis, DCCC; Tiffany Dinneen, NRSC; Katie Dvorak, DNC (Co-Captain); Jessica Furst, NRCC; Gaye Galvin, RNC (Co-Captain); Maya Goines, DNC; Amy Grangeia, RNC; Krista Haagenstad, DCCC; Ann Marie Habershaw, DNC; Suzanne Healy, RNC; Allison Jaslow, DNC; Lyndsey Johnson, NRCC; Amie Kershner, DCCC; Missy Kurek, DCCC; Nicole Landset, DCCC; Diana Leo, RNC; Christie Lombardi, DCCC; Paola Luisi, DNC; Amber Lyons, RNC; Tori Maguire, RNC; Kitty Marcucci, DCCC; Rebecca Mark, NRCC; Cara Mason, NRSC; Katie Nee, DCCC; Katerie Nelis, DNC; Jen O'Malley Dillon, DNC; Jennifer Pihlaja, DCCC; Kelly Polce, DCCC; Casey Redmon, DCCC; Jessica Santillo, DCCC; Jenny Sheffield, NRCC; Roz Skozen, DNC; Jacquie Vanderslice, RNC; Stephanie Young, DCCC (Co-Captain).

You Are Not Alone Survivor Socials

YSC affiliates are reaching the newly diagnosed and survivors in a very fun and creative way!

Thanks to the brainchild of our Northern New Jersey volunteers, affiliates are offering survivor social activities for women who are not comfortable in a support setting. The You are Not Alone (YANA) socials are designed to bring survivors together centered around an activity that is sponsored by the affiliate. Refreshments are served, sometimes even dinner, and the participants are given a 10-minute overview of YSC along with resource materials.

Some recent activities have been, pottery and jewelry making, dinner, bowling or just meeting for drinks or coffee. Our affiliate volunteers take the lead on this program and have been very creative. Locations and activities are moved around the service area to enable more people to participate. The cost is usually free or minimal to the participants. For a YANA event near you check, out our Events Page for dates and locations.

For more information on the 24 YSC Affiliates, please visit our Affiliates page.

YSC Honors It's Volunteers!!

The theme for National Volunteer Week 2009, April 19-25, is

"Celebrating People in Action"

This phrase couldn't describe YSC's volunteers any better! From volunteers who provide peer to peer support for YSC's Point of Contact Program to the volunteers that come into the YSC offices around the country to stuff envelopes, YSC is making a difference for young women with breast cancer.

You can volunteer as an individual and help YSC spread our message in your community in many ways, here are a few:

Adopt a Hospital
Many women find out about YSC from their local hospitals while they are in treatment. The YSC needs your help to ensure that hospitals, cancer centers and doctors' offices in your community know about the YSC and have our brochures on hand for the young women they see - those already diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as healthy young women who need to understand their risk. When you adopt a hospital, you drop off YSC brochures and DVDs quarterly. By interacting with hospital staff you become the face of the YSC-so when a young women is diagnosed, the hospital says to her: "You should call YSC."

Newly Diagnosed Resource Kits
Help your local YSC office put together Newly Diagnosed Resource Kits (NDRKs) for women who have just been diagnosed.

Drink Beyond the Pink
Set up a Pink Lemonade Stand in your neighborhood, school etc. This is a kid-friendly option that can involve the whole community, helping to get the YSC's name and message out there. It is also a great garage sale or summertime event. Throw a Pink Cocktail Party (21+) at your local bar or home to help educate young women about breast health while raising donations for YSC. Host a Pink Tea Party with a few friends at a venue or your home to support the cause. If interested, please contact info@youngsurvival.org with any questions or to request your free starter kit (allow 3-4 weeks for delivery). Happy drinking!