Tigerlily Foundation
According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the leading cause of death in young women ages 15-54. More than 250,000 women age 40 and under in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lives, and more than 11,000 women will be diagnosed next year. Further, younger women often have more aggressive breast cancers and higher mortality rates.
The Tigerlily Foundation’s goal is to educate, advocate for, empower and provide hands-on support to young women affected by breast cancer. The bulk of our funds go directly toward women in treatment who are struggling to pay their medical and household bills due the disruption that cancer has caused. We also provide meals and buddy support for women undergoing chemotherapy, connect survivors to those recently diagnosed and in the early stages of their treatment, and offer beauty and pampering services to women in treatment.
About Maimah Karmo — Author and activist Maimah Karmo is a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed at 33, when her daughter was only three years old. Determined to live to see her baby grow into a beautiful adult, Maimah harnessed her strength, relied on her own mother for support, and made a promise to herself that if she lived that she’d do everything she could to help other young women with breast cancer. She founded the Tigerlily Foundation in 2006, and gave it its name because “tiger lilies bloom and survive in all seasons — just like young women who are battling, and surviving, breast cancer,” she says. “My goal is to empower women struggling with this disease so they have the confidence that they can fight and win their battle, then turn around and help others who are experiencing the same things.” For more information, visit www.tigerlilyfoundation.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hope Katz Gibbs, Director of Communications
Tigerlily Foundation, www.tigerlilyfoundation.org
703 346-6975 / hope@inkandescentpr.com
RESTON VA — Mark your calendar for the evening of June 25 when the Tigerlily Foundation, a non-profit breast foundation dedicated to educating, empowering and lending financial and emotional support to young women with breast cancer, hosts it first annual DIVA Night Out.
“To us, a DIVA is Divine, Inspired, Vivacious, and Aware,” explains Tigerlily’s President and Founder Maimah Karmo, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 at the age of 32 and has been cancer-free since founding the organization in 2006. “We at Tigerlily are excited about this event, which will of course be a great party, but also will be inspiring as we bring together survivors and women who are struggling with breast cancer.”
Read More
RESTON VA, MAY 25, 2009 — Tune in to the Oprah Winfrey Show today at 4pm (Monday, May 25) when Maimah Karmo, the founder of the Tigerlily Foundation, appears on the top-rated daytime talk show. This is a repeat of a show that originally aired last year. View that here].
Following is an excerpt from the broadcast, entitled “Breast Cancer Battles,” which also features actress Christina Applegate, who had a double mastectomy soon after she landed the starring role in the ABC comedy series, Samantha Who?
Oprah then interviewed Tigerlily’s founder about her work to help women 40 and under who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Following is an excerpt from the interview.
“Millions of women around the globe struggle with the day-to-day reality of living with breast cancer,” Oprah told the audience. “Maimah never believed she would be one of them. Since a young age, Maimah was taught to always do self-examinations—even though there was no history of the disease in her family. At age 32, she discovered her biggest fear, a lump.”
Read More
In the News: Maimah Karmo Speaks at Press Conference Along with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Support of EARLY Act
March 23, 2009, Washington, DC — At a press conference in the Capitol building today, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) was joined by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN), to announce legislation they will introduce to highlight the breast cancer risks facing young women under the age of 40 to empower these women with the tools they need to prevent and fight this deadly disease.
They were joined by Rep. Melissa Bean (IL-8) as well as local cancer survivor Maimah Karmo, Executive Director of the Tigerlily Foundation, and Dr. Sandra
Swain the medical director of the Cancer Institute at Washington Hospital Center.
“I found my cancer early because of knowledge and awareness,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “I knew that I should perform breast self-exams, and I was aware of what my body was supposed to feel like. We need to ensure that every young woman in America can rely on more than luck because their survival depends on it.”
“It is critical that we support the EARLY Act and get this legislation passed,” said Ms. Karmo. “There are over a quarter million women living in the United States today who are diagnosed with breast cancer under 40. These women are not just statistics, they’re heart beats. They need education, they need to be aware, and they need hands on support.”
Read More