My Hope Chest

My Hope Chest is a 20 year old, national non-profit and the FIRST to address funding Breast Reconstruction surgery for "uninsured" and "under insured" breast cancer survivors. Our service "picks-up" where other organizations leave off, providing the "final step in breast cancer treatment." Mission The purpose of My Hope Chest is to help restore self-esteem and dignity to breast cancer survivors by facilitating and funding, as needed, reconstructive surgery for those who do not have adequate financial means to afford such surgery. To provide breast reconstruction surgery to every survivor who desires, regardless of her financial situation. To educate survivors on the types of reconstruction surgery. To share the problem of the thousands of survivors falling through the cracks in our country in hopes to eliminate our national wait list. To partner with corporate America to raise funding and sustainability for our organization. Organization Overview A brief history… My Hope Chest was founded by Alisa Savoretti in the fall of 2003. A breast cancer survivor and Las Vegas Showgirl, she was 38 and without insurance at the time of her diagnosis. Billing herself as the “Lop-sided Showgirl” she gained media attention to the cause through a story on the local CBS affiliate when she returned to the Las Vegas stage as a Dancer only 5 months after finishing her chemotherapy- this time however minus one breast. Having to wait for over 2 years, she at last acquired her own reconstruction through the group insurance policy at her job (which cannot deny pre-existing conditions) but realized the huge gap that existed for women suffering like herself. ”I realized how my own self-esteem, confidence and self worth as a woman returned when I could look in the mirror and see my whole physical self once again – it was my healing, a rebirth and a godsend.” "Just when the caterpillar thought her world was over.she became a butterfly." My Hope Chest ~ Making Women Whole Again