Founding Story
In 2006, Lindsay Avner made history when she became the youngest woman in the country to have a risk-reducing double mastectomy—a choice based on a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer and a BRCA1 gene mutation that exponentially increased her personal risk of developing these diseases.
Through her experience, Lindsay found a profound lack of resources for women in her position—young women who had not been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer but who wanted to start living proactively.
Lindsay asked,
“Why do we have to wait until someone is diagnosed to take action?”
And so, in 2007, Bright Pink was born.
What started as a website and support network for high-risk women evolved into a national organization focused on meeting young women where they are—online, at their doctor’s office, at school, in their workplace, and in their communities—with the actionable information they need to understand their breast and ovarian cancer risk and take appropriate action to reduce their risk. In the 15 years since Bright Pink’s founding, the organization’s efforts helped to shift the national conversation around breast and ovarian cancer from one focused on awareness and treatment to one focused on action and prevention.
Additionally, Bright Pink has:
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Helped
Nearly 1.8 million women understand their breast/ovarian cancer risk and develop a personalized prevention plan.
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Educated
More than 110,000 women on the breast/ovarian health basics through in-person educational workshops, with more than half of those being collegiate women.
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Trained
More than 20,000 women’s health providers to enable them to better identify and manage breast and ovarian cancer risk for the estimated 72M+ female patients they care for annually.
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Supported
More than 6,500 high risk women through one-of-a-kind support programs.
In 2021, Bright Pink transitioned its model from an operating nonprofit to a nonprofit Venture Philanthropy Fund. As a grant making entity, Bright Pink will provide critical financial and strategic support to breast and ovarian health initiatives that can accelerate, deepen, and expand the impact of its mission to save women’s lives. This stewardship leverages Bright Pink’s experience, assets, and expertise to grow capacity and resources within high impact efforts led by others.
Organization Updates