Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation Inc.

Our mission at the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation is to improve the quality of life for brain tumor patients and their loved ones. By working together with our supporters, we aim to continue to be a source of hope through counseling, education and support.

We envision a day when the word "curable" can be uttered, and done so with believability. There are

Goal One: To expand program types and provide greater access to our monthly and bi-weekly brain tumor support group meetings.

Goal Two: To fund innovative and forward-thinking brain tumor research at the ground level (e.g. seed research which will result in greater funding from larger organizations like DoD, NIH, etc.

Goal Three: Improve our ability to connect brain tumor patients with respective organizations and resources which can provide solutions regarding treatment care & financial needs reimbursements.

Each member of the SBTF Board of Directors and staff were asked to participate on at least one of our working Committees. The Committees range from Bylaws, to Securities, to Research Grants, to Patient Initiatives, to Scholarships and more. Committee work allows Board and staff members to become more ingrained, and more familiar, with core areas of our day-to-day business. Taking meeting minutes, updating forms and applications, and driving the basic level of day-to-day activities at the ground level provide heightened insights to what it takes to operate a not-for-profit organization. Committee participation, via virtual platforms like Zoom, teach tolerance and appreciation and affirm that businesses practices in the Corporate world don't necessarily translate to best practices in the non-profit world.

The continuation of the pandemic forced our support groups to remain as a virtual offering. Many of our support group members face difficulties with speech, memory, reading or other communication skills due to brain injury as part of treatment so the transition to a online platform initially posed some challenges. Despite the learning curve, and the growing need and desire for F2F interactions, our support group programs expanded in content and in audience reach. We launched two new types of support group meetings in 2021 and increased from approximately 25 meetings in 2020 to nearly 65 in 2021. Notably our support group related expenses dropped to a mere $10.30 for the entire year. The inability to meet F2F, and limitations of time generated by our virtual meetings, resulted in a marked growth in our "by invitation only" support group on Facebook. The Facebook platform allowed individuals to share 24/7, and not just during prescribed group meeting times. The Facebook support group, drove a need for additional content, and cast a wider net of participants from within the brain tumor community. Our virtual support group meeting platforms, and the social media outlets also generated greater sharing opportunities with similar non-profit organizations. Partnerships with these organizations were enhanced and collaboration opportunities blossomed. Sharing of time sensitive information, (e.g. where to get a COVID booster or an N95 mask), became more instantaneous. Individuals became connected outside the typical 50 mile geographical radius and expanded the appreciation for cultural or regional differences which can sometimes limit the availability of treatment for some, while not for others. Our 2021 story of adaptation to external changes happened organically; so totally unexpected yet so tremendously positive.