CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Bosom Buddies Foundation raises money to help cancer patients who are about to start cancer treatment programs who are living at or below the national poverty line. The Foundation assists with basic living expenses, medical bills, dental bills, phone bills, etc.
All funds raised stay in Cullman County to assist patients in the area, and all members of the Foundation are volunteers. Vice President Judy Grissom said that the Foundation has raised almost $130,000 since 2013. She said, “In 2019, we helped with almost $40,000. Of course, last year it dropped back, it was about $30,000 and so far, this year, it’s going to be right at $30,000.”
The Foundation provides need-based assistance for various expenses, from utility bills to transportation costs. Judy says that the doctors are the ones who refer patients to a nurse navigator who then determines the needs with which the Bosom Buddies Foundation can assist. The nurse navigator Jessica Nicholson then sends a formal request to the Foundations treasurer Betty Payne who will write a check and pay the bill. No cash is given; the Foundation pays bills directly. Judy said, “The nurse navigator keeps on hand food cards and gas cards because a lot of patients don’t have enough food in their house to feed their family or gas to get back home.”
The Bosom Buddies Annual Little Pink Dress benefit party is their keystone fundraising event of the year. Sponsorship is available at different levels, Platinum sponsors with donations of $2000, Gold sponsors with donations of $1000, Silver sponsors with donations of $750 and Bronze with donations of $500.
This year the Bosom Buddies Foundation received their first Diamond sponsor in Bill Smith Buick GMC who surprised the Foundation with a check for $2500. Judy said, “Bill Smith has been supporting us for about five years now, and every year they have bumped it up a little bit, so we were tickled to death when they bumped it up again this year to Diamond level. It was a very pleasant surprise.” Bill Smith Buick does a fundraiser for the Bosom Buddies in which they donate $25 dollars per every test drive given in the month of October and present the check in November.
Judy and the Bosom Buddies Foundation would like to thank all sponsors, including everyone who donates any amount during the year and all volunteers who participate in events.
Platinum sponsors – Bill Smith Buick GMC, Clearview Cancer Institute, Cullman Power Board, Drinkard Development Inc., David and Judy Grissom, R.E. Garrison Trucking
Gold Sponsors – PhRMA, Cullman Regional Medical Center, Traditions Bank
Silver Sponsors – Mitch Smith Chevrolet
Bronze Sponsors – Cullman Lions Club, Cullman Electric Cooperative, Cullman-Jefferson Gas, Dallice Attaway-State Farm Insurance Agency, Merchants Bank
Little Pink Dress Benefit volunteers:
- Chief Kenny Culpepper,
- CPD Officer Craig Montgomery,
- CPD Officer Adam Clark,
- CPD Captain Jason Mickle,
- CPD Captain Jeff Warnke,
- CCC Chair Jeff Clemmons,
- CCC Kerry Watson,
- CCC Gary Marchman,
- VP of Development for Drinkard Developments Jason Grimmet,
- Judge Greg Nicholas,
- Judge Chad Floyd,
- Attorney Champ Crocker,
- State Representative Cory Harbison,
- Bradley Williams,
- Lieutenant Neville Franks,
- Firefighter Cory Thompson,
- Josh Speakman,
- Johnathan Limerick,
- Mayor Bennie Guthrie,
- Dr. Michael Garcia,
- CCSO Captain Ed Potter,
- CCSO Lieutenant Rod Cook,
- CCSO Captain Ricky Blackwood,
- CCSO Sheriff Matt Gentry and
- CCSO Deputy Jason Webber.
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