Project Periwinkle 2025
It has always been clear to us the importance of what we are doing, and how we are contributing to a brighter future for those touched by cancer. The past several years have had a profound impact on our world, and our outlook. We have always been committed to ensuring we do all we can to still be here, fighting for and with those who have been impacted by cancer, and shaping a future in which no family will have to experience what so many do today.
We are excited to share our plans for Project Periwinkle 2025, and a goal to raise $1 million by the end of our 2025 Fiscal Year. There is so much work unfinished, and by setting our sights on the years to come, we can ensure we do all we can for a bright and sustainable future. Nothing worth it ever comes easy, and we are committed to seeing our mission through from start to finish, whenever the end may be. In 2015, we set out to find a cure for cancer, and we won’t stop until that dream becomes reality.
Looking Ahead to Our Future
Fundraising
Setting our sights on the future and positioning Project Periwinkle in a way where we can continue to do the most possible can only happen with fundraising and donations from the kind and generous people who make what we do a reality. As a nonprofit organization, we are dependent on the generosity of others for our mission to continue. As we look ahead to 2025, we have set a fundraising goal of $1 million, to be reached by the end of our 2025 Fiscal Year (FY25) on March 31, 2025.
Sustainability
Being conscious of the world around us and our environment forces us to operate in the most sustainable way possible. From staying engrained in our values of 100% volunteer based to being fiscally responsibility, gives us the opportunity to ensure we have the greatest chance of success, sustained and continued operations, and a bright future. There is so much left unfinished and we are doing all we can to ensure we can complete our mission.
Growth
Cancer research is extremely expensive and programs rely on continued support for success. By ensuring we stick to an operating model that allows us to make the biggest impact possible, aligning with programs, cancer centers, and research hospitals that share our common values, and moving forward in a way that is not only scalable and financially sound but also never sways from our values, we can ensure we are able to handle growth and the continuous tasks at hand.
A Letter From Our President & Chairman
Ben Broghammer, President & Chairman
Published Q4 2021
The reason behind this foundation is one that unfortunately is not unique. When I was 19 years old, my cousin, Michon, was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I was about to start my sophomore year at Saint Louis University, and I was facing an unimaginable fear. I did what most in my position would do. I struggled with the reality of what was hitting my family, I hoped and prayed for an outcome that would keep my family whole, I struggled with my faith, and I couldn’t help but ask God why. Michon passed away the following summer, at the age of 30. I began to think and write as an emotional outlet, and what started out as thoughts and words on a page, turned into a mission statement for an organization that would help to make the world a better place. I spent nearly all of my junior year learning all I could about nonprofits. I created a business plan and organizational model that revolved solely around doing the right things for the right reasons. No matter how many months went by, two numbers continued to stand out to me that only fed the fire that fueled the dream of what I felt I had to do. 5 & 0.24. 5th most common cancer worldwide, and 0.24% of the research budget of the National Cancer Institute. The extreme disparity didn’t make sense to me, and I knew we had to do better as a country, and as a world. I knew we had to do something to not only change the statistics, but also alleviate the waste that was prevalent in the nonprofit sector. In May of 2015, Project Periwinkle launched with a 100% volunteer based model, allowing us to give more to what matters most. In the years since, we have supported nearly a half dozen cancer centers and research programs, with tens of thousands of dollars raised for the sole purpose of supporting and advancing stomach cancer research and awareness. And while we have accomplished more than I could have ever thought was possible at the time, there is still a lot more to do, and our journey is just only beginning.
2020 and the beginning of 2021 has shown us all so much about the inner power we have in us to find resolve in the face of what seems impossible to overcome, find ourselves on the other side of immense adversity and struggles still in tact, and never lose sight of what matters most. We are looking at some of the biggest problems our society has ever faced, and while they surely won’t be easy to solve, there is no question we will. We only need to keep the faith.
We are excited to announce and share our plans for Project Periwinkle 2025, a goal to raise $1 million by the end of our 2025 fiscal year. The growth we have experienced since 2015 has shaped our path forward, and has carved our place in the world, but we know there is still so much left unfinished. The work we are doing is paving the way for a brighter future. Too many are counting on us and we cannot give anything less than all we have in us toward our fight for a cure, and in our drive to stand up and fight back against a disease that has had a profound impact on so many.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of our board, volunteers, my family, and all those we are able to help, for any support you can give in helping us move closer to our goal. We cannot do it without you, and we cannot thank you enough for what it enables us to do.
Together, we can make the world a better, brighter, cancer free place.
Sincerely & With Hope,
Ben Broghammer, MBA
Founder, President & Chairman
“I want to help grow, advance, and spread the mission of this foundation and the importance of our work to new people around the country and the world.”
Increasing Awareness
Stomach cancer is ranked as the 5th (or sixth depending on year) most common cancer worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, there are just over 1 million new stomach cancer cases every year. However, there are an estimated 783,000 deaths per year from the disease. 78% of all cases.
Over the past several years, we have grown our Ambassador program beyond the borders for the U.S., and have become of organization with 15+ volunteers.
Top Common Cancer Cases
Importance of Research
Why is the National Cancer Institute’s cancer research budget only directing on average 0.16% of its budget to the disease? Research funding for this disease is left nearly entirely up to organizations and public charities like Project Periwinkle. We are striving to fill the research gap!
Since 2015, we have helped to financially support nearly half a dozen research centers and hospitals and their stomach cancer research programs. There is so much more to do, but by setting our sights on a common goal for a better future, we can do all we can to create a brighter and cancer free world.
FAQs
How can I donate?
You can make a donation my visiting our donation page. Donations can be either one time, or set up on a recurring basis. Thank you for your support!
Where can I get more information about your financials and transparency?
Due to our revenue amounts and reporting thresholds set by state and federal government agencies, we do not fall under the detail or audit requirements some other organizations do. We do, however, aim to provide as much transparency around our financials, and therefore, you can view our Financial Information page, which includes our IRS 990-N filing information.
Will you always be 100% volunteer based?
We don't have plans to change, and while being completely volunteer based may limit the size of our team or the the hours we work on a daily basis, it allows every dollar we raise to go further, and for us to ensure we can be the strongest possible as we look ahead to our future.
How do I get more involved?
Join our ambassador program, donate, follow us on social media and share our content, or start conversations in your own life with those around you. If you are interested in starting a fundraiser, or creating awareness of our mission in your own community, get in touch with us via our Contact page, and let us know!
Where are you headquartered?
We are incorporated in Wisconsin, and are based just north of Milwaukee. With a board of directors and operations team around the country from coast to coast, we do, however, also have a significant amount of business conducted in St. Louis, MO, and individuals in Illinois, Iowa, Washington state, and Alaska.
How do I get in touch?
Send us a letter or email.
P.O. Box 495, Thiensville, WI 53092