The Julie Fund Mission:
The mission of The Julie Fund for Women’s Cancers is to fight women’s cancers in three spaces:
- Education/Advocacy
- Research
- Patient Support
The Julie Fund was founded in 2004 and has grown to become the single largest contributor to ovarian cancer research at Mass General Hospital. In the past 17 years, The Julie Fund has donated over $4M in the fight against women’s cancers.
Key Accomplishments:
2023 – The Julie Fund received its first 6-figure grant for our transportation program
2022 – The Julie Fund hosts its first-ever Dog Jog, an awareness event promoting healthy minds & bodies
2021 – Introduction of a transportation program enabling safe rides to and from treatment, expansion of our Yoga Strong to a community-wide event in Wellesley, MA
2020 – Our first-ever VIRTUAL Gala, Jokes for Julie
2019 – Yoga Strong launched at Nike Town in Boston.
2018 – A mind-body initiative is established. Our Road Race became a timed event and we laid the groundwork for YOGA STRONG.
2017 – The Julie Fund hosts the first ever Ovarian Cancer Survivor Course for patients and their caregivers.
2016 – The Julie Fund launches video series aimed at early defense, educating women on risk factors and early warning signs of all women’s cancers.
2015 – The Julie Fund for Women’s Cancers makes its largest gift ever to MGH, $300,000, with $50,000 earmarked for education/advocacy.
2015 – Our education programming is outsized to include advocacy. Together these amplify the message that “The Best Defense Against Cancer is Early Detection.”
2014 – The Julie Fund celebrates being named the “Single Largest Philanthropic Contributor to Ovarian Cancer Research at Massachusetts General Hospital,” a decade of service and $3M in funding.
2011 – A partnership with Ovations for the Cure of Ovarian Cancer is established and begins delivering meals to patients undergoing treatment.
2010 –The first Executive Director is hired.
2006 – The Julie Fund establishes a Scientific Advisory Board to evaluate research applications.
2004 – Julie lost her battle. Julie’s husband, Peter, together with a group of dedicated friends, started The Julie Fund. A partnership is established with Massachusetts General Hospital to give social services to patients in need – transportation, childcare, health care, mortgage payments, etc.
2003 – Forty-year-old Julie McAvinn, mother of three, was undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer and envisioned an organization that focused on easing the struggle.
Executive Director
Cheryl LaMee
Board of Directors
Peter McAvinn, Chair
Steve Fischer, CFO
Joe Albanese
Beth Baker
Shawn Baker
Brett Barenholtz
Meredith Beaton Starr
Michael Broderick
Ambassador Team
Sue Brady
Stephanie Coughlan
Eric & Elsje Eisenhauer
Neal & Kathleen Kenslea
Matt & Barb Kenslea
Tobias Kleitman
Ed & Carolyn McAvinn
Sue Morris
Jack Pilecki