The Chic Guide: Tell us more about Women’s Health Initiatives Foundation!
Kelly Brown, Executive Director of Women’s Health Initiatives Foundation: We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Washington Township. Our mission is to empower women and guide them to the truth about natural options that can prevent, treat, and defeat cancer. Though we are a women’s-based organization, we provide services to any gender or gender identity.
The Chic Guide: What’s the inspiration behind it?
Brown: Our organization is the brain-child of Lyn Hogrefe, owner and founder of the Happy Hormone Cottage. Over the years as a health educator, Lyn has talked with countless women and found that many of their healthcare decisions were based on what “insurance will pay for” and not what they feel is best for them.
The sad reality of our modern-day healthcare system is its focus on pharmaceutical treatment of symptoms with little to no focus on prevention or getting to the root cause of the illness. Further, any type of holistic wellness services and products are rarely, if ever, covered by insurance.
Lyn found this sad reality to also be true in the arena of cancer prevention and treatment. Again, rarely, if ever, are holistic cancer strategies paid for by insurance. So, again, she found women allowing insurance coverage to dictate decisions instead of following the course of treatment they feel is best for them.
Rarely, if ever, is there even a conversation with the oncologist about alternative treatment options for women.
Disturbed by these realities, Lyn decided to do something about it and that is how she started her Women’s Health Initiatives Foundation in 2015.
The Chic Guide: What services do you offer women in the community?
Brown: We fulfill our mission through various initiatives such as our Individual Grant Program. Through our grant program, we can provide holistic cancer prevention, treatment, and recover services that are not paid for by insurance.
Our grant program provides the following:
Non-invasive, diagnostic, upper body thermography screenings through our services partner, Mindful Wellness Medical Thermography in West Chester;
Kangen Water Machine Loan program – 6 weeks in-home;
Holistic Cancer coaching with Certified Coach, Kelly Brown;
andAn initial consultation or second opinion consultation with cancer scientist, Dr. Mark Rosenberg of the New Hope for Cancer Program
In addition to our grant program, we also help support the New Hope for Cancer Program, where cancer patients seek treatment with Dr. Mark Rosenberg, often when they have run out of standard of care options.
The Chic Guide: What makes your foundation unique?
Brown: We focus on holistic wellness strategies. We believe the answers to recovering from disease are in treating the body as a whole and getting to the cause illness – not just relieving symptoms with pharmaceuticals. Additionally, our parent organization, Happy Hormone Cottage, sponsors all of our administrative expenses so 100% of the money we raise goes directly toward our mission.
The Chic Guide: Is there anything new on the horizon?
Brown: Now that COVID restrictions seem to be behind us, we are exploring ideas for our next big fundraiser. Suggestions are welcomed! We just had our 7th annual golf event in September, and it was our most successful to date! Our next golf event is September 15, 2023.
The Chic Guide: Where can readers go to learn more and follow along?
Brown: Readers can follow Women’s Health Initiatives on Facebook and Instagram. Our they can check out our website at www.womenshealthinitiatives.org.