Jill Doimer and the late Judy Morris created Ovarian Awareness of Kentucky in April 2001.
Judy with her brothers Bill & John Baker
Judy had ovarian cancer and had no support group in Louisville at the time of diagnosis. She wanted that to change for those other women who were diagnosed. Jill’s mother lived another state and had ovarian cancer. The two met on the Internet in the ACOR Ovarian Cancer Problems Discussion List group. The two decided to form an alliance and raise awareness in the community of ovarian cancer.
The creation of OAK was a gathering of women who had ovarian cancer and let them share experiences through monthly support group meetings. Education and awareness for ovarian cancer was unheard of in the Louisville area; known as the “silent” disease. With that, Jill & Judy pledged to reach the surrounding communities and entire state by holding free educational seminars, attending health and city fairs to distribute information and direct mail marketing to the gynecologists, libraries and health departments.
Judy found the following poem to be so true of her experience.
The OAK Tree:
A mighty wind Blew night and day. It stole the oak tree’s leaves away, Then snapped its boughs And pulled it bark Until the oak was tired and stark. But still the oak tree held its ground While other trees fell all around. The weary wind gave up and spoke, “How can you still be standing, Oak?” The oak tree said, “I know that you Can break each branch of mine in two, Carry every leaf away, Shake my limbs, and make me sway. But I have roots stretched in the earth, Growing stronger since my birth. You’ll never touch them, for you see, They are the deepest part of me. Until today, I wasn’t sure Of just how much I could endure. But now I’ve found, with thanks to you I’m stronger than I ever knew.”Author unknown
Jill and Judy found they needed to include women diagnosed with any gynecological cancer as there were no support groups available for them either.
They partnered with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance to help them learn how to better reach these goals. They attended training seminars and put their plans into action. The group has since blossomed in many ways. In addition to their initial goals, they now speak to 3rd year medical students at the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky as part of the program “Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives”.
OAK is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization with 12 doctors and a Nurse Practitioner on the Medical Advisory Board and Advisory Board.
Our Mission…
- To provide resources for support, networking, and education for women who are diagnosed with gynecological cancers and their caregivers in order to improve outcomes
- To create awareness among women and the greater community regarding early warning signs that may be indicative of ovarian cancer, resulting in earlier detection and saved lives
- To encourage greater citizen participation in gynecological cancer issues for the benefit of future generations through public education programs, media collaboration, and joint ventures with other community organizations
Fundraiser’s:
- Toast To Life Dinner & Silent Auction: This special celebration is held in August every year at The Olmstead. It is a true celebration of the strength of our gynecological cancer survivors. Joining our survivors are their family members, friends, caregivers, volunteers, our Medical Advisory Board and local celebrities such as Rachel Platt & Melissa Swan of WHAS-11 and Vicki Rogers of 106.9. The 2010 Toast to Life Dinner & Silent Auction raised over $20,000 which was used to help fund local and national ovarian cancer research and to provide local community educational programs. The 2011 Toast to Life Dinner & Silent Auction, “A Toast to 10”, celebrates O.A.K.’s 10th Birthday.
- Motorcycle Poker Run
- One Stop Shop
- Annual Mary Cooper Memorial Golf Scramble
- Dee Edwards Annual Whisper Walk
- Local Restaurant Fundraisers
Activities:
- Survivor’s & Caregiver’s Monthly Support Group Meeting: Everything can be discussed from the serious to the silly. Medicines, side effects, nutrition & learning what questions to ask your medical personnel. Meetings are separated by adjoining rooms, the 4th Monday of each month, at 6:00 PM at the O.A.K. Office
- Lunch & Learns
- Survivors Teaching Students @ U of L & U of K to 3rd Year Medical Students
- Health Fairs & Festivals
- Nixon Lectureship
- Garlove Lectureship
- Pamper Me Day
- Day at the Races
- Comedy Caravan
- Camp Make-A-Dream
- O.A.K. Library
2011 – 2012 O.A.K. Executive Board of Directors:
SuzAnne Caraway, President, Caregiver, UPS
Jill Doimer, Co-Founder, Past Caregiver, Papercone
April Perry, Treasurer, Past Caregiver, Jefferson County Public Schools
Shannon Peace, Secretary, Advisory Board Chair, UPS
Cheri Hauber, Survivor, Medical Board Liaison, Sonoco
2011 – 2012 Business Advisory Board:
Shannon Peace, Advisory Board Chair, UPS
Ann Miller, Survivor, Retired RN, St. Mary’s Elizabeth Hospital
DiAnne Estes, Survivor, TZ’s Salon
Elizabeth Jordan, Caregiver, Ovarian Awareness of Kentucky
Frank Edwards Past Caregiver, Flik Independent School Dining
Jamie Hartlage, UPS
Margie Kummer, Past Caregiver, Retired BellSouth-Now AT&T
Mark Perry, Past Caregiver, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
Melody Schenk, Past Caregiver, Brown Forman
Michelle Bibee, Past Caregiver, KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services
Misty White, University Women’s HealthCare
Richard Estes, Caregiver, Veterans Affairs
Ron Kummer, Past Caregiver, Retired BellSouth-Now AT&T
Sarah Morris, Past Caregiver, Ann Taylor
2011 – 2012 Medical Advisory Board:
Dr. Paul DePriest — University of Kentucky
Dr. Fred Ueland — University of Kentucky
Dr. John van Nagell, Jr. — University of Kentucky
Dr. Chris Desimone — University of Kentucky
Dr. Michael Milam — University of Louisville
Dr. Daniel Metzinger — University of Louisville
Dr. Lynn Parker — University of Louisville
Dr. Mary Gordinier — Louisville Oncology
Dr. Steven Pursell — Louisville Oncology
Dr. David Doering — Louisville Oncology
Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg — Louisville Oncology
Dr. Sandra Brooks — Louisville Oncology
Sibyl Cagata, MSN, ARNP, OCN — Louisville Oncology
*Elizabeth Jordan, Office Manager/Program Director
Download our MAster$Report2011 here.
Download our 2011AnnualReport~O.A.K.-BBB2
Download our 2010ANNUALREPORT (2) here.
Download our Balance for 2010 here.
Download our 2010 Form 990 (Ovarian Awareness of KY Inc)
Double Click below page to review Journal Entries of the 2010 – 990 Account:
Proud Member of Community Health Charities:
Attention Federal Employees… Ovarian Awareness of Kentucky’s code is 55582 for donations. We appreciate your support.
If you’re a federal employee please look for Community Health Charities of Kentucky and designate to your local chapter.
Otherwise some federal employees may give to Community Health Charities of America and not realize its a national listing and money doesn’t go locally.
