Want to get involved?
Want to volunteer your time? Email us at beats4boobs@gmail.com to find out more about how you can get involved!
Meet a few members of the b::b family...
Kate Molak, Executive Team
Being personally touched by breast cancer, Kate Molak joined the executive team in 2016 as the Event Director for Beats for Boobs. Kate was drawn to the event when a previous colleague urged her to attend back in 2012 after her own journey navigating the her family's BRCA1 gene. After two years at Salesforce where giving back is part of the corporate mission, Kate wanted to take on a bigger role as a volunteer by work closely with the founding team to continue the huge success of the annual event. With support from her family, friends, and employer, Kate has been able to dedicate her time and passion to helping putting on this year's event with the intent to create awareness, celebrate survivors and loved ones lost and give a voice to those who need the strength and support during hardship.
Nicole Jensen, Executive Team
Nicole Jensen was the 2016 co-Event Director for Beats for Boobs and it was her first event. Nicole was introduced to Beats for Boobs shortly after her mother, Debbie Jensen, lost her battle with breast cancer in January of 2015. After doing an extensive amount of research about various breast cancer organizations in the Bay Area, Nicole and her family felt a strong connection to the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. With the help of her sister and her family, $25,000 was raised in memory of Debbie and went to directly help women in need undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Nicole was excited to head up the 2016 event along side her best friend, Kate Molak, and her sister, Michelle Jensen.
Jessica D. Smith, Executive Team
Jessica was first introduced to Beats for Boobs in 2009 when she attended on behalf of the Breast Cancer Fund, longtime event beneficiary. She immediately fell in love with the energy of Beats for Boobs and it’s beautiful fusion of art, music, fashion, education and survivorship. She has spent the past 9 years dedicated to breast cancer, having started her career in Seattle and Boston improving access to care and screening, then finding her home at the Breast Cancer Fund where she was inspired by the work to change public policy and industry to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. Jessica is thrilled to join the executive team so she can help bring Beats for Boobs back year after year.
Michelle Jensen
Michelle joined Beats for Boobs in 2016. In memory of her mother, she has participated in various breast cancer events including Avon39 and Relay for Life, but wanted to make a large impact for local breast cancer organizations. She hopes to share the incredible spirit of Beats for Boobs to her family, friends and community and help educate women on how to lower their risk for breast cancer.
Hilary Grosser
Hilary joined the team in 2016 as co-lead on the Education team with Carolyn Bernstein. Hilary has a family history, her mother is a survivor and her father carries the BRCA1 gene. Hilary went through the genetic testing and thankfully does not carry the gene. She has supported breast cancer related causes for as long as she can remember and is particularly passionate about those that impact her local community, which made the decision to get involved with Beats for Boobs an easy one. She hopes to help spread the word around preventative measures, early detection and the benefits of genetic testing. She looks forward to supporting and celebrating those that have been affected by breast cancer at this year's event.
Juliana Cochnar,
Founder
Radhika Ragsdale and Juliana met in San Francisco in 2003 and were inspired to make an impact for people battling breast cancer. Both Juliana's mother, Barbara and Radhika's aunt, Shrena Nair received the news of a diagnosis. Together, they envisioned joining forces to honor them and celebrate their lives as well as others impacted by breast cancer. Their vision was to create an event that would gather the community of San Francisco to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer AND combine art, fashion, food, music and education. Radhika & Juliana joined forces and amassed an army of volunteers to create the fundraising gala, Beats for Boobs. Juliana moved to Washington, DC in 2016, but remains committed to producing the annual event from afar. Today, Beats for Boobs celebrates 14 years of fundraising for San Francisco based breast cancer organizations that promote prevention or provide support services.
Ashley Core, Lead Ticket Operations
Ashley has had several close friends and family members that have been impacted by Breast Cancer, so partnering with Beats for Boobs was a natural decision. Ashley was introduced to the event several years ago, by former colleague and B4B Board Member Summer Frundel. She was drawn into her current role as volunteer Lead in charge of Ticket Operations, by friend and Salesforce coworker Kate Molak. Salesforce's corporate mission has giving back baked in, thus enabling Ashley to give her time freely to the event via their generous Volunteer Time Off policy. As part of the motivation for the event, Ashley is spiritually dedicating her efforts to the memory of her Grandmother Barbara Bakaric, a two-time breast cancer survivor whom ultimately succumbed to the perils of aging.
Shawna Barlow
As the Director of Events & Design for IMAGE event architects, a San Francisco based company, Shawna Barlow has worked closely with many non-profits over the years on their fundraising events and yearned to offer more. Shawna joined the executive team as Décor Director for Beats for Boobs in 2013 when she was looking for a non-profit organization that was not only supportive to their cause but also offered preventative education. She found this in Beats for Boobs, an inspirational group of strong, motivated women who united their strengths to create an organization that supports women battling breast cancer while creating a learning environment that empowers people to make healthier choices when purchasing everyday products, decreasing their chances of being exposed to cancer-causing toxins. With many friends whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer and other forms of cancer, Shawna has seen firsthand the devastating toll that this disease takes on families and how they often need a boost of support from an outsider. Shawna hopes to be that person.
Julia Garces French
Julia joined the Beats for Boobs team in 2017, after being invited to the event in 2016 by her friend and previvor Kate Molak. She was inspired by the stories of empowerment and inspiration that the event and planning committees generated, an event largely coordinated by strong female volunteers united with a common inspiration in support of those affected by breast cancer. As an investor in the healthy living space, Julia is dedicated to education, awareness and support of those affected, largely via strong organizations like BCPP that are moving the world forward.
Jim Vetter, Beats for Boobs Photographer
Jim has been the Beats for Boobs resident photographer from the very beginning. In fact, the early b::b events were featured in his first professional photography portfolio. In his professional life, Jim is a wedding and event photographer all over northern California. Over the years, Jim has produced a beautiful library of images that chronicle the growth and evolution of b::b from a small gathering of friends in 2003 to the amazing phenomenon that it has become today. Having lost a parent to cancer in 2002, Jim understands why we are working so hard to find a cure and he loves doing his part to bring joy to this important work.
Ashley Dutra
Ashley was introduced to Beats for Boobs in 2013 through former coworkers. In 2016 she decided to take a leadership role where she was a lead on the donations and fundraising committee. Ashley is passionate about preventative health and education and she was inspired by the partnership Beats for Boobs has created with BCPP (a science-based advocacy organization) as well as the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. She is driven to continue supporting efforts focused on education around environmental health and prevention of breast cancer
Interested in making an In-Kind donation?
Please fill out the form below and email us at beats4boobs@gmail.com to coordinate donation drop-off or pick-up.
Thank you for your donation!
Beats for Boobs is a project of the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP – formerly The Breast Cancer Fund), a registered non-profit organization. Donations and In Kind Gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. BCF’s Federal Tax ID # 94-3155886