BTBe The Difference Foundation
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About Be The Difference Foundation
Be The Difference Foundation helps people affected by ovarian cancer find support during treatment while advancing research and access to clinical trials. Its work includes personalized tumor profiling, treatment recommendations, travel assistance for clinical trials, counseling and practical care bags. Giving also supports education led by survivors and caregivers, so future healthcare professionals hear directly about symptoms, risk factors and the lived experience of ovarian cancer.
Founded by four ovarian cancer survivors, Be The Difference Foundation keeps survivor experience at the center of its work. A gift can support research and clinical trials while also reaching people through Caring for Her, Bags of Hope and survivor-led education.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Ovarian cancer research funding
Provides research dollars for ovarian cancer, including innovative research and efforts toward a cure.
Clinical trial support
Increases the availability of clinical trials and helps women access breakthrough treatments through FDA clinical trial participation.
Patient support services
Provides medical support services, personalized tumor profiling, treatment recommendations and travel cost assistance for clinical trials.
Caring for Her
Provides women with ovarian cancer and their caregivers access to individualized professional counseling, patient education, vetted referrals and science-based resources through Clearity Foundation’s Steps Through OC program.
Bag of Hope
Provides women diagnosed with ovarian cancer with care bags containing comfort items, practical support and information about Steps Through OC. Bags can be requested at no cost.
Survivors Teaching Students
Brings ovarian cancer survivors and caregivers into classrooms for future healthcare professionals to share their experiences and teach about ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors.
Ovarian cancer education and awareness
Shares information about ovarian cancer symptoms, risk factors, BRCA genes, genetic testing and the importance of early diagnosis.
Wheel to Survive
Signature indoor cycling fundraising events that support ovarian cancer research, clinical trials, patient support and education.
Runway for Hope
Fundraising and awareness events featuring ovarian cancer survivors and others affected by the disease.
About this work
Mission
Create awareness and improve the lives of all people affected by ovarian cancer through education, support and research.
Who they serve
People affected by ovarian cancer, including women undergoing treatment, ovarian cancer survivors, caregivers and families. The organization also serves future healthcare professionals through its Survivors Teaching Students program.
Their impact
- The inaugural indoor cycling event in Dallas raised more than $300,000 in 2012.
- Under Helen Gardner’s leadership, the foundation raised almost $1,000,000 for programs supporting women with ovarian cancer and research for a cure.
- A 2018 foundation page reported that the organization had donated more than $2 million to ovarian cancer research, support services and clinical trials.
- Mary Crowley Cancer Research had conducted nine ovarian cancer clinical trials since 2012, with additional trial development supported by Be The Difference Foundation.
How your donation helps
- Ovarian cancer research
- Clinical trials and access to breakthrough treatments
- Patient support services
- Personalized tumor profiling and treatment recommendations
- Travel costs associated with clinical trial participation
- Caring for Her psychosocial support and education
- Bags of Hope for women undergoing ovarian cancer treatment
- Education about ovarian cancer symptoms, risk factors and genetic testing
Need help?
How someone in need can access Be The Difference Foundation’s services.
Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer can request a Bag of Hope directly or through healthcare partners by completing the online request form. There is no cost to request a bag, and the foundation reviews the request and coordinates delivery. Women undergoing treatment and their caregivers can access Caring for Her resources through the Steps Through OC collaboration, including professional counseling, patient education, vetted referrals and science-based resources.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
Raising Hope. Targeting Ovarian Cancer.
There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. Daniel Cross, Executive Director.
Hope for better treatment options; hope for longer remissions and ultimately hope for a cure.
Each of us can look back upon someone who made a great difference in our lives, someone whose wisdom or simple acts of caring made an impression upon us. Stephen Wolf
Every Bag of Hope is a reminder: you are not alone.
Knowledge is power. Julie Shrell
BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE! Know your bodies, educate yourself in your family genetics, and have the testing. Lauren Shecht
In the news
Recent independent coverage of this organization.
- 2026 Be The Difference Foundation Runway for Hope Previewwfaa.com
- Ovarian cancer survivors to walk the runway in fundraiser (Hope Aguilar)fox4news.com
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month & Wheel to Survive (Jeff Guttenfelder)wfaa.com
- Be The Difference Foundation’s Runway for Hope Plans Revealed To Battle Ovarian Cancermysweetcharity.com
Grant support
$398,000 from 9 funders · through 2023 (IRS 990 records).
- THE DALLAS FOUNDATION — $20,000 (2023)GENERAL SUPPORT
- DALLAS JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $12,934 (2023)DISEASE/DISORDER
- THE ISAAC I FOUNDATION — $7,500 (2023)GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE DONEE
- LAR FOUNDATION — $1,000 (2023)MEDICAL SERVICES
- FICHTENBAUM CHARITABLE TRUST — $100,000 (2022)SUPPORT CARING FOR HER
- THE ISAAC I FOUNDATION — $7,500 (2022)GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE DONEE
- JAY AND RUTH PACK FOUNDATION — $540 (2022)GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
- FICHTENBAUM CHARITABLE TRUST — $50,000 (2021)SUPPORT CARING FOR HER
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Be The Difference Foundation has shared.
Current needs
- Funding for ovarian cancer research
- Funding for clinical trials and patient access to trials
- Support for patient services and Bags of Hope
- Volunteers for awareness events, community outreach, administrative support and fundraising campaigns
- Participants, teams and supporters for Wheel to Survive
- Event sponsors and community fundraisers
Volunteer opportunities
- Volunteer at awareness events and community outreach activities.
- Provide administrative support.
- Assist with fundraising campaigns.
- Register for or support Wheel to Survive.
- Host a community fundraiser during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
- Lead or join fundraising teams for foundation events.
- Share survivor or caregiver experiences through Survivors Teaching Students.
Recognition & press
In the media
- Advocate Lakewood/East Dallas covered a Parkland nurse’s mountain hike and marathon supporting ovarian cancer awareness.
- WFAA Good Morning Texas previewed the 2026 Be The Difference Foundation Runway for Hope.
- FOX 4 Good Day covered ovarian cancer survivors walking the runway in a fundraiser.
- FOX 4 covered survivor Jessie Tate sharing her story to spread awareness.
- WFAA Good Morning Texas covered Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Wheel to Survive.
- The Fort Worth Star-Telegram covered a Fort Worth man sharing his wife’s ovarian cancer story to help others.
- People Newspapers covered a cancer patient’s community of support.
- NBC 5 covered a North Texas girl in remission walking the runway to raise awareness.
- FOX 4 covered the foundation’s ovarian cancer awareness work featuring Maddie Muller.
- WFAA Good Morning Texas previewed the 2025 Runway for Hope.
- Advocate Lake Highlands covered Maddie Muller’s ovarian cancer experience and advocacy.
- MySweetCharity covered plans for the foundation’s Runway for Hope fundraiser.
- NBC 5 Texas Today covered Ride to Fight Ovarian Cancer.
- CBS Texas covered the 12th annual Wheel to Survive event in Addison.
- Advocate Oak Cliff covered ovarian cancer survivor Anne Fey.
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
Who can request a Bag of Hope?
A Bag of Hope is available to women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, including someone starting treatment or facing a recurrence. You can request one for yourself, a loved one or a patient through the online request form or through healthcare partners.
What does a Bag of Hope contain?
Each bag includes comfort items, practical support and uplifting personal touches. It also includes information about enrolling in the Steps Through OC program.
What support does Caring for Her provide?
Caring for Her offers individualized professional counseling, patient education, vetted referrals and science-based resources for women undergoing ovarian cancer treatment and their caregivers.
How does Survivors Teaching Students work?
Ovarian cancer survivors and caregivers visit classrooms for future physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. They share their experiences and discuss ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors through healthcare education programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
How can volunteers participate?
Volunteers can help with awareness events, community outreach, administrative work and fundraising campaigns. They can also support Wheel to Survive, host community fundraisers or share their experiences through Survivors Teaching Students.
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