Community Spotlight: Meet Brittany Avila Wazny of Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

Brittany Avila Wazny

Executive Director, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

Can you please share more about yourself and the mission of Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation?

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) has been serving the Central Coast for 23 years, providing financial, emotional and educational support to families with a child battling cancer in Ventura, Santa Barbara and SLO counties. TBCF serves over 200 families (appx. 800 individuals) each year, ensuring each member of the family is supported during the child’s cancer journey. Our whole-family approach is what drew me to serve the organization when I joined nearly 5 years ago, as I am the sibling of a pediatric cancer survivor and saw first-hand the devastating effects this disease had on our entire family. TBCF proudly has both staff and Board members with a direct relationship to our mission, allowing us to serve families with deeper impact and understanding.

Who has made a strong impact on your life and has helped you to get you where you are today?

I’d have to say my brother has had quite an impact on my life; his diagnosis at the age of 16, and his courage, strength and resilience during treatment contribute a lot to why I’ve dedicated my career to supporting other families facing this battle. Additionally, my own family of my husband and two young daughters give me purpose each day to work towards something greater. My work reminds me every day how precious life is, and I treasure the time I have with my own family as priceless and sacred.

What are some recent highlights at Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation? And what events, milestones and steps are in the near future?

In the last few years we’ve significantly expanded our programs to address all of the challenges the families we serve face with significant resources to help get them through this time. One of the biggest milestones and expansions to our programming is opening a Pediatric Cancer Support Center in Santa Barbara, serving families up and down the Central Coast who go to Cottage Children’s Medical Center. The Center is piloting a number of programs to complement our existing programs to provide in-hospital support and respite to further support our families’ mental health and reduce hospital trauma. The move to our new space, within steps of Cottage Hospital, was a major milestone for our organization, and a resource our families have been requesting for years. We are extended to make this dream a reality in the coming years as we plan to renovate our space to serve families at the hospital in a number of ways.

What about Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is special to you, what would you like our readers to know?

What makes us unique are our Programs and staff- the bonds and relationships we build with families, alongside the significant amount of funding and resources we provide to each family. We know that pediatric cancer is often a long, taxing journey for our families, so we want our resources to be more than just a drop in the bucket. Our Direct Financial Assistance Program starts at $5,000 per qualifying family, and families can receive up to $21,000 depending on their journey. Additionally, our Emotional Support programs meet families’ mental health needs in a variety of ways, while also lending our bilingual programs staff the opportunity to build further connection and become a safe and trusted resource to families. Often times, we are some of the first people they call when they get good or bad news. Lastly, our support doesn’t end when treatment ends. We have a number of programs supporting families in the post-treatment phase, and we let families know that our support groups and connection events are available to them for as long as they need, as we recognize the value of the community they build through TBCF.

Why did you think it was important to become a member of the CNL? What do you value most about your connection with CNL?

I’m a big believer in life-long learning, and CNL provides a robust platform for myself and our team and Board to do just that. Between the community of organizations and the incredible workshops and cohorts CNL puts together, we feel supported to best navigate the many challenges operating a nonprofit can bring. Additionally, the team at CNL has been wonderful to work with, further instilling our trust to turn to CNL for all matters related to nonprofit education and partnerships.

How can the community support you? Where can they find you on social media?

We are a privately funded organization- we do not have passive revenue or government contracts- and our financial needs are always growing as the number of families we serve each year grows. Donations are always appreciated and critical to our mission, but we also rely on an army of volunteers to facilitate many of our programs. You can donate or sign up to be a volunteer at our website at teddybearcancerfoundation.org or visit us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @teddybearcancerfoundation.