From the Heart: Celebrating 10 Years with Pam Young
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Ten years ago, I came to Carolina Breast Friends as a consultant.
At the time, my role was simple: help the organization create its first official marketing plan. What I didn’t know then was that I was
building a plan I would eventually be hired to bring to life.
Like so many nonprofits, CBF was pouring every ounce of energy into serving its mission. There’s never a shortage of meaningful work when you’re supporting Survivors and Thrivers — and carving out space for branding, communications, and long-term marketing strategy wasn’t always easy. But gradually, together, we established a strong foundation. We built a branding baseline. We put practices in place to boost awareness. We began telling the story of the powerful, life-changing ways CBF serves this community.
And somewhere along the way, this work became personal.
A Mission That Feels Like Family
Carolina Breast Friends is not the biggest or most widely known nonprofit I’ve worked with over the course of my career. But it is the one that has come to feel like family.
Over the past decade, I’ve been there through opportunities, challenges, growth, and countless touching and triumphant moments with Survivors and Thrivers. I’ve seen tears turn into laughter. I’ve seen fear transform into confidence. I’ve seen women walk through The Pink House doors, uncertain, and leave knowing they are no longer alone.
The mission and the team are centered in my heart and in my life.
Even now, as I’ve stepped into semi-retirement and moved to New York, I continue supporting CBF in a part-time role. I manage the thriving YouTube channel, the blog, and the weekly emails that keep Survivors and Thrivers informed about upcoming sessions and events. It’s work I’m honored to continue because staying connected to this mission still matters deeply to me.
The Energy of The Pink House
There are so many moments that stand out over the years.
But one image always makes me smile: at every event where there’s music, Survivors and Thrivers immediately flood the dance floor. And they don’t hold back. They dance with everything they’ve got.
That spirit reflects exactly what makes The Pink House such a special place. It’s not just a building. It’s not just programming. It’s a space where women are free to be fully themselves — vulnerable, courageous, joyful, strong — sometimes all at once.
It’s a community that celebrates life, even in the midst of hardship.
And I’ve loved not only witnessing those moments… but joining in.
Looking Toward the Future
Over the past decade, the breadth and depth of CBF’s programs have expanded tremendously.
I’m especially excited about the continued growth of day retreats, workshops, and longer-term programming that supports women in deeper, ongoing ways throughout their journeys. I look forward to seeing even more opportunities where CBF can deliver in-depth, sustained support from diagnosis through survivorship and beyond.
And of course, the new mobile unit in development is an exciting next chapter, extending Carolina Breast Friends' reach into more communities and ensuring that even more women have access to compassionate care and connection.
The organization is evolving in beautiful ways.
A Message from My Heart
As we begin a new year together, I want our Survivors, Thrivers, donors, volunteers, and supporters to know this:
Carolina Breast Friends has the heart, the services, and the planning to go the distance.
I’ve witnessed it for a decade.
The organization is stronger now than ever.
And I am deeply grateful to still be a part of this extraordinary community.
With love, Pam
