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PEN-Powered Activity Guide
Foreword
When you’re in the fight of your life, giving to yourself or others may feel like the furthest thing from your mind. But with this latest edition of Patient Empowerment Network’s PEN-Powered Activity Guide, we make the case that giving is not only empowering – it helps in healing yourself, your loved ones, and other patients around the world. Science tells us that the act of giving can stave off feelings of isolation and depression that are so common with a cancer diagnosis. I’m an activist and fundraiser by trade. During my cancer treatment, it was so important to stay engaged in my job and political volunteerism; it gave me something else to think about besides cancer, it helped me feel useful while I was otherwise pretty useless, and it kept me connected to the community I had cultivated over the years. I also benefitted from several nonprofits that provided psychosocial support during my treatment, and I am now volunteering for them to help empower everyone impacted by cancer and their care partners along their journey. Fortunately, there is a way to give to everyone – in the fundraising world, we talk about the trifecta of “time, talent, and treasure.” Approximately 63 million Americans — 25% of the adult population — volunteer their time, talents, and energy to make a difference. And of course, there is always treasure; according to Candid, 53% of all charities rely on contributions for the majority of their revenue. Most of that philanthropic support comes not from the very wealthy but instead from the middle class. The ways to give are endless. There are more than 10 million nonprofits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. According to Johns Hopkins University, if nonprofits were a country, they would have the 5th largest economy in the world. In this Activity Guide, we’ve outlined all the many ways to give, how to choose a charity, and how you can grow the great work of Patient Empowerment Network. Thank you for diving in, and we can’t wait to hear how this guide empowers you! Jessica Catlin Colon Cancer Empowerment Lead
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