First Harvest & Employees Carry Out Breast Cancer Advocacy Initiatives

December 9, 2024 - First Harvest Credit Union’s (“First Harvest”) Charitable Journey Program recently donated $3,500 to the Cooper Foundation, benefitting the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, in support of breast cancer patients and research. This employee led program raised $2,000 from both employee and member donations made through the Pink Ribbon Program, with First Harvest contributing an additional $1,500 in matching donations.

Charitable Journey is an employee-led program established in 2015 by a volunteer group of First Harvest employees with a passion to serve our community. In addition to its quarterly fundraising initiatives to support various charities, the program also collects funds each October to directly support breast cancer research and awareness through the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.

“At MD Anderson at Cooper, we witness every day the incredible impact of generosity in the fight against breast cancer,” stated Generosa Grana, MD, FACP, Director of MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. “Each donation not only supports cutting-edge treatments but also enhances the care and resources available to our patients throughout their journey. These collective efforts also play a vital role in raising awareness about the importance of early detection and regular screenings, which are critical in saving lives.”

Additionally, First Harvest supported Camille Gadsden, SVP Controller & Asset Recovery and a founding member of Charitable Journey, in her journey to take part in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® this month. Over the course of 3 days, Camille walked over 50 miles and raised funds alongside her team to help provide funding for breast cancer research, care, and advocacy.

“Twelve years ago, I embarked on a journey that would change my life forever,” stated Camille Gadsden, SVP Controller & Asset Recovery and founding member of Charitable Journey.  “It started with getting involved to honor a dear friend, then experiencing the profound impact of cancer much closer when my mother was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Today, I’ve made it a life-long goal to dedicate myself to raising awareness about breast cancer and uniting our efforts to eradicate the disease. I envision a future where pink ribbons are known for holding ponytails, not symbolizing a devastating disease.”

“We are proud to partner with and support the Cooper Foundation and MD Anderson Cancer Center in the extraordinary work that they do to advance healthcare in our region,” stated First Harvest President & CEO, Mike Dinneen. “We are also pleased to support our employee-led interests within our own organization, like the Charitable Journey group and in particular Camille Gadsden.  Our First Harvest team goes above and beyond to make an impact in the health, wellbeing, and overall advocacy for breast cancer patients and research. Through initiatives like our Pink Ribbon Program, our First Harvest family is able to amplify breast cancer advocacy throughout Southern New Jersey and within our own personal lives.”

Since inception, the Charitable Journey Program has donated over $55,900 to local charities and organizations.