On March 29, Tri-City nonprofit HERS Breast Cancer Foundation will hold their 16th People with Purpose fundraising gala, this time adding Wild West flair to their traditional pink glitz.
Much of breast cancer treatment focuses on finding and nuking the cancer—the mammograms, surgery, radiation and chemo. But during and after, the patient is still trying to live her life, fighting not only for her health but also her identity. At that point, HERS steps in: with post surgery compression vests, prosthetics, bras, wigs, and lymphedema sleeves and gauntlets. They recognize each patient and each story is different, and take time to see her as a person and understand her needs.
Two yearly fundraisers—fall’s Walk/Run/Yoga, and the spring gala—allow HERS to fill gaps where insurance falls short. HERS Executive Director Tina Fernandez says, “We serve patients from all walks of life, all financial situations. We firmly believe in equity in healthcare.” Funds raised help low income and under/uninsured HERS patients.
In 2025, the gala will return to Casa Bella event center in Sunol, a small town that feels right out of a Western film. As guests filter in, they will have the chance to get their photo taken against a background with hay bales, and props donated by the Silent Film Museum in Niles. The dress code is “country western cocktail attire.”
The evening will start with a cocktail hour, where guests can mingle and browse gift baskets for the silent auction, donated by local businesses such as Banter Bookshop and Deka Lash. After guests transition inside for a three-course dinner, the program will continue with a pre-filmed patient testimonial from Sheila Amaral, fundraising games “glitz in a glass” and “heads or tails,” and the live auction.
Tina Fernandez and board members Kirtsten Litz and Funda Dervisoglu will co-chair the event. This year, Heather Holmes of KTVU Fox 2 will pull double duty as emcee and auctioneer, playing up her Texas roots. Big ticket live auction items include trips and experiences: for example, a timeshare donated by Rick and Dana Jones, premium Raiders tickets with a backstage tour from AV in-kind sponsor Leonard Ybarra and a Firehouse dinner from Fremont Firefighters.
Many donate time, talent and funds. Event sponsors include UCSF, presenting sponsor Fremont Bank, Poppy Bank, Kaiser Permanente and Washington Health, among many others. The HERS Board of Directors has purchased an Empowerment Level sponsorship, as well donating their time throughout the year. Ramil Sumalpong (Iconic Lab photography), filmed the patient testimonial and will photograph the event.
This support means even more when the economy has not been looking exactly pink and rosy. Small nonprofits fill a niche specific to their communities. Fernandez says, “What’s important about our small nonprofit is we’re very, very local and we rely on local funding to sustain our programs.” HERS serves people from counties around the Bay Area—primarily Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara—operating without federal funds.
Upheaval around the recent election cycle shows that the way the federal government operates can change at any time. For an organization like HERS, being hyperlocal can mean stability. While a lot of the discourse around healthcare focuses on healthcare as a universal right and passing legislation to that end, HERS shows that there are always other paths to making healthcare accessible.
Fernandez summarizes, “If anyone wants their dollars to stay local and help a local patient, we’re a great option.”
2025 HERS Award Recipients
Every year, HERS recognizes four organizations or people who exemplify the values of Hope, Empowerment, Renewal and Support—both through monetary donations and advocating for HERS in the community.
Hope Award – Crippsmas Place
Empowerment Award – David Haubert, Alameda County Supervisor District 1
Renewal Award – Niles (Fremont) Rotary
Support Award – F.H. Dailey Chevrolet
People with Purpose gala
Saturday, Mar. 29
6 – 10pm
Casa Bella Event Center
11984 Main St., Sunol
hersbreastcancerfoundation.org/people-with-purpose
Tickets: $200
