There are absolutely no retirement plans on the horizon for this 65-year-old.
This year, the Owings Mills-headquartered Mildred Mindell Cancer Foundation will mark its 65th anniversary with big plans to surge ahead.
Last summer, the foundation accepted men as members for the first time, after MMCF co-president Jodie Silver’s husband’s friend lost his wife to cancer and his brother was also battling the disease. His mother-in-law was a MMCF member.
“He wanted to join a cancer foundation, and he thought about Mildred Mindell,” Silver said.
The MMCF membership, including longtime inactive participants, endorsed the idea. Today, about a dozen men are members, bringing a different perspective and a new enthusiasm to the organization. They are active and retired accountants and business owners, many of whom had served their wives as unofficial advisors.
“After hearing about it all these years, I felt I had something to contribute,” said Howard Wolf, husband of MMCF co-president Merle Wolf.
The inclusion of men as members is a natural evolution for the organization. In its heyday, MMCF had a roster of approximately 200 active members. Today’s roll stands at 73 active and 41 inactive members.
The volunteer-run nonprofit raises funds for small programs and services that improve the quality of life for people and families dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Each July, the organization designates its funds following an extensive request-for-proposal and review process.
Varying amounts are provided for small needs not funded by large corporations or hospitals, like infusion chairs, special scales and comfortable exam tables, art therapy supplies, videos, books, games and camp tuition for children.
The organization was formed in 1957 in honor of Northwest Baltimore native Mildred Mindell, who died of breast cancer at age 38. Mindell was a former member of and later advisor for the Phi Delta Sorority, a sisterhood of high school-age girls in Northwest Baltimore who gathered for social and philanthropic events.
Twenty-two of the sorority’s members, dubbed “Millie’s Girls,” created the foundation to carry on Mindell’s legacy of philanthropic and community service.
The organization’s mission has changed over the years, said Silver, but it always supported cancer-related projects. Since its inception, the organization has donated more than $5 million to cancer programs and services throughout Maryland.
Monies are given to the “providers who provide the service,” said Merle Wolf. “We pay for meals, for transportation, for wigs, for calling cards, medication, and things insurance won’t pay for. We pick up the slack.”
Like many nonprofits, foundation leaders faced challenges during the past two years as a result of the pandemic. Missing were in-person fundraising events like the annual donor luncheon, the “Day of Games” and the day-long silent auction.
Instead, the organization relied on membership dues, sales of Mah Jongg and mitzvah cards, and direct donations to fund its coffers, which contributed $31,000 to cancer-related programs in 2021.
Despite the pandemic’s challenges, the organization funded programs totaling only $1,000 less than the previous year.
While other small nonprofits are ceasing operations, MMCF is facing similar financial and recruiting challenges. Many longtime members have passed away or moved out of state, leaving a void.
Gone are the days when daughters often desired to continue the legacy of their mothers and be placed on a waiting list before being accepted to the organization.
“I grew up with Mildred Mindell, being with my mother bowling, tagging clothes for the nearly-new sale and going to the luncheons at Martin’s West and some of the evening galas,” said Silver, who joined in 2004 when her mother, Carol Pondfield, was president. “It’s always been part of my life.”
Instead of relying on legacy membership, the foundation is focusing on a reinvigoration, looking to expand beyond its traditional focus to grow the organization.
“We want to help more people,” said Silver. “We can help more people when we have more members.”
That’s why allowing men to join MMCF was so critical. “We thought about it over the years,” said Merle Wolf. “The guys had always helped.”
The co-presidents acknowledged the men have helped them focus on hardline goals and outline specific steps to reach them.
“We are tweaking with a fresh set of eyes what the women have done all these years,” Howard Wolf said.
With pandemic-related restrictions being lifted, plans are underway for the resumption of the organization’s signature programs. The annual donor luncheon will be held this fall at Martin’s Valley Mansion in Cockeysville and the “Day of Games” will feature lunch, door prizes and games like Bridge, Canasta and Mah Jongg at Suburban Club on Sept. 8.
Committees are working on a crab feast and golf tournament as well.
“COVID may have slowed us down, but we’re ready to move on,” said Silver.
“We are reinvigorated,” added Wolf. “In our 65th year, we are moving forward, not looking back.”
For information about the Mildred Mindell Cancer Foundation, visit mildredmindellcancerfoundation.com.
Linda L. Esterson is a local freelance writer.
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