Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a United States nonprofit providing breast cancer information, education, peer support, helpline services, and community programs for patients and caregivers.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is a national United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on helping people affected by breast cancer navigate diagnosis, treatment, recovery, survivorship, and metastatic disease. Headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, the organization serves people diagnosed with breast cancer as well as their caregivers and families. Its work combines medically reviewed information with personal support, reflecting an organizational aim to be a high-touch source of assistance tailored to the circumstances of each individual. Founded in 1991 by radiation oncologist Marisa Weiss, LBBC began as a largely volunteer effort operated from Weiss's home. The organization subsequently developed into a national provider of breast cancer education and support. Jean A. Sachs became its first executive director in 1996 and was appointed chief executive officer in 2008. During Sachs's leadership, LBBC expanded its staffing, programs, fundraising, and national reach. LBBC's service model includes a broad online information library, educational publications, conferences, community events, a breast cancer helpline, outreach by trained volunteers, and financial assistance through a limited number of local quality-of-life grants. Its educational content addresses different stages and forms of breast cancer, including metastatic breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer, and considers the needs of groups that may experience disparities or barriers in care. The organization has supported work concerning racial and ethnic minorities, younger women, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, and other communities whose experiences may not be adequately reflected in general breast cancer resources. A medical advisory board helps guide the accuracy and relevance of the organization's educational material. LBBC has also participated in needs assessments and collaborative projects intended to identify practical, emotional, and informational concerns that are specific to particular patient populations. Its work on metastatic breast cancer includes membership in the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, annual conferences for people with metastatic disease and caregivers, and an early needs-assessment project that examined the concerns of people living with stage IV breast cancer. A later assessment of triple-negative breast cancer explored the need for diagnosis-specific resources and reported elevated fear, anxiety, and worry among affected respondents. Fundraising and public engagement are important parts of the LBBC brand. Its best-known recurring event began as an outdoor yoga gathering at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and was later known by names including Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Yoga 4 Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and Yoga on the Steps. In 2016 it was renamed Reach & Raise. The event combines physical activity, community participation, fundraising, and access to health and fitness information. LBBC has also organized the annual Butterfly Ball during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and has worked with commercial partners on cause-related fundraising, including a 2005 collaboration with Goody. LBBC is primarily a service and education organization rather than a commercial product brand. Its brand promise rests on accessible, trustworthy, inclusive, and emotionally supportive guidance throughout the breast cancer experience. The organization has received recognition for fiscal management, accountability, transparency, and patient-education materials, including repeated four-star ratings from Charity Navigator and an American Academy of Family Physicians award for the publication Getting Connected. LBBC remains an active national breast cancer support organization, although current leadership details, present operating scale, and current program names should be verified against its official website.
History
Living Beyond Breast Cancer was established in 1991 by Marisa Weiss, a radiation oncologist who sought to improve the information and support available to people diagnosed with breast cancer. The early organization operated from Weiss's home and relied heavily on volunteers. Its initial model was centered on helping patients understand their disease and treatment while also recognizing the emotional, social, and practical effects of a breast cancer diagnosis. Jean A. Sachs became LBBC's first executive director in 1996. She later became chief executive officer in 2008 and guided a period of institutional growth. Under her direction, LBBC expanded from a small organization into a national nonprofit with a broader staff structure, larger fundraising operation, and a more extensive set of services. The organization has described its approach as high touch: rather than offering only general public information, it aims to connect people with resources relevant to their diagnosis, life circumstances, treatment stage, and support needs. The organization's principal activities include maintaining an online information resource, producing educational publications, operating a breast cancer helpline, organizing conferences and community events, and training or coordinating outreach volunteers. Many volunteers have personal experience with breast cancer, allowing the organization to supplement clinical information with peer perspective. LBBC also provides a limited number of Cis B. Golder Quality of Life Grants for people diagnosed with breast cancer in the Philadelphia area. A recurring emphasis in LBBC's history is inclusion. The organization has supported research and needs assessments concerning the experiences of racial and ethnic minority communities and has produced materials for African-American and Latina patients. It has also addressed the needs of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, whose families and care relationships may encounter discrimination or other barriers. Work with younger women has included needs assessment and outreach supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and collaboration with the Young Survival Coalition around events for young women affected by breast cancer. LBBC developed a significant focus on metastatic breast cancer. It obtained support for the Silent Voices: Advanced (Metastatic) Breast Cancer Needs Assessment Survey, published in 2006, which helped document issues particular to people living with stage IV disease. The organization later joined the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance and began organizing conferences for metastatic patients and caregivers. It also conducted a 2013–2014 needs assessment of people diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. That work indicated demand for diagnosis-specific information and identified substantial fear, anxiety, and worry among respondents. Public events have helped make LBBC visible beyond its educational services. In 2002, Jean Sachs and yoga instructor Jennifer Schelter organized the first outdoor yoga fundraiser at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The early gathering attracted about 100 people despite rain. By 2015, the Philadelphia event had grown to more than 2,300 participants and had been extended through related gatherings in other United States cities. The event used several names before being relaunched as Reach & Raise in 2016. LBBC also holds the Butterfly Ball during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, recognizing people involved in research, clinical care, advocacy, and volunteer work. The organization has used both partnerships and creative media to extend its educational mission. In 2005, its Comfort Meets Cause collaboration with Goody linked sales of specially marked hairbrushes with donations to LBBC. It also worked with photographer Jean Karotkin on a digital presentation based on Body & Soul, a collection of portraits and stories of women affected by breast cancer. These projects positioned personal experience and visibility alongside medical education. LBBC has received recognition for organizational accountability and the quality of its patient materials. Charity Navigator has repeatedly awarded it four-star ratings for financial management and, from 2012 onward according to the referenced material, accountability and transparency. The publication Getting Connected received an Award for Excellence in Patient Education Materials from the American Academy of Family Physicians. Current executive leadership, present program scale, and any changes after the cited historical sources require verification from LBBC's official channels.
- 2016
Yoga fundraiser renamed Reach & Raise
[1]The organization's signature outdoor yoga fundraiser adopts the Reach & Raise name.
- 2015
LGBT-focused educational publication issued
[1]LBBC publishes Breast Cancer in Focus: Getting the Care You Need as a Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual Person.
- 2013
Triple-negative breast cancer needs assessment begins
[1]LBBC conducts a needs assessment focused on people diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer during 2013–2014.
- 2008
Jean A. Sachs becomes CEO
[1]Sachs assumes the chief executive role after previously serving as executive director.
- 2005
Metastatic breast cancer needs assessment funded
[1]LBBC secures funding for the Silent Voices advanced or metastatic breast cancer needs assessment, published in 2006.
- 2002
Outdoor yoga fundraiser launched
[1]LBBC holds the first Philadelphia outdoor yoga fundraising event, later associated with Yoga on the Steps and Reach & Raise.
- 1996
First executive director appointed
[1]Jean A. Sachs becomes LBBC's first executive director.
- 1991
Organization founded
[1]Radiation oncologist Marisa Weiss establishes Living Beyond Breast Cancer in the United States.
Products and positioning
A high-touch, medically informed nonprofit support organization that combines practical breast cancer education with peer connection, helpline assistance, community programming, and attention to underserved or underrepresented patient populations.
Digital education
Online breast cancer information library
LBBC's website provides educational material intended to help people understand breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, recovery, survivorship, and metastatic disease. Content is designed to be practical and accessible, with medical review and attention to the differing needs of patient communities.
Support service
Breast Cancer Helpline
The helpline connects people affected by breast cancer with information and support. It forms part of LBBC's broader high-touch service model, complementing online resources, publications, peer outreach, and conferences.
Educational publication
Getting Connected
Getting Connected: African-Americans Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a culturally focused educational publication addressing breast cancer information and support for African-American communities. It was recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians for excellence in patient education materials.
Educational publication
Celebramos el Mañana
Celebramos el Mañana: Latinas que Sobreviven el Cáncer del Seno / We Celebrate Tomorrow: Latinas Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a bilingual or Spanish-focused resource addressing the experiences and support needs of Latina breast cancer survivors.
Educational publication · 2015
Breast Cancer in Focus
Breast Cancer in Focus: Getting the Care You Need as a Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual Person addresses care, communication, family, and discrimination issues that may affect LGBT people diagnosed with breast cancer.
Financial assistance
Cis B. Golder Quality of Life Grants
These grants provide limited financial assistance and support services to people diagnosed with breast cancer in the Philadelphia area. They are designed to address quality-of-life needs rather than function as a commercial product.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Reach & Raise
United States
LBBC renamed its established yoga-based fundraising program Reach & Raise, retaining the event's combination of exercise, community, breast cancer awareness, fundraising, and access to health information.
Outcome. The renamed event continued the organization's principal public fundraising tradition; later results are not specified in the supplied sources.
- 2005Comfort Meets Cause
United States
LBBC partnered with Goody on a cause-marketing program involving specially colored hairbrushes and celebrity-autographed brushes offered through an auction.
Outcome. The partnership raised funds for breast cancer education and publicized LBBC's mission; the supplied material states that four percent of special brush proceeds was donated.
- 2004Body & Soul digital archive
Global digital audience
LBBC collaborated with photographer Jean Karotkin to create an online exhibition and archive based on portraits and stories of women affected by breast cancer.
Outcome. The project extended the visibility of survivor experiences and made the portraits and accompanying stories available to audiences beyond the original book.
- 2002Yoga on the Steps
Philadelphia · United States
LBBC's signature outdoor fundraising and community event began as a one-hour yoga class near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, followed by breakfast and a health and fitness expo. The program later appeared under related names including Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer and Yoga 4 Living Beyond Breast Cancer.
Outcome. The event grew from approximately 100 participants at its first rainy gathering to more than 2,300 Philadelphia participants in 2015, with related events also held in other United States cities.
Brand decisions
2016
Rename the signature yoga fundraiserStrategyBackground
LBBC had operated its outdoor yoga fundraiser under several related names since 2002.
Action taken
The organization adopted Reach & Raise as the event name.
Aftermath
The renamed event continued the program's fundraising and community-engagement role. No later performance figures are provided in the supplied sources.
2005
Develop a commercial cause-marketing partnership with GoodyOtherBackground
LBBC sought to expand public awareness and generate support for breast cancer education.
Action taken
The organization worked with Goody on Comfort Meets Cause, involving special pink hairbrushes and an auction of celebrity-autographed products.
Aftermath
The initiative directed a portion of product proceeds and auction revenue toward LBBC's educational mission.
Recent events
- 2016
Reach & Raise replaces earlier Yoga on the Steps event branding[1]
Campaign · Other
LBBC gives its established outdoor yoga fundraising event the name Reach & Raise.
- 2015
LBBC publishes Breast Cancer in Focus for LGBT communities[1]
Product launch
The organization publishes an educational guide addressing care considerations for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people affected by breast cancer.
- 2005
LBBC partners with Goody on Comfort Meets Cause[1]
Campaign
A cause-marketing partnership uses specially designated Goody hairbrushes and celebrity-autographed items to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer education.
- 2002
LBBC begins annual outdoor yoga fundraising event[1]
Campaign
LBBC launches a Philadelphia outdoor yoga fundraiser that later becomes known as Yoga on the Steps and Reach & Raise.
- 1996
Jean A. Sachs becomes Living Beyond Breast Cancer's first executive director[1]
Leadership change
Jean A. Sachs is appointed the organization's first executive director as LBBC develops beyond its founding volunteer phase.
- 1991
Living Beyond Breast Cancer is founded by Marisa Weiss[1]
Other
Radiation oncologist Marisa Weiss establishes LBBC to provide information and support to people affected by breast cancer.
Sources2 sources
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