Mission

Forge supports, empowers, and improves quality of life for Alabama breast cancer patients, survivors, and those who love them for the day of diagnosis through the rest of life. Forge was organized to provide educational, logistical and emotional support to breast cancer survivors through a patient-centered, community-based partnership with local health systems and other strategic partners.

Values

At Forge, our Core Values are at the heart of everything we do. We commit to living the following values in all of our words, actions, and decisions:

• Committed: We are dedicated to improving the quality of life of those we serve, holding ourselves accountable for defining and meeting clear objectives.
• Compassionate: We respond to those we serve with empathy, respect, and kindness to appropriately and meaningfully meet their unique needs.
• Inclusive: We value and respect the experiences and opinions of all, creating a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome.
• Creative: We are open to change and embrace new ideas, remaining nimble and responsive to the needs of those we serve.
• Collaborative: We work together as a family, respecting and supporting each other in pursuit of Forge’s mission.
• Courageous: We are solution-focused, undeterred by challenges and bold in action.
• Good Citizens: We value and provide opportunity to be involved in the communities in which we live and work

History

Forged in collaboration and sustained by community, Forge began in 2014 as the Breast Cancer Survivorship Rehabilitation Initiative (BCSRI), an initiative of the Women’s Breast Health Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.  Its purpose was to research breast cancer survivorship needs in central Alabama. Results of a community-wide assessment revealed gaps and barriers from point of diagnosis throughout the balance of life. As a result, Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center was launched in 2016 as a unique collaborative pilot project of the Women’s Breast Health Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and the four major health care systems in central Alabama: Ascension St. Vincent’s, UAB Health System, Brookwood Baptist Health, and Grandview Medical Center. Its purpose was to provide wrap-around supportive services within the breast cancer community.

In 2020, Forge was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as Forge Survivorship Center but continues to do our work as Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center. Forge offers strength by creating personalized survivorship plans and pairing clients with volunteer mentors to listen and accompany them to appointments; provides resources such as health and wellness classes, professional mental health counseling, and gas cards for transportation to appointments; and works to build a community of survivors and volunteers to Forge a new future together.

Purpose

Forge was organized to provide educational, logistical and emotional support to breast cancer survivors through a patient-centered, community-based partnership with local health systems and other strategic partners. We assist Alabama patients, survivors and co-survivors in taking an active role in their fight against breast cancer by offering support, knowledge, strength and direction.