Most importantly,Children & Cancer related issues. The Red Lips Foundation is dedicated to helping charities and individuals in need of support to help them achieve their own missions. My Mother , Yolanda Blanco , is the sole source of inspiration for starting The Red Lips Foundation (RLF). Born and raised in her early life in Colombia, South America she came to the United States having to learn a
new culture and language on her own due to the lack of english programs offered. Needless to say, this was the beginning of her true strength and willpower to only succeed. She was skilled in many professions but her most passionate was teaching children. In 2008, Yolanda was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After a year and half of surgeries and treatments , she was declared in remission. From the day she was diagnosed, she made it clear that nothing would over power her. She continued to work and led her life as she normally would have. She joined the committee for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and their Light the Night Walk, and made it her mission to raise awareness for Blood Cancers. In 2015, after being in remission for 6.5 years , Yolanda was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma, a Grade 4 Brain Tumor. In the beginning she was determined to lead her life the same as before and after the cancer. She continued with the recommended treatments and hoped for the best results.Unfortunately, almost exactly 5 months after her initial diagnosis, she lost her battle. Even with the grim diagnosis she received, with the support of her family and friends, her last months were filled with the best memories one could ever hope for, including becoming a Grandmother. In this time, she received services from organizations to help her receive Physical Therapy at home, meal trains were started for our family, we had visiting nurse services in our home which were a great help and with the help of experienced friends and medical professionals we got her into a great facility where she could get the 24 hour care during her final days. But as you all know, if you remember correctly, as we do, she did not put up an easy fight. Her feistiness carried on to the very end. Because of the strength and perseverance she had and taught us, we strive to have her legacy continue. Our goal of the RLF is to choose a deserving charity, family or individual and help them achieve their goal. Be it raising awareness to a cause, helping a family or individual in need or lending the emotional and spiritual support others may need going through the battles we may face in life. Other charities and people came to our aide in her times of need. Be it meal trains for treatment days, physical therapy at home, hospice care or financial assistance with co-pays. There are numerous organizations that aide in these programs but sometimes due to funding they are not able to reach their full potential. We now would like to be able to provide the support in our own way by first donating directly to the Charities or Organizations that assisted us and
others in times of need. It is with great hope that as we build our own foundation , this gives us the leverage to only expand our ability to help others.
