FOUNDATION
Most people are afraid of cancer and rightfully so. It’s scary and it seems to be everywhere. Our goal is to help alleviate the fear and empower people to learn more and to fight. Foundation is a cancer fighting network created by Allison W. Gryphon as a response to her April 2011 breast cancer diagnosis. We are about supporting people through their cancer fight on the ground level, da
y-to-day, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute. There are no rules here. No judgments. No “musts”. We understand that many times just putting your feet on the floor to get out of bed is just as challenging as climbing a mountain. Cancer isn’t easy. This team believes that when you or someone you love is fighting cancer you get to feel however you want to feel. Say whatever you need to say. Be angry. Be sad. Be pi**ed. Be happy. Be defeated. Be inspired. Be educated. Be crazy. And be everything all at once. The Why? Foundation is for everyone. THE RESOURCE CENTER: The Why? Foundation Resource Center has the goal of being an easy-to-use touchstone which offers information on cancer, treatments, research and helpful ways to fight the disease physically, emotionally, financially, creatively and effectively in a clear and straightforward manner. This is a resource for cancer fighters, caretakers, friends, family, co-workers and people looking for a general understanding. This page is in the midst of coming together and has some information, but is not yet complete. We are under construction. Thank you for patience. MOVIES. FASHION. COMICS, MUSIC, ART & FIGHTING CANCER CREATIVELY: As much as the medical and the physical are the driving force in fighting cancer, artistic outlets can be wonderful allies to have in your corner whether you are creating, experiencing, escaping or all of the above. The power of movies, fashion, art and music are explored in this section along with some ideas on how creative outlets can help you fight cancer. THE BLOG: The Why? Foundation blog is intended to share news, inspiration and tidbits on everything from diet to research to people making a difference. Look for a profile or story on a personal cancer experience every Thursday and a new fighting cancer Super Smile photo from our Wall of Smiles every Friday. FIGHTER BAGS: As The Why? Foundation evolves, Fighter Bags will be introduced. Intended to help each cancer fighter recipient mentally, physically and emotionally, Fighter Bags will be made available to anyone with a cancer diagnosis, on a first-come-first-serve basis, and will include a selection of donated products. We hope to have them available by Summer, 2013. WALL OF SMILES: Here you can share your smile or the smile of a loved one to celebrate, remember or inspire. This is a place for images of cancer fighters, medical professionals, caretakers, friends, family, co-workers, advocates…everyone who would like to send their smile in support of the worldwide fight against cancer. ALLISON W. GRYPHON: Meet the woman behind The Why? Foundation and the upcoming documentary What the F@ #- is Cancer and Why Does Everybody Have It? WTF IS CANCER MOVIE: I’m working to make the film I wanted to see when I was diagnosed with cancer. – Allison W. Gryphon
On April 10th, 2011, Allison W. Gryphon found a lump in her breast. On April 13th, she was diagnosed with stage IIIa breast cancer. Her immediate instinct was to pick up a camera and start asking questions, not only for herself, but for all of us. What the F@ #- is Cancer and Why Does Everybody Have It? is due out on the film festival circuit in 2013. MEDIA: The Why? Foundation media page includes Our Press Kit along with articles, news and interviews about The Why? Foundation and Allison W. Gryphon’s Cancer Fight. WEBSTIE: www.thewhyfoundation.org
CONTACT: [email protected]
ABOUT ALLISON W. GRYPHON:
Allison W. Gryphon is a novelist, filmmaker and breast cancer fighter with a passion for story and an undying appetite for living life to the fullest. Allison’s first feature film, La Cucina, for which she wrote the screenplay, was released on Showtime in December of 2010. La Cucina won the honor of ‘Best Picture’ at both The Beloit International Film Festival and the Los Angeles Backlot Film Festival, as well as ‘Best Screenplay’ at the Bragacine Festival International de Cinema in Portugal. Allison’s first novel, the supernatural thriller titled Blood Moon, is out on shelves now. Blood Moon is the first book in her Witches Moon Trilogy. In April of 2010, Ms. Gryphon launched a movie and TV insider interview column called Monday Morning Hollywood at Examiner.com. In January of 2011, she began A.W. Gryphon’s Bits & Pieces, a flash fiction blog, which serves as an outlet for a wide array of genres and works. Both the column and the blog are dear to Allison’s heart, but have been on hold since she received some rather surprising news in April of 2011. On April 13th, 2011, Allison was diagnosed with stage IIIa breast cancer. Everything came to a halt, but only for a moment. Allison took a deep breath, then decided to fight. The first thing she did was look for a movie that would give her an understanding of what she was facing in terms of her cancer battle both physically and emotionally. The movie didn’t exist. She couldn’t believe it. So she decided to make it. Having been a part of the Hollywood community for many years, Allison sent out the call for help, and the response was both overwhelming and beautiful. With absolutely no money to be had, some of Hollywood’s most talented stepped up to the plate and offered her their talents, their services, their time and their hearts. For the most part, Allison paid them with cookies. The result is Allison’s directorial debut, the feature documentary What the F@ #- is Cancer and Why Does Everybody Have it? The movie is due out on the 2013 film festival circuit. In association with the feature, a collection of personal stories and programs focusing on specific cancers, treatments and experiences will be released though a series of DVDs entitled, The What? Series. Allison is also writing about her cancer journey, lending her body to a collection of photographs to demonstrate the breast cancer process entitled The Wide Awake series, and working to make getting through the day-to-day of fighting cancer easier for people through her newly created The Why? Foundation. WEBSITE: www.awgryphon.com, www.thewhyfoundation.org
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1419820.A_W_Gryphon
CONTACT: [email protected]
