January 30, 2016
We had much to celebrate this year, but were way too busy with our continuous simplified, multi-language cancer education programs, helping cancer patients understand their disease and make the general public aware of cancer prevention methods.
Beside many celebrations we have to catch up with, one of the greatest was our recognition with the 2015 Top-Rated Nonprofit Award by Great Nonprofits for the second time in a row. This award is based on testimonials and ratings of people we have served, not only in the U.S., but also worldwide!
As always, we put all our resources and efforts in serving cancer patients and people in need. We are making a true impact in peoples’ lives with our programs that benefit hundreds of thousands worldwide.
We wholeheartedly thank each and every one of you for your continuous support, either through monetary donations, in-kind donation or services, or by being our ambassadors to help spread the word about us, our mission, our work, and events. Your support made all the endeavors with take on possible. With your trust in meant and continue to mean for us that there is nothing we can’t do!
We can’t wait to provide you with more of our amazing programs and services this year, to connect with you and work together to accomplish our mission: Cancer Education for All™!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Sincerely,
Ayguen Sahin, MSc, PhD
Founder and Executive Director
Cancer Education and Research Institute (CERI)
January 30, 2016
- Educating the public and providing easy-to-understand information about cancer types, causes, research, treatment, and prevention for cancer patients, those impacted by the disease and the general public;
- Bridging the gap between cancer patients and cancer scientists, who work to eradicate the epidemic
- Providing cancer research scholarships for high school students worldwide who have an aptitude and a passion for advanced careers in cancer research.
We took on these three goals with great diligence and pride, gaining acclaim for its passion of purpose and outstanding and trusted work by being recognized with the 2015 Top-Rated Nonprofit Award by Great Nonprofits for the second time in the row.
Furthermore, Dr. Sahin, was had the honor of being invited to meet with the Consul General of Turkey in Boston, discussing our global work and activities in cancer education and patient empowerment and awareness in cancer prevention.
Our further developments in 2015 included the partnership with Boston Thermography Center to help improve breast health and another partnership with Cambridge College, where two of our public cancer symposiums/lectures were held.
While our programs in 2014 were focused on our sports and recreation fundraiser events, street festivals, and program launches; in 2015, we were excited to receive grant support from Genentech for our 2015 Public Cancer Symposiums/Lectures. These included breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancer symposiums and lectures, held in different neighborhoods within Boston, Massachusetts.
We at CERI always make a point of recognizing and honoring everyone who currently suffers from cancer and those who lost the battle in it. Thus, we have launched our Cancer Awareness Scarves, which were handmade by our CEO and CERI Founder Dr. Ayguen Sahin’s mother with much love and effort and sent to us all the way from Turkey. Our handmade scarves for brain (grey) or breast cancer (pink) awareness are being sold at our online store on our website.
Another very exciting event in 2015 was our name change from Cancer Research Simplified to Cancer Education and Research Institute (CERI). In our efforts to expand our services to our followers in all 50 states in the U.S. and 163 countries around the globe with higher volume, more capacity, more development and expansion, the new change has become a necessity to reflect our vision even greater.
The emphasis on public cancer education and patient empowerment rang loud and clear again throughout 2015. We reached and helped thousands of people worldwide through its website, online journal (JSCR) and articles, videos, unique TV Show (Cancer Explained!™), fundraising sports and recreation events, unique cancer game (CRS Cancer Quiz Game™), patient empowerment by its online #empowermentagainstcancer campaign, found on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and its other social network sites, patient platform on its website, and Public Cancer Symposiums/Lectures.
These channels provided thousands of hours of education and successful, trusted and appreciated resource and information guidance to patients and family members in the whole world through referrals, gaining us a strong and trusted foothold in delivering our mission. The gratefulness of people from all over the world towards us, shown by their testimonials on what we have brought into their lives can be read on our site at Great Nonprofits (http://greatnonprofits.org/org/cancer-research-simplified). Furthermore, our work has become a trusted and cited source worldwide, not only for the public, but also for other cancer organizations, as seen in this screenshot:
Before we go into further details of our accomplishments in 2015, we would love to acknowledge our generous sponsors and collaborators in the year of 2015, who made our amazing events possible: Genentech, The Print House, MBTA, Boston Thermography, Cambridge College, J.P. Licks, Flatbread Company, Life Alive Organic Café, Trader Joes, and Iggy’s Bread.
Also, we would like to thank all of our donors this year from around the globe who made our programs possible:
Karen Kelleher, Dave Jilek, Kathrin Kirsch, Jamie Bell, Tolga Cimen, Nicholas Nagykery, Yakup Sahin, Scott Sminkey, Fevzi Alimoglu, Mark Fortunato, Emily Taskin, Serap Sari, Marianna Meo, Ileana Fortes, Fusun Tufanyazici, Joanne Vignos, Amany Bahadeelah.
With great pride, we present is a chronological listing of accomplishments for us in 2015:
In January, CERI launched its Cancer Awareness Scarves, sold at CERI’s online store, for everyone to recognize their loved ones battling or who have with battled with cancer.
The press release can be read here:
1/19/2015 MOTHER SUPPORTS HER CEO DAUGHTER'S EFFORTS IN CANCER AWARENESS
In February, CERI launched its Russian Cancer Education programs. CERI’s Research Team Member, Anna Faustova, a clinical psychologist, who contributed to CERI’s mission with her ”Cancer & Psychology” articles, translated CERI’s programs in Russian language. These programs can be read on CERI’s Russian blog in its website: http://www.canceredinstitute.org/cancer-blog.html
The press release can be read here:
2/23/2015 RUSSIAN CANCER EDUCATION PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY A BOSTON-BASED CANCER NONPROFIT
Again in February, CERI initiated its first Public Cancer Symposium Series by starting with Breast Cancer. Experts from Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Drs. Wendy Chen, Irene Kuter, Rachel Freedman, and senior nutrition expert Carol Sullivan helped the audience to understand all aspects of breast cancer, from early diagnosis to life after survival.
The press release can be read here:
2/10/2015 ALL ASPECTS OF BREAST CANCER WERE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED AT THE 2015 PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM SERIES
In March, CEO Dr. Sahin was honored to be invited by the Consul General of Turkey in Boston to present CERI, its programs, events, and how greatly it serves to the people in the U.S. and the world. Dr. Sahin was excited to report that Turkey has constantly been the country with the second most CERI followers after the U.S. since it initiation in 2013. CERI is looking forward to initiate collaborations with Turkish organizations, health centers, and hospitals.
The press release can be read here:
3/2/2015 CANCER RESEARCH SIMPLIFIED CEO INVITED TO MEET WITH CONSUL GENERAL OF TURKEY IN BOSTON
April and May were months of great planning, organizing, strategizing and marketing efforts for both the Public Lung Cancer Symposium and the Public Colon Cancer Lecture held in June and July, 2015, respectively, as well as CERI’s Fundraising Bike Ride, held in July, 2015.
In June, CERI had another great event to look forward to. The Public Lung Cancer Symposium, held by CERI’s partner organization, Cambridge College, brought together experts in the field of lung cancer and scientists, patient family members, students, and the general public to learn all aspects about lung cancer. Drs. Milena Petranovic, Anna Farago, Justin Gainor, and Jacob Sands from Massachusetts General Hospital, and Lahey Medical Center explained the disease from early screening to latest research, life after diagnosis, and prevention.
The gratitude of the participants was publicly shared with joy, like Lisa, who shared her great experience with CERI’s cancer lecture on CERI’s Facebook page:
7/31/2015 COLON CANCER LECTURE by CANCER SCIENTIST CEO of NONPROFIT BRINGS SMILE on ATTENDEES' FACES
7/27/2015 CANCER EDUCATION NONPROFIT'S CANCER SCIENTIST CEO GIVES LECTURE ON COLON CANCER
Another exciting development was the announcement of partnership between CERI and the Boston Thermography Center. This partnership aimed to enhance breast health and education. More about thermography can be learned on CERI’s website: http://www.canceredinstitute.org/cancer-screening-thermography.html
The interview with Boston Thermography Center’s Founder and President, Karen Kelleher by CERI’s CEO, Dr. Sahin, can be watch on CERI’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtdORyOxep0
The press release can be read here:
7/14/2015 CANCER RESEARCH SIMPLIFIED AND BOSTON THERMOGRAPHY CENTER ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP IN ENHANCING BREAST HEALTH EDUCATION
The marathon of CERI’s activities continued with its 3rd Fundraising Bike Ride at the Minuteman Bike Path from Cambridge, MA to Concord, MA. Bikers, including CEO, Dr. Sahin, enjoyed the 30+ miles bike ride to support CERI’s important cause.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_HaIbST7To
The bike ride slide show can be watched on CERI’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2xXR8qe8gY
August, September, and October were months with another marathon of planning, organizing, strategizing and marketing for the Public Prostate Cancer Lecture, held on November, 2015 and the Year-End Fundraiser during the Holiday Season.
Furthermore, CERI recruited four more volunteer Team members from Turkey, Germany, and Boston, MA. More information on the CERI Team can be found on CERI’s website:
http://www.canceredinstitute.org/about-us.html
In November, CERI held its final lecture for 2015, the Public Prostate Cancer Lecture, held at the Brookline Public Library in Brookline, MA. Once again, CEO Dr. Sahin gave a full lecture on prostate cancer. Yet again, people left the lecture with gratitude and great knowledge.
11/17/2015 CANCER SCIENTIST CEO OF NONPROFIT 'SIMPLIFIES' ALL ASPECTS OF PROSTATE CANCER AT ITS SPONSORED LECTURE
After the great and marathon ride throughout the year, CERI’s efforts in serving the public being recognized with a fantastic award gave us a great sense of satisfaction that CERI’s work truly makes a great impact in people’s lives worldwide. CERI was honored with the 2015 Top-Rated Non Profit Award by Great Nonprofits.
11/4/2015 CANCER RESEARCH SIMPLIFIED HONORED AS 2015 TOP-RATED NONPROFIT
In December, CERI took a large step and changed its name. In alignment with its mission and future goals, CERI’s name was changed from Cancer Research Simplified to Cancer Education and Research Institute (CERI). The website URL has also changed to www.canceredinstitute.org.
The press release can be read here:
12/14/2015 BOSTON-BASED GLOBAL CANCER EDUCATION NONPROFIT ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE
Furthermore, we initiated a Holiday Fundraiser Drive. During this drive donors from around the globe helped raise $698. Overall, CERI’s donor’s contribution was $1022.19 and a generous, $3713.97 worth of in-kind donation from its sponsors.
As every year, CERI announced its “Volunteer of the Year Award 2015”. Research Team Member and Social Media Manager Emily Taskin’s outstanding efforts were recognized with this award. More details can be read on CERI’s blog on its website: http://www.canceredinstitute.org/cancer-blog-english/announcing-our-2015-volunteer-of-the-year-award-winner.
CERI's Team of volunteers having a great time in volunteering at CERI and know that they help a great deal in making a true impact in people's lives.
We have planned many more exiting programs in 2016 and are looking forward to continuing this journey with you in this year and beyond!
Respectfully Submitted,
Ayguen Sahin, MSc, PhD
CEO and Founder
Cancer Education and Research Institute (CERI)