The Breast Cancer Alliance United to Support and Educate (BCAUSE) Fund at the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation was established in 2004. The BCAUSE Fund has become a powerful force in funding vital breast cancer education and prevention programs which help the lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community in San Diego County.
The BCAUSE Fund was formed by a small group of women committed to ending breast cancer, including breast cancer survivor Peggy Walkush and her partner Jan Tisdale.  They believe it is vitally important to provide ongoing breast cancer support and education for the LGBT community, and especially the lesbian community because of increased risks lesbians face in developing the deadly disease. "Our experience helped us to see that there's a tremendous need in the community for education," Walkush said. "Jan and I are delighted to be among the founding members of the BCAUSE Fund."
Research has shown that lesbians may be at an even greater risk of developing breast cancer than heterosexual women because lesbians have a higher incidence of certain risk factors and are less likely to perform breast self-exams and receive clinical breast exams and mammograms. Nationally, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.
In addition to sponsoring special events like the annual Wigfest fundraiser, BCAUSE Fund raises money by seeking contributions from individuals and corporations. Contributions of all levels are welcome. Individuals who contribute at least $500 a year, and companies that contribute at least $2,500 in a year may participate on the Fund's board of advisors. The board of advisors meets several times throughout the year to review grant proposals and vote on grant recommendations, discuss the operations of the fund, and organize fundraising events. The board of advisors concept is a powerful one because it gives significant contributors a voice and a vote in recommending which agencies to fund.
In 2007, the BCAUSE Fund made its first grants for “innovative projects in the area of breast cancer education, support and outreach targeting the lesbian and broader LGBT community.”  These included a grant to The Center for its “You Are Not Alone” biweekly cancer support group and to ElderHelp of San Diego for its Lesbian Health Education Project.

If you would like to make a donation to the fund, please send a check payable to the "San Diego Human Dignity Foundation" and with "BCAUSE Fund" written on the memo line to: San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, P.O. Box 33245, San Diego CA 92163-3245 or contact Peggy Walkush at peggywalkush@cox.net.