Quilt for a Cause: A History

Tucson quilters, under the leadership of Jeanne D. Beahan and with the support from the Tucson Quilters Guild, Inc., first organized a "Quilt for a Cause" fundraiser on the Tucson Medical Center campus on November 15, 2003. Quilters throughout the state of Arizona, as well as quilters in Califonia and other western states donated a total of 208 handmade quilts that were actioned to raise $53,000.00. The proceeds were divided evenly between two Tucson 501c3 organizations: The American Cancer Society and the Tucson Medical Center Foundation's Joel Childers M.D. Fund.

In 2006, we did it again. Overall, 545 donated quilts raised approximately $120,000.00; expenses were kept to less than 1%. The Women's Division of the Cancer Center at UMC received $63,000 with funds restricted for breast & gynecological cancer research. The Tucson Medical Center Foundation received $55,000 for a digital specimen radiography system and $8,000 to help uninsured women under 40 who have had a mastectomy with breast surgery construction.

Quilt for a Cause was incorporated in July 2004.

Quilt for a Cause President Jeanne Beahan has been awarded the Tucson Citizen's "Unsung Hero" award. Read the article by Sheryl Kornman .