About the Foundation

Hilton Christmas 2018

The Facts

The Gray Matters Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support and empower people impacted by brain tumors through outreach, awareness and assistance programs, and to develop and participate in public awareness and education programs about brain cancer.

The Gray Matters Foundation was formed in 2007 by brain tumor survivor Lanette Veres. Lanette and friends have created programs and activities that help Gray Matters succeed in our mission --

"We are about support, not statistics."

 

Survivor-focused activities

The goal of our survivor-focused activities are to support brain tumor patients, their friends and loved ones. Our main activity is sending special gifts and cards with words of encouragement to bring smiles and happiness to people who are impacted by brain tumors.

 

Public-focused activities

The goal of our public-focused activities is to raise awareness in the community about brain tumors and educate others about how to become involved in the fight for the survivors and against the disease. We participate in walks and fundraisers as well as speaking at conferences and other brain tumor awareness events.

The Philosophy

“We are about support, not statistics.”

So what does that mean? It means that we care about each special person facing a brain tumor and we want to help them individually.

We want to provide a support system, a friend to lean on, and an encouraging smile to those who are suffering. We want to help.

There are over 700,000 people in the United States who have been diagnosed with a brain tumor and more people are added to that list each day. Those people might be well known public figures such as Ted Kennedy and John McCain or members of our family, close friends and neighbors. Brain tumors don't discriminate.

heather and wayne
smile-girl

The Fun

At the Gray Matters Foundation we don’t like brain tumors and we wanted to find a unique and humorous way to show that to the world.

Remember when you were a small child and you didn’t like something? Maybe it was eating your peas or going to bed early. What did you do? You stuck out your tongue! Mom may not have liked it but it sure said everything about how you were feeling. 😛

By sticking out our "Tongues at Tumors" we can communicate disapproval with a simple gesture that transcends age and language barriers. That's why our turtle has her tongue sticking out too!

gmf-turtle-iso

Show us your #TonguesatTumors photo by sharing it with us on social media!

How you can help.

The Gray Matters Foundation is able to provide support and help to those afflicted by brain tumors. Help us help others by making a donation today.