LuAnn Daniel founded Women Rock Inc. in 2010 after her friend Susan died from breast cancer. The nonprofit provides mammograms to underserved women to promote early detection of breast cancer. Starting with $1,200, Women Rock has grown to provide over 300 mammograms annually with a $160,000 budget. While they do not perform mammograms themselves, they partner with hospitals and help cover costs. Through various fundraising events like "Bras for a Cause," Women Rock is able to offer lifesaving screenings to women in need.

1. Women Rock—Providing Mammograms, Faithfully
October 2, 2015
By Lisa Welz
The phoenix, fierce and glorious with its teal and sapphire feathers glowing, a burst of
sunbeams spraying from around its head, rose-gold talons digging into the ashes below,
spread its wings and swiftly rose, soaring toward the heavens.
LuAnn Daniel, founder of Women Rock Inc., may not look like your typical Greek
mythology figure, but ready and willing or not, on October 14, 2010, a phoenix is what
she became.
It began with a sequence that has happened too many times, to too many good people.
Her close friend, Susan Hicks, had just died the day before from breast cancer. It was in
that moment, through her grief and emotions, and despite the emptiness she felt, that she
looked up and her eyes locked onto something that would become not only a symbol for,
but the name of the next path she would follow.
It was a simple thing, really. A t-shirt. Stamped on it were two words—Women Rock.
Susan’s voice came back to her, she recalled, saying, “LuAnn, you’ve done so much for
breast cancer, for awareness, for survivors, but you know, you can do more.” Susan, she
recalled, “Fought the battle with dignity and she never lost her faith through all that. I’ve
wondered if I would be able to fight the battle as well as she did.”
In that moment, staring at that shirt, a laugh on her lips from Susan’s pert comment,
Women Rock Inc. was born and Daniel hasn’t looked back since. The inception of the
not-for-profit organization fit perfectly with her background in diagnostic imaging,
mammograms, specifically. Breast cancer awareness, she said, “Is in my blood. I met
Susan through volunteering and she was the catalyst for me, realizing I could do more
with what I was doing already.”
Moving ahead at what seemed like breakneck speed, within one month all necessary
papers were filed with the State of Texas, and by September, 2011, they had been granted
501(c)3 status by the Internal Revenue Service.
Women Rock Inc., Daniel says, helps women the way Susan would have if she were still
alive. Their vision “Is to spread breast cancer awareness and education, and increase
early detection procedures and participants, in order to maximize breast cancer detection
while focusing on women who suffer disproportionately due to socioeconomic
circumstances…Every woman should have the opportunity to have a screening
mammogram, and a chance at early detection. It’s that simple. Early detection saves
lives! Women Rock wants to close the gap and provide mammograms to those women
that are slipping through the proverbial cracks.”

2. The organization began with $1,200 from Daniel’s savings account, her personal
payment for the first couple of mammograms, faith, and a lot of guts. They have grown
since that time, from providing 62 mammograms the first year, to a 2014 operating
budget of $160,000 and providing 302 mammograms. They also have an arm of the
organization that provides some limited financial relief to women battling the disease as
paying bills can become a huge burden.
They do not do the imaging themselves, but partner with area hospitals and physicians
who provide the diagnostics and bill Women Rock. Daniel would love to have a mobile
unit that is able to perform the mammograms, but for now that is still a dream.
The bulk of their funds come through fundraising and donations, with a small amount of
funding coming from grants. Their largest fundraiser, taking place this year on Oct. 24, is
the 5th Annual Bras for a Cause. The fun filled event features men taking on the runway,
modeling decorated bras.
Women Rock have provided twice as many diagnostic mammograms as they have
screening mammograms, Daniel said, explaining that diagnostic mammograms are done
when there are symptoms of a problem such as a lump, pain, or nipple discharge. This
elevated rate is likely due in part to the women’s delay in getting screening
mammograms.
The women they have served, she noted, are appreciative of the help they receive. “A lot
of them are relieved that they can get a mammogram. Some of them have gone years
without getting one…We’ve lost several of the women we’ve helped; they just haven’t
won the battle. We have their families coming back to support us because they tell us we
meant so much to their loved one during the fight, that we did so much for them
emotionally and financially.”
The people are what keep Daniel going, she added. “We helped a lady about a year ago, a
realtor near Dallas who is a single parent to a special needs adult child. She almost lost
her life…and just couldn’t work…someone told her about us and we helped her with
some of her bills. I just got an email from her saying, ‘I promised you that when I got
back on my feet, for every home I sold, I would give you a donation, so there is a small
donation in the mail to you. I will hold true to my promise.’ That really astounded me. I
never expected to hear from her again, but what we did for her meant so much to her,
she’s keeping her promise to us…It means a lot to me.”
For more information, or to make a donation, Women Rock Inc. can be found online at
womenrockinc.org and can be reached by phone at (903) 487-2528.