Genesis
The Cup With Love Project was founded in a living room, over a cup of tea and amongst good friends. Inspired by simple, but thoughtful acts of kindness bestowed upon her during her cancer treatment, Cup With Love founder, Molly Ximenez was inspired to share that same compassion with newly diagnosed cancer patients. The concept of gifting a tea cup to those on a cancer journey, or those whose lives have been impacted by cancer, grew from these humble beginnings and today has profoundly touched the lives of individuals world-wide.
Molly’s vision lead to the formal creation of “the Cup With Love Project” in 2005, as a recognized not-for-profit organization. Since then, the Cup With Love Project has collected cups, wrapped and provided those gifts of love to thousands of cancer survivors undergoing treatment. Thanks both to the continued efforts of Molly and a band of loving volunteers, the same acts of compassion and kindness continue.
Sacramento, California (USA)-based, the Cup With Love Project serves to empower those traveling through their cancer journey with love and hope, by letting them know they are not alone and that they have the inner strength to fight the fight through the Cup With Love Project community.
President’s Message
From Gloria Torres, President of the Cup With Love Project:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers and others who have supported this remarkable organization.
I thank Molly Ximenez for her vision and for how she has impacted thousands of individuals navigating their cancer journey. Molly’s vision for the organization has truly come to fruition.
Further, I would like to take this opportunity to inform our supporters that the organization has been “under construction.” For the last year, the Board has focused almost exclusively on developing infrastructure to support the Cup With Love’s future, including an events calendar, volunteer handbook, fundraising strategies, and a new and improved web-site. These tools will help the organization to continue the vision for the next 100 years. Our mission and our goals have stayed the same, but we have enhanced how we deliver the services to the community and to those impacted by cancer. With these tools in place, we hope to continue our founder’s vision that through our compassion, we can give hope, inspiration and empowerment to those who are battling the fight against cancer. Thank you for your support as we evolve together.
Warm Regards,
Gloria
April 2023
Board of Directors
Gloria Torres has served on the Cup With Love Project’s Board of Directors since 2002 and, currently, serves as President. As a survivor of two types of cancer, Gloria knows, all too well, what it feels like to navigate a cancer journey and is a testament to those who fight the good fight.
Gloria is the proud mother of three children and one grandchild and, currently, serves as a Community Health Navigator for La Familia Counseling Center that helps at-risk youth and families of diverse backgrounds obtain much needed counseling, support and outreach services to become empowered and overcome adversity to succeed in life.
Dianne Czarnecki has served on the Cup with Love Project’s Board of Directors since 2004 and, currently, serves as Vice-President. Having experienced too many family and friends battling cancer, Dianne feels grateful to be able to connect with and help empower cancer warriors as they navigate their personal journeys.
Dianne retired from a long career in technology in 2022, having worked for close to 25 years with Intel Corporation as a Technical Program Manager and Agile Coach. In her spare time, she enjoys being active (most any sport), quality time with her partner, romping with their yellow Labrador retrievers, travel, gardening and connecting with people.
Barbra Calhoun has served on the Board of the Cup with Love Project since 2010 and, currently, serves as Secretary. As a two-time cancer survivor, the Cup with Love Project mission is very significant and her volunteer work supporting that mission is very meaningful to her.
Barbra retired from the Federal government as a Training Program Manager, but still lends some of her time to Bogle winery as a seasoned wine guide. She enjoys all things “outdoors” and keeps active with snow skiing, bike riding, hiking, and running.
Jose Ortiz has served on the Cup With Love Project’s Board of Directors since 2019 and, currently, serves as Treasurer. As an active community volunteer since college and having lost his wife to breast cancer in 2017, the Cup With Love Project’s mission resonates significantly with Jose.
Jose is the proud father of three children and retired from the State of California in 2015 after, most recently, serving as Chief Deputy Director of Operations at the California Department of Public Health, which funds many programs to help prevent, detect and treat cancers.
