Formative Years: 1999 – 2001
In 1999, volunteers on behalf of the Breast Health Awareness League (original organizers of the former Komen Indianapolis Race for the Cure® event), conducted a licensed raffle with net proceeds of just under $25,000. This money, which fell outside of the Komen-sanctioned events, would later become the seed money for the for the Indiana breast cancer license plate.
Shortly after, in 2000, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation implemented new requirements for Race for the Cure® organizing bodies to become Komen Foundation Affiliates. The Breast Health Awareness League 501(c)(3) non-profit organization was “repurposed” to become the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Inc. This was made possible by having missions that were similar.
That same year, Nancy Jaynes, a well-loved teacher and breast cancer survivor from Plymouth, Indiana, showed up at the Statehouse with pink balloons and busload full of schoolchildren. With great media attention and strong political support, the legislature passed the bill allowing for the establishment of a breast cancer license plate in Indiana and paved the way for Nancy’s dream of a “rolling billboard” of awareness.
2002
January – Plate sales are launched.
December – Plate sales reached 1,972.
2003
December – Plate sales grew significantly to 4,208.
2004
February – Senator Tom Wyss began discussions with BMV for special recognition plates to be sold directly at BMV branches (HB 1301).
September – Pat Moon, IBCAT’s processing coordinator since its inception, resigned.
November – Beth Knapp contracted as Director of Operations.
December – First IBCAT screening and education grants were awarded in the amount of $92,250 to nine agencies for programs implemented in January 2005.
December – Plate sales rose to 4,668.
2005
December – Plate sales grew slightly to 4,948. Grants of $92,253 were made to 11 agencies for 2006 grant programs.
2006
June – IBCAT made a formal request to the BMV to “opt in” to the direct sale program.
December – $115,992 in grants awarded to 14 agencies.
December – A new Strategic Plan, which established four committees of the board (finance, governance, grants and marketing), is adopted by the board.
December – Plate sales reached 8,745.
2007
January – Breast cancer plates became available at license branches. Beth Knapp hired as IBCAT’s Executive Director.
May – Michele Wood, Founding Board President, stepped down.
December – Grant amount of $145,956 awarded to 19 agencies. Sheila Hauck became the Trust’s third president.
December – Increased plate sales to 9,155.
2008
March – Founder Nancy Jaynes lost her 11-year battle with breast cancer.
May – First round of Mini-Grants approved. Mini-Grants are six-month programs with a maximum funding of $2,500 each. $29,700 in Mini-Grants funded to 15 agencies.
June – Board approved the establishment of the Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarship.
December – Twenty-two agencies awarded a total of $185,072 in grants.
December – Plate sales reached 13,340.
2009
March – Two Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships awarded in the amount of $1,000 each.
May – $39,885 in Mini-Grants funded to 16 agencies.
December – Grants awarded in the amount of $185,523 to 22 agencies.
December – Plate sales totaled 14,343.
2010
March – Two $1,000 Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships were awarded.
May – $40,735 in Mini-Grants funded to 20 agencies.
December – Grants awarded to 28 Indiana providers in the amount of $239,851.
December – Plate sales reached an all-time high of 15,775.
2011
March – $2,000 awarded in Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships, bringing total scholarships to $6,000.
May – $84,265 in Mini-Grants funded to 29 agencies.
October – Record amount of Grant Applications received.
December – Again exceeded previous year’s plate sales. 17,573 plates sold.
December – Record $342,282 in grants awarded for 2012 programs. These grants were awarded to 48 agencies throughout Indiana.
2012
March – Three Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships awarded to students in the amount of $1,000 each.
June – First Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships awarded in the amount of $1,500. All past awardees maintained full-time college status and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
October – Record amount of Grant Applications received (total of 51) for 2013 programs.
December – Record $395,539 in grants awarded for 2013 programs. These grants were awarded to 49 different agencies throughout Indiana.
December – Again exceeded previous year’s plate sales. 19,168 plates sold.
2013
March – Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships totaling $3,000 awarded to two students.
June – Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships were awarded to six applicants maintaining full-time college status and a 3.0 GPA.
December – Record $405,795 in grants awarded for 2014 programs. These grants were awarded to 48 different agencies serving Hoosier women.
December – Again exceeded previous year’s plate sales. 20,089 plates sold.
2014
March – Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships awarded to two high school seniors totaling $3,000.
June – Six Nancy Jaynes Continuation scholarships were awarded to past recipients maintaining full-time college status and a 3.0 GPA.
December – Record $431,128 in grants awarded for 2015 programs. These grants were awarded to 46 different agencies serving Hoosier women.
December – Again exceeded previous year’s plate sales. 20,544 plates sold.
2015
March – Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships awarded four scholarships totaling $4,000.
June – Five past recipients applied and received Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships. Edibility requires maintaining full-time college status and a 3.0 GPA.
December – $317,808 in grants awarded for 2017 programs.
December – Record high plates sales of 20,757 reached.
2016
March – Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships were awarded to six graduating seniors in the amount of $5,000.
June – Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships were awarded to five past awardees maintaining full-time college status and a 3.0 GPA
June – Updated Mission Statement to reflect provision of Support Services.
December – $428,104 awarded for 2017 Patient Services grant programs, and $134,151 in 2017 Support Services grant programs.
December – 20,316 plates sold.
2017
March – Five high school seniors received Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships. Total amount awarded $4,750.
June – Seven Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships were awarded to past awardees maintaining full-time college status and a 3.0 GPA.
December – $392,184 awarded for 2018 Patient Services grant programs, and $174,701 in 2018 Support Services grant programs.
December – Plates sales totaled 19,946.
2018
March – Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships were awarded to six high school seniors for a total of $5,750.
June – Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships were awarded to seven past awardees maintaining full-time college status and a 3.0 GPA.
June – Strategic Planning Session held. Increased Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarship maximum to a $2,500. Continuation Scholarships, up to $2,500 and not to exceed original award, are approved. Approval of offering Extension Grants for Grantees who exhausted Patient Services funding prior to year-end.
December – Record grant year despite gradual decline in plate sales. $444,997 awarded for 2019 Patient Services grant programs, and $159,506 in 2019 Support Services grant programs. Funding exceeded $5.0 million since inception in 2002.
December – 18,840 plates sold.
2019
March – $7,000 in Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships awarded to four graduating high school seniors.
June – Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships were awarded to six past awardees who maintained full-time college status and a 3.0 GPA. Total Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarship Awards to date is $80,000.
December – Grants totaling more than $446,000 were awarded to Indiana agencies for screening, diagnostic and support services.
December – Plate sales hold steady for 2019.
2020
March – Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships awarded to two high school students totaling $4,000.
June – Five past awardees maintaining full-time college status and a 3.0 GPA received Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships. Total Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarship Awarded to date is $91,500.
October – New website launched.
December – Awards of over $270,000 were distributed to Indiana agencies to provide screening and diagnostic services to Hoosiers.
2021
March – Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarship awarded to two high school seniors totaling $4,000.
June – Five Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships awarded to five students who maintained full-time status and a GPA of 3.0. This additional $9,000 in awards brought the total funding of Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships to over $100,000.
December – Over $280,000 awarded to Indiana agencies for screening and diagnostic services.
2022
March – Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships awarded to four high school seniors. These awards totaled $6,500.
June – Five Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships awarded to five students who maintained full-time status and a GPA of 3.0. This additional $9,000 in awards brought the total funding of Nancy Jaynes Memorial Scholarships to over $100,000.
December – Over $280,000 awarded to Indiana agencies for screening and diagnostic services.
2023
January – Added five additional IBCAT board members.
March – Two additional board members joined.
March – Nancy Jaynes Scholarships awarded to four students. These awards totaled $6,000.
March – Began partnership with Cancer Support Community Indiana. Also began to provide grocery and gas assistance for Hoosiers undergoing breast cancer treatment.
June – Nine Nancy Jaynes Continuation Scholarships awarded to students. This additional $8,500 in awards brought the total funding of Nancy Jaynes Scholarships to over $131,500.
July – Erica Hazel contracted as Executive Assistant.
December – Nearly $350,000 awarded to 28 Indiana agencies for breast screening and diagnostic services.