Why donate?
At I Will Survive, Inc., your donation is more than just a contribution — it’s a lifeline.
Our Impact
4,000 +
Families provided with direct support to focus on beating the cancer
100% success rate
in 0 evictions, 0 hungry
ARCHI (Housing Partner) I Care Atlanta (Food Bank Partner)
Open Hand Atlanta (Medically Tailored Meals Partner).
$4,000,000 +
in funds raised .
372
Student interns served locally, nationally, and globally, building future health‑equity leaders and strengthening support for families facing breast cancer.
Our Community
Stories of Hope
Danielle’s Story
Danielle was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in October 2015, and her life quickly filled with treatment schedules instead of plans and routines. For months, she underwent therapy two to three times per week, and ultimately faced a double mastectomy as part of her fight to live.
Now in recovery, Danielle is unemployed and working hard to heal physically and emotionally. Monthly rent and basic bills are a constant source of stress at a time when her energy should be focused on rest and restoration.
During a home visit and care package delivery, Danielle shared her joy and relief with Founder and Executive Director Anisa Palmer after learning that her surgery was successful. With support for housing and essentials, she can concentrate on rebuilding her strength and embracing this new chapter of survivorship.
Paris’s Story
Paris was navigating cancer treatment while trying to hold together every other part of her life. Appointments, medications, and recovery demands left little room for stability—financially or emotionally. As the weight of uncertainty grew heavier, so did the isolation.
When I Will Survive, Inc. stepped in, Paris received more than assistance. She received reassurance that she was not alone. Support with essentials and consistent follow-up allowed her to focus on healing instead of survival logistics.
During her journey, Paris said it plainly:
“I Will Survive, Inc. saved my life.”
Today, Paris continues forward with renewed strength, grounded in the knowledge that someone stood with her when she needed it most.
Angela’s Story
Angela was fighting stage 3 breast cancer while raising her son as a single mother. In the quiet moments between treatments, she held onto a dream of becoming an author—but reality was far less forgiving. With no financial cushion and her health failing, Angela was on the brink of eviction.
She remembers counting pennies just to make it to treatment appointments, wondering how close she was to losing everything. Cancer was taking her strength, and housing insecurity was threatening her family’s future.
When Angela found I Will Survive, Inc., help came immediately. We stepped in to prevent eviction, relocated her into affordable housing, and made sure her son had stability—sometimes picking him up from school and bringing him to our office so he could do his homework in a safe space. With housing secured and daily stress reduced, Angela could finally focus on healing.
Today, Angela’s life looks very different. She is employed, thriving in a stable home, and has found love after cancer. The dream she once whispered during treatment became real—Angela is now a two-time published author.
Her story is proof that when survival is supported, people don’t just endure.
They rise.
Roxanne’s Story
When Roxanne heard the words “stage 2 breast cancer” in 2015, her life changed overnight. She fought through chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, finishing her last reconstructive surgery in April 2016. Treatment saved her life, but it also cost her the job she relied on.
Today, Roxanne is still healing and attending physical therapy twice a week. Because of ongoing physical limitations and no car, even getting to appointments is hard. She is working to rebuild her life while facing past-due rent and the constant worry of how to pay for food, utilities, and transportation.
At her core, Roxanne is a certified life coach who lights up when she’s helping others. With support, she can stabilize her basic needs and return to doing what she loves—guiding people through their own journeys of healing and hope.
Florrie’s Story
Florrie is our oldest survivor and the youngest at heart. Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2013, she faced treatment with courage and a radiant smile that lifted everyone around her. She completed chemotherapy and continues to focus on staying healthy, active, and grateful for each new day.
Travel has been out of reach for many years, but Florrie recently dared to dream again by applying to a Little Pink Houses of Hope survivor retreat in Florida. She needs partial housing assistance and help with gas so she can keep up with her follow-up doctor appointments and, hopefully, make that healing trip a reality.
One of her favorite memories is attending a Braves game last year—the first game of her life. The joy on her face that day is exactly why we work so hard to remove financial barriers for survivors like her.
Patrice’s Story
Patrice’s breast cancer journey began in 2011 with a stage 3 diagnosis. She pushed through aggressive treatment, only to be left with painful side effects—lymphedema, neuropathy, and now a diagnosis of severe osteoporosis. Each new challenge would be enough to break many people, but Patrice continues to show up with strength and grace.
Chemotherapy damaged her teeth, leaving her in urgent need of major dental work. Without it, eating, speaking, and even smiling can be painful. As a single mother and gifted poet, her voice is her power—and she is determined not to let cancer take that away from her.
With financial support, Patrice can receive the dental care she needs, protect her health, and keep sharing her story, her art, and her love with her child and community.
Our Story
Karen Palmer’s Legacy
In the photo below, Karen Palmer holds her young daughter, Anisa. As a child, Anisa didn’t understand why her mother cried when anyone else tried to hold her—she only knew she wanted every moment in her mother’s arms.
Soon after, Karen was diagnosed with metastatic stage IV breast cancer, which had spread to her lungs and ultimately led to her death. Adopted at a young age, she had limited access to her birth family’s medical history, mirroring the uncertainty many families still face around hereditary cancer risk and early detection.
Karen grew up in the Virgin Islands, where the health care system was under‑resourced. While conditions have improved since the 1980s, many communities there and in the U.S. still struggle with access to quality breast cancer screening, treatment, and education. Karen exercised and ate well, yet carried the trauma of past abuse and a family history of lung cancer in both adoptive parents who smoked.
Her story is the heartbeat of I Will Survive, Inc. Founded by her daughter, veteran and nonprofit leader Anisa Palmer, the organization exists so no family has to navigate breast cancer alone. Today, I Will Survive, Inc. provides breast cancer education, prevention resources, and economic support to survivors and their families, focusing on communities facing the greatest barriers to care.
By supporting I Will Survive, Inc., you help honor Karen’s legacy—expanding access to life‑saving screenings, strengthening families, and advancing health equity so more loved ones can survive and thrive after breast cancer.