Today we’d like to introduce you to Yoli Origel.
Hi Yoli, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My name is Yoli Origel, and I am the founder and CEO of Cancer Kinship, a nonprofit organization based in Orange County, California. The story of Cancer Kinship is deeply personal and rooted in my own experience with cancer. I was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer at the age of 31. My personal cancer story is bookended by my mother and sister’s cancer stories. I lost my mother to metastatic breast cancer when I was just 10 years old. When I was an 8-year survivor, I lost my sister to the disease.
Inspired by personal and family’s struggles, amid my grief and loss after losing my sister, I was inspired to launch Cancer Kinship in 2018. The organization aims to provide comprehensive support to cancer patients, survivors, and thrivers (defined as those living with uncurable cancers) of any cancer type and stage of disease. We also provide caregiver support. Cancer Kinship offers a range of services, including emotional support, survivor empowerment, educational workshops and activities, free wigs through our salon “Kinner Beauty,” and community resource navigation programs. We also host a fashion show called “Brave, Bold & Boundless” as a way to empower our cancer warriors to “rock the runway” confidently and fearlessly.
My motivation for starting Cancer Kinship stems from my personal desire to ensure that no one facing cancer feels alone or unsupported. I recognized the importance of a strong support network during my own cancer journey and wanted to create a platform where others could find similar support and guidance.
Through my work with Cancer Kinship, I am an advocate for cancer patients and survivors, raising awareness about the many challenges they face and advocating for improved access to resources and support services. My hope is that the services that we provide at Cancer Kinship can make a significant impact on the lives of many individuals and families affected by the disease by helping to reduce cancer and recurrence risks.
My professional background in the nonprofit sector spans more than 30 years, which started as a volunteer youth advisory council member for what later became the Exeter Boys & Girls Club in my hometown Central California. I’ve served in various nonprofit leadership capacities throughout the years. My passion for health equity within the cancer community is evident by my involvement in cross-sector collaborations. I have been serving as Co-Chair of Orange County Cancer Coalition (OC3) since 2019, in partnership with University of California Irvine. I also serve as an Advisory Member of UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, and as Internal Advisory Committee Member of the Biobehavioral Shared Resource at UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. I am an active member of the California Dialogue on Cancer (CDOC) Survivorship Coalition, and most recently joined the Equity in OC Taskforce and is a part of two workgroups focused on Suicide Prevention and nonprofit equity. Most recently, I joined Varian’s empowerME Patient Advocacy Advisory Board and I’m working closely on their mission of building “a world without fear of cancer.” I believe in the power of storytelling as a way to elevate the voices cancer patients, survivors, thrivers, and care providers, and I live the mission of Cancer Kinship every day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like every small nonprofit organization, we have experienced many bumps since the launch of our organization in 2018, which have served as learning and growth opportunities. As a start-up nonprofit who launched programs in October 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic created some incredible fundraising and community outreach challenges. We had just launched our Peer Mentorship Program called “Cancer Connections” and “Painting Your Heart” as part of our Survivor Empowerment & Education program, and just 5 months later, our programs came to a screeching halt. Our community outreach efforts and our in-person programs quickly shifted to the virtual space because we knew that our clients needed us. The fallout from the pandemic has since led to an increased demand for the resources and support, especially from the most vulnerable community members with advanced stage disease. We’ve had to learn how to scale up our operations with a tight budget to meet the growing needs of local cancer warriors.
One positive development amidst the pandemic was the seamless transfer of Susan G Komen OC’s longstanding free wig program to Cancer Kinship in 2021. Under the rebranded name “Kinner Beauty” (reflecting our affinity for variations of “Kin” and “Kinship”), we have revitalized and reintroduced the initiative. Our salon, now located within Phenix Salon Suites, Brea, offers a serene, safe, and welcoming environment. We are honored to now receive patient referrals from all major cancer centers, hospitals in Orange County, and local human services agencies. Kinner Beauty serves as the gateway to Cancer Kinship’s holistic range of programs and services, extending our support to individuals navigating the challenges of chemotherapy-induced hair loss. (Click here to view our grand opening photo album:
https://cancerkinship.smugmug.com/2023-Programs-Events/KInner-Beauty-Grand-Opening)
Despite challenges, we’ve persisted, and in November of last year, we marked our 5-year anniversary! This milestone stands as a testament to our dedication and resilience. We’re deeply committed to sharing the Cancer Kinship story wherever we go. We have established a reliable presence in the local Southern California community. Actively involved in the health and wellness sphere, particularly in mental health, cancer care, and health equity, we continue to make meaningful contributions to our community’s health and well-being.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Cancer Kinship has embarked on a new endeavor in 2022: the establishment of a social enterprise called “Kinner Beauty Wigs.” This online wig store aims to offer high-quality wigs catering to various needs, including everyday wear, alopecia, and cancer patients, as well as those in fashion, arts, event costumes, and cosplay. 100% of its net profits will support Cancer Kinship’s free wig salon and empowerment programs so we can continue providing our programs and services free of charge to those in need.
The concept for Kinner Beauty Wigs took shape during our participation in UCLA’s Academy of Social Entrepreneurship in 2022. With the support of seed funding provided by the Samueli Foundation since 2023, earmarked for the launch of the OC Accelerator program, Cancer Kinship is gearing up for the inauguration of its new social venture. We are proud of the accomplishments we have reached throughout these past five years. Our mission is fueled by whom we fondly call our “Kinner Circle” – our volunteers, corporate and community partners, local funders, and cancer warriors. We are poised for growth, and the future looks bright!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Please join our Kinner Circle! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook (@cancerkinship). You are also invited to join our Cancer Kinship mailing list at https://www.cancerkinship.org/contact/.
To get real-time updates on the upcoming launch of Kinner Beauty Wigs, please sign up for our wig store mailing list here: https://kinnerbeautywigs.com/.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cancerkinship.org | www.kinnerbeautywigs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cancerkinship/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CancerKinship/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cancerkinship
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL9RAWUqUoV1h5MWE86ctcg/videos
- Other: https://cancerkinship.smugmug.com/
Image Credits
Albert Evangelista
Susan G
Komen OC
Henry Thompson Jr.
Ron Robertson
