CancerPartners board members speak out following cease operations announcement

CancerPartners’ board members are speaking out for the first time since they announced ceasing operations by the end of this month after nearly 15 years of service. The nonprofit serves anywhere between 2,000 to 5,000 members a year.

According to board members, their annual budget is about $1 million a year to maintain operations but in recent years, the organization has been short a couple hundred thousand dollars.

CancerPartners President and CEO Maria Elena Geyer said they’ve lost several major donors and haven’t been able to make a substantial profit from fundraisers. Their most recent fundraiser was the Passions Ball Gala in November.

Board members say they expected to raise upwards of $200,000 but fell short, only collecting a total of $60,000 after paying for the venue and vendors.

Geyer also says they’ve been surviving off reserve funds and says it’s not clear how much money they’re left with as of right now.

“An attorney is at the helm of this to make sure we’re following the rules of no nonprofit closure. As for what is left, it will be up to them to determine how they’re going to manage the end of distribution, if any is left,” Geyer said.

Geyer says she will be letting seven part-time employees go this Thursday.

Members of the nonprofit can continue to receive similar services at Desert Regional and Eisenhower.