Meet Elesha Snyder of Breast Wishes Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elesha Snyder.

Hi Elesha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Breast Wishes Foundation was founded from a deeply personal place. My sister, Kelli, was diagnosed with breast cancer, and walking beside her through that journey changed my life. While there were so many difficult moments, I also saw how powerful the small moments of joy, comfort, connection, and normalcy could be. Those moments became cherished memories for our family and inspired my younger sister Mandi and myself to create something that could bring that same light to others facing breast cancer.

What started as an idea rooted in love and loss has grown into a mission-driven nonprofit serving individuals throughout the greater Dayton area. Breast Wishes Foundation officially became a nonprofit in 2014 and granted its first wish in 2017. Since then, we have granted hundreds of wishes ranging from family vacations and concert tickets to adjustable beds, spa experiences, appliances, and other meaningful gifts that help someone feel supported, celebrated, and cared for during treatment.

Today, our organization has granted more than 540 wishes and invested over $800,000 directly back into our local community. We’ve grown through grassroots support, community partnerships, volunteers, donors, and signature events that bring people together around a shared mission of compassion and hope.

At the heart of it all, our purpose remains the same as it was in the beginning: to remind people fighting breast cancer that they are seen, loved, and deserving of joy even in the middle of a difficult journey.

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?
Not at all. Like many grassroots nonprofits, the road has been filled with both meaningful victories and real challenges. In the beginning, one of the biggest struggles was simply getting people to understand our mission and believe in the idea. We were building something from the ground up with limited resources, no paid staff, and a lot of heart.

Funding has always been a challenge. Every wish we grant depends on community support, sponsorships, grants, fundraising events, and donors who believe in what we do. There were times when we had to stretch every dollar and wear multiple hats just to keep moving forward. As we grew, another challenge became balancing the emotional side of the work with the operational side of running a nonprofit. Supporting individuals and families during such a vulnerable time can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be emotionally heavy.

Growth itself has also brought challenges. As awareness of our organization increased, so did the need for wishes, stronger systems, more volunteers, better technology, and long-term sustainability planning. We’ve had to learn and evolve constantly.

But through every obstacle, the community has continued to show up for us in incredible ways. The support we receive from volunteers, donors, sponsors, healthcare professionals, and wish recipients is what keeps us going. Every challenge has reinforced why this mission matters so much and why continuing to grow this organization is worth the work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Breast Wishes Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to granting joy-filled wishes to individuals fighting breast cancer throughout the greater Dayton area. Our mission is rooted in the belief that emotional support and moments of joy matter just as much as physical care during a cancer journey.

We specialize in creating meaningful experiences and gifts tailored to each individual’s unique needs and wishes. Some wishes provide comfort at home through items like adjustable beds, appliances, or wellness equipment, while others focus on creating lasting memories through vacations, concerts, spa retreats, or special family experiences. No two wishes are exactly alike because every person’s journey is different.

What sets us apart is our focus on joy, personalization, and human connection. We are not a large national organization. We are local, grassroots, and deeply connected to the community we serve. Every dollar raised stays local and directly impacts individuals and families in our area. We work closely with nurse navigators, social workers, healthcare providers, volunteers, and families to make the wish process personal, thoughtful, and uplifting.

I believe what people know us for most is the heart behind our mission. We aim to make people feel seen, celebrated, and cared for during one of the hardest seasons of their lives. We also strive to create experiences that families will carry with them long after treatment is over.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we have stayed true to who we are as we’ve grown. The foundation was created in honor of my sister, Kelli, and that personal connection remains at the center of everything we do. We’ve grown from a small idea into an organization that has granted more than 540 wishes and invested over $810,000 back into our local community, but we still approach every wish with the same compassion and intention we had from day one.

More than anything, I want readers to know that Breast Wishes Foundation exists to bring light into difficult moments. Joy may not cure cancer, but it can provide hope, comfort, connection, and strength along the way, and that is something truly powerful.

Any big plans?
At Breast Wishes Foundation, our biggest focus for the future is growth with purpose. As awareness of our mission continues to grow, so does the need for wishes, and we want to make sure we can continue serving more individuals and families while maintaining the personal, heartfelt experience that defines who we are.

One of our major goals is expanding our reach throughout the greater Dayton area so more people know that this support exists. We are continuing to strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, businesses, and volunteers to help us connect with individuals who may benefit from wish granting.

We are also focused on building long-term sustainability for the organization. That includes improving our infrastructure, technology, fundraising strategies, and volunteer engagement so we can continue growing in a healthy and impactful way. As a small nonprofit, we’ve accomplished a lot through passion and community support, but we know investing in strong systems and leadership is essential for the future.

In terms of impact, we recently surpassed more than 540 wishes granted, and we are excited about continuing to increase that number year after year. Every wish represents someone who felt supported, celebrated, and cared for during an incredibly difficult time, and that is what keeps us motivated.

What I look forward to most is seeing how this community continues to rally around the mission. The generosity and compassion we witness every day is inspiring. We’re excited to continue creating meaningful moments of joy for those fighting breast cancer and finding new ways to bring people together to support that mission.

Pricing:

• Granting One Wish: $1500
• Supporting One Workshop: $500
• Sponsorsing One Event: $625-2000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.breastwishes.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breastwishesfoundation
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breastwishesfoundation
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breast-wishes-foundation/
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@breastwishesfoundation