The MaryEllen Locher Foundation is a college scholarship program for children who have either lost a parent to breast cancer or have a parent who is a breast cancer survivor. The organization was founded in 2002 by MaryEllen Locher, a long-time news anchor and health reporter for WTVC in Chattanooga, Tennessee. MaryEllen passed away in 2005 after her third bout with cancer. She started the foundation because she was concerned about her own son’s future education.
Formerly known as the Children of Breast Cancer Fund, the MaryEllen Locher Foundation has awarded over 460 scholarships totaling $751,000 over the past 16 years. The awards are designed to ease the financial and emotional burdens faced by families dealing with breast cancer.
Funds for our work are raised through special events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and private grants. The MaryEllen Locher Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax-deductible.