About The Tutu Project™

Our Story

It’s not every day that a burly, hairy-chested man dons a pink tutu for the world to see.

Then again, it’s not every day that you find out your wife has breast cancer.

That’s how The Tutu Project™ began in 2003: as a lark, an accident, a happy retreat in the face of confusion and fear.

Shortly after we moved to the East Coast, Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. She beat it, only to have it recur in 2006.

In the years since, so many people in Linda’s life, myself included, have been in awe of the power, beauty, and spirit she carries with her, despite everything that’s going on within her. Oddly enough, her cancer has taught us that life is good, dealing with it can be hard, and sometimes the very best thing—no, the only thing—we can do to face another day is to laugh at ourselves, and share a laugh with others.

And so The Tutu Project™ was born with the publication of Ballerina, a powerful book of imagery for anyone who has been touched by breast cancer.

Together, through Linda’s personal battle, we’ve endured so much, and those experiences have shed light on the real-world, practical, everyday support that people touched by breast cancer so desperately need.

Our mission with The Tutu Project™ is to raise funds for women, men, and their families to ease the financial burdens that come with breast cancer diagnoses.

Meet our Breast Cancer Allies

To do this, we provide partnership opportunities to esteemed breast cancer non-profit organizations who share our vision for an empowered breast cancer community. It is designed to create lasting bonds between our initiative and like-minded organizations who are doing good in the world. Through these partnerships, we’re able to extend our reach and influence while sharing unique resources and support from around the world. Three of our most celebrated partners are Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a nationally run non-profit that offers counseling, support, education, and financial assistance. For 3 Sisters, is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and improving the quality of life for women and men affected by breast cancer. They provide financial support and resource case management services to the breast cancer community. Vital Options International assists patients facing financial hardships. They have established the Selma Shimmel Vital Grant, which allows The Tutu Project to distribute funds to patients in need.

We also contribute net proceeds from the sale of our products to The Carey Foundation, the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization we created in 2012 to collect for and allocate funds to the breast cancer community for everything from wigs and lymphedema sleeves to transportation, childcare, and counseling.

Oh, and those laughs, we make sure to share a lot of them along the way. That’s why The Tutu Project™ is more than a place for financial support, it’s a hub for community engagement, emotional healing, education, resources, and venting on life’s frustrations.  Whether you’re having a good morning or a bad afternoon, whether you’re in the fog of chemo brain or enjoying clarity of vision, every single person in The Tutu Project’s network is here to connect, listen, and help.

Many moons ago, in a white, sterile office with cold tile floors, our entire world changed. In one slow-motion instant. We know what it feels like to be where you are—exactly where you are—and we want you to know you don’t have to carry the weight of breast cancer on your own.

Thank you for joining us throughout this journey.

Sincerely,

Linda and Bob Carey

The Tutu Project is an initiative of The Carey Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization EIN# 45-4907360.