Growing Pains Abound for Local Cancer Charity

For the Legal Information Network for Cancer, a nonprofit organization that offers legal advice and assistance to cancer patients in the Central Virginia region, expanding donor universes has been a daunting task.

When LINC was founded in 1996 by two breast-cancer survivors (who were attorneys), the organization relied heavily on the celebrity of Sarah Jessica Parker to raise funds and spread the word about its mission. Parker, who is the goddaughter of one of the founders, jumped at the opportunity to film public service announcements, schmooze with potential donors and lend her name to direct mail solicitations. But much to the chagrin of LINC, Parker could not officially sign as spokesperson because she had already made prior commitments to other charities.