So the challenge for 2018 was made for the Officers. We assisted by providing 400 Chemo-Comfort Bags to five Des Moines Metro Area Cancer Centers including Blank Children's Hospital, Broadlawns Medical Center, John Stoddard Cancer Center, Mercy Cancer Center and The Des Moines’ Veteran’s Hospital, where approximately $26,000.00 was raised with product-in-kind donations and dollars specifically for this project.
The Officers are truly a valuable asset to the organization as they also assist throughout the year with various fundraising events we host. These Officers are truly AWESOME…
In 2017, we launched our capital campaign to raise funding for a commercial BBQ Trailer and Smoker to assist with fundraising. In eighteen short months, more than $67,000.00 in equipment, resources and donation dollars was specifically raised, and in October of 2018, the trailer was introduced.
2018, has been an amazing year financially for the organization, as being our largest in revenues for funding our programs and grant awards. All this could not have been made possible without the support, encouragement, and guidance of our donors.
In March of 2019, we launched our Childhood Cancer Advocacy program where we are looking forward to working with the Children’s Cancer Centers here in Iowa and the patient's families, providing the inspiration and much-needed resources.
In closing, the future of our organization is a positive one. Each day we move forward in creating and building stronger and more powerful governmental and corporate partnerships. We extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to your generosity as donors and we encourage your continued partnership with our organization as we strive to provide our clients with the quality of services they desire.
The success of an organization is not just based on the financial dollars raised and the number of clients an organization impacts. It is also a strong message of the leadership, guidance, and direction every one of our Board Members brings to the table each day. Their focus is very simple, "let's make the lives of our clients and their families better than it was yesterday."
We have not looked back, and every one of this organization is driven by God's direction knowing we still have much work to finish and we are having fun along the way.
Sincerely,
Craig A. Phinney
Craig A. Phinney
Executive Director & Founder
From 2004 to 2007, Craig was assigned to the Central Iowa Financial Investigators Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional State, and Federal Financial (Fraud) Crimes Task Force, here in the Des Moines (Iowa) Metro area. As a Task Force Officer, Craig initiated over 300 investigations, which included Felony Money Laundering, Counterfeiting, Forgeries, Credit Card Fraud, Internet Crimes /Scams and Child Pornography.
From July 2005 to July 2008, Craig held an elected State position as a Regional State Coordinator and Executive Board Member for the Iowa Law Enforcement Intelligence Network (ILEIN) organization covering a twenty county region in Central Iowa. ILEIN is nationally recognized and is considered a model for Law Enforcement Intelligence information gathering and sharing across the United States.
Shirley Phinney grew up in a law enforcement family in Lineville and Des Moines, Iowa.
Shirley is a graduate of Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, and Grandview College in Des Moines with Degrees in Criminal Justice.
Shirley has sixteen years affiliated in law enforcement experience including the Drug Enforcement Administration, as an Administrative Assistant, Reserve Police Officer for Altoona (Iowa) Police Department and as an Emergency Communications Specialist for Polk (Iowa) County Sheriff’s Communication Center and Wes Com Emergency Communications Center (Des Moines Metro Police).
Shirley is currently a Corporate Investigator and District Loss Prevention Manager for Walgreens' Corporations in W Des Moines, Iowa responsible for 41 stores throughout central Iowa for the past thirteen years.
As a faith-based organization, Cops Against Cancer focuses on the acute financial, educational, and emotional needs of individual cancer patients and their families. Grants, donations from individuals and businesses, and our annual Cops Against Cancer fundraisers provide funding to our Cancer Client Cares programs.
Since 2012, Cops Against Cancer has raised over $463,000.00 and have assisted over 1,500 plus cancer families directly in 78 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Each year the needs increase for our organization to accommodate the increasing needs of our clients. Cops Against Cancer is proud for the past four years, 88 cents of every dollar raised goes to the client assistance programs.
Cops Against Cancer has made it their commitment to making a difference in cancer patients’ lives. As a value-focused organization, we are built on the pillars of recovery and extending the quality of life for cancer families, providing one-on-one, family and group support transition and life purpose coaching, providing navigation and advocacy resource referrals, grief and loss coaching, survivor to survivor recovery programs and financial assistance.
Our goal is not only to assist but also helps restore dreams, goal setting, and normalcy to the lives of cancer patients and their families.
Community needs:
Cops Against Cancer provides ongoing assistance programs to cancer patients, Care coordinators, social workers, and families. Our organization works closely with the Des Moines, Iowa Metro Cancer Centers, Holden Cancer Center - University of Iowa, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and other Iowa-based treatment facilities. We receive referrals from those above as well as the Iowa Department of Public Health, National Cancer Call Center, and The American Cancer Society.
Ninety percent of the clients are single fixed income and low-income families, with limited medical insurance. Many families have depleted or limited medical leave and are receiving minimal or are unqualified for disability coverage. In most incidences, families are required to travel long distances, a minimum of 110 miles each way for needed medical treatments. Some of these treatments require 28 - 30 treatments over a 5 - 6-week period. Without financial assistance, many of these patients would be unable to receive treatments.
Our organization assists with monthly utility payments, home repairs, mortgage payments, and rent, as well with medical insurance premiums and co-payments, vehicle insurance and registration payments. We also assist with the purchase of commercial supplements and medical supplies not covered by medical insurance, which are all necessities for their day-to-day recovery.
Our mentoring, educational retreats & coaching programs assist the client in seizing opportunities, achieving clarity, and getting a glimpse of their true potential. By assisting our clients in breaking through their limiting thoughts and emotional responses, we replace them with supportive, empowering beliefs that lead to powerful and consistent action.
No one should have to go through an illness battle alone. Learning to live as well as they can, for as long as they can require assistance. This mindset is where our programs assist the individuals and families with the transition.
Mission:
* Providing financial assistance and resources to cancer patients and families with some of the unexpected expenses associated with cancer treatments not covered by insurance.
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Providing and promoting cancer awareness and prevention within our communities through educational retreats and speakers’ forum.
Providing and promoting cancer awareness and prevention within our communities through educational retreats and speakers’ forum. *Providing cancer patients and families not only during treatment but also during post-treatment by offering professionally certified WellBeing Coaching services.
Providing cancer patients and families not only during treatment but also during post-treatment by offering professionally certified WellBeing Coaching services. 
We're about offering a hand-up, not a handout
2018 Annual Report
(As of April 01, 2019)
About the Founders
Craig Phinney is a retired Police Officer with over thirty-five years of law enforcement experience to the State of Iowa. In 2013, Craig retired from the Ankeny (Iowa) Police Department after twenty-five years of service.
During this time period, Craig served in several capacities in the Uniform Patrol Division, including Team Leader for Hotel/Motel Investigation Unit, Street Narcotics / Police Working Dog Handler, Law Enforcement Training Instructor and Field Training Officer.
From 1984 to 2008, Craig was also a Law Enforcement Specialist for twenty-four years with the United States Air Force and the United States Air Force Reserves.
A message from our Executive Director:
In December 2014, we re-organized and began interviewing prospective Board Members. The Board then grew from three to five and today, we have seven voiting members, and three non-voting member to include two advisors and a Deputy Executive Director.
In October of 2017 Girl Cops are Awesome, an amaziong group of 37 female law enforcement officers and spouses from around the Central Iowa area were brought onto our organization. The Officers an idea of soliciting donations from around the Des Moines Metro area to build Chemo-Comfort Bags for cancer treatment patients. The first year the Officer raised enough for 200 bag that were shared with the patients at Blank’s Children Hospital, Mercy West Cancer Center and John Stoddard Cancer Center, all in Des Moines, Iowa.
Cops Against Cancer.org
P.O. Box 08
Indianola, Iowa 50125
515- 783- 9833
www.copsagainstcancer.org copsagainstcancer.org@live.com
