The Story of
Friend to Friend
Inspired by a 100-year
Tradition of Giving
L to R: First Mount Zion Hospital in a renovated residence on Sutter St (1899), Ladies Auxiliary of Mount Zion Hospital & Medical Center (ca.1930), laying cornerstone for Esther Hellman Building (1911), Hellman Building on Post St – first hospital built on Mount Zion campus, patient care at the Sutter St building (1900’s).
The Friend to Friend Specialty Shop
After several years of planning and fundraising, Friend to Friend opened its doors to cancer patients in 1998. The shop was in keeping with UCSF Mount Zion Auxiliary’s tradition of providing assistance to patients, their families, and friends. It was a lovely oasis where people could select the items they needed in privacy assisted by experienced fitters. “Making money was not the bottom line,” explains Karen Wener, former Auxiliary president. “The aim was to make every patient feel they were in a happy place. And for those who couldn’t pay, we would donate.”
Our Mission
Friend to Friend is dedicated to helping women and girls living with a cancer diagnosis look and feel their best. We provide wigs, mastectomy bras, prostheses, stylish head coverings and other essentials…regardless of their ability to pay.
Vision
Every woman, of any age, ethnicity, or economic status, should have access to the essentials she needs to feel whole during and after cancer treatment.
1998
The first Friend to Friend Shop opened in a small boutique on Sutter Street, mainly offering mastectomy bras, prostheses, wigs, and turbans.
2003
We moved into the lobby shop in UCSF Mount Zion and expanded our offerings to include comfortable clothing, accessories and gifts. Introduced free wig styling, expert bra fitting and other programs designed to help women in treatment feel good about themselves.
2020
Our second shop opened in the lobby of UCSF Health at Mission Bay. Here, we offer a broader selection of products for cancer patients, including gifts, books, jewelry and clothing. Free bra fittings and complementary wig fittings are among our many services.
We’re here because of them…
Our Generous Donors
Dr. Laura Esserman
A nationally known breast surgeon, Dr. Esserman directs the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center at the Mission Bay campus. Her work is devoted to developing new, more effective ways to care for and empower breast cancer patients during treatment. It was her vision to have a place where women could shop in privacy assisted by compassionate fitters who could relate to their situation. Friend to Friend is the realization of her vision, and we are grateful for her continued support.
Ruth Ann Rosenberg
Ruth Ann became a volunteer in the Friend to Friend shop when she was 30 years old. She became one of our strongest advocates and has supported us financially year after year. A fourth generation San Franciscan, Ruth Ann is passionate about giving back to the community.
“Once in a lifetime, if you are really lucky, you meet a person like Ruth Ann who is all heart and soul. Because of Ruth Ann and her family, Friend to Friend is able to have a broader reach to those who need our help.” ~ Chris Wilhite, Friend to Friend Manager
Joseph Friend
The name of our shop harkens back to the generosity of San Francisco businessman, Joe Friend. After he lost his wife Ida to ovarian cancer, he wanted to honor her memory by donating funds for a Cancer Resource Center at UCSF. His contributions also helped establish the Friend to Friend Specialty Shop, where patients could purchase the essentials they needed, in privacy. From its original home on Sutter Street, Friend to Friend moved into its current location in the lobby of the Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center in Mount Zion. Now, Friend to Friend is proud to have a second location at UCSF Health at Mission Bay.
Meet The Team
Chris Wilhite
Managing Director
Chris has been the manager of Friend to Friend since the first shop opened on Sutter Street in 1998. Three years later she helped launch the store in the UCSF Medical Center in Mount Zion. Now she also manages and merchandises the new location at UCSF Mission Bay. “It’s our greatest pleasure to be able to provide products that help patients manage the day in/day out,” she says.
A three-time cancer survivor, Chris has seen many changes over the years, both in the procedures and the population. “I get to see it from the patients’ standpoint and understand what their needs are.” An expert at fitting bras and wigs, she says, “It’s all about comfort.”
“This has been the best ride of my life, besides my children! The sense of being able to give back is overwhelming.”
Janet Bamberger
Sales & Licensed Fitter
Janet has been with Friend to Friend since the shop first opened in 1998. She started as a volunteer then became a part time sales associate and licensed fitter for bras and prostheses. Her favorite part of working here? “Bringing sunshine to a patient’s day,” she says. One such patient was a woman with no hair, no income and no insurance. “We were able to give her a wig and a hat at no charge,” Janet recalls. Her other passions include theater, reading, sewing and wedding floral design.
Lynne Trump
Personal Shopper
Like many Friend to Friend employees, Lynne started here as a volunteer. After three years, she became a part-time employee, in 2015. Her main role is to fit women with bras, prosthetics, wigs and other necessities. She also rings up sales, assists with buying, and creates merchandise displays. She especially enjoys helping underserved women, “who are in need of kindness, care and the wonderful products we provide,” In her spare time Lynne loves gardening, listening to jazz, and hiking.
Jacqueline Salamanca
Sales Associate
When Jacky isn’t helping people select gifts for their loved ones, she may be restocking the shelves or keeping track of merchandise on the floor. “It’s a rewarding feeling when I see our customers so grateful and hopeful that we are there to help them,” she says. Prior to joining Friend to Friend, Jacky was an assistant manager for Crunch Fitness in San Francisco. Now she gets her work out by hiking the beautiful trails in the Bay Area.
Mariah Badilla
Sales Associate
The newest member of our staff, Mariah joined Friend to Friend in May 2020. “My role is to welcome every guest with a smile and make sure their visit is the best it can be.” She loves having the opportunity to give back to the women in her community. “Seeing their eyes light up is the best,” she says. Mariah’s hobbies include Karaoke, playing ukulele and guitar. Her passion is pursuing an AA in Diagnostic Medical Imaging. Come let her brighten your day!
Marguerite Wilhite
Administrative Assistant
Margo joined Friend to Friend in 2013 and is Chris’s right hand person, offering admin support in financial areas, development and communications. Previously she was a commercial insurance underwriter, but after her husband was treated at UCSF for cancer, it made her yearn to change careers and work for UCSF, “a place I found full of exuberant energy, competence and hope,” she says. Margo loves being able to help women on their cancer journey. “Seeing a patient’s anxiety turn into a smile of relief or gratitude is incredibly rewarding. It’s a way for me to give back to those who’ve helped me in the past.”
Victoria Fleishhacker
Volunteer
Vicki discovered Friend to Friend when she was undergoing cancer treatment. She found the staff so kind and helpful, she wanted to give back and became a volunteer. Fast forward 15 years, and she’s still volunteering in the shop. Vicki pitches in wherever help is needed: sales, restocking, creating displays, and more. But her main role is greeting cancer patients in a gracious, welcoming, empathetic manner. Vicki enjoys the camaraderie with other staff members who have become friends. Her passions include theater, symphony, ballet and museums.
Friend to Friend provides compassionate and supportive care to patients at one of their most vulnerable moments. Our clients always come away from their appointment glowing and motivated to continue on their cancer treatment journey. Thank you so much for all you do!
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