About the Breast Cancer Resource Center
Who We Are

Breast Cancer Resource Center

We empower women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions regarding breast health.

The Breast Cancer Resource Center of Santa Barbara (BCRC) is committed to serve as a community resource center that empowers women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions regarding breast health. At BCRC women are heard and find emotional support in actively navigating their cancer treatment and survivorship health.

We strive to make people’s life a little more bearable when dealing with breast cancer by providing a caring touch. We nurture and comfort those diagnosed with breast cancer by caring for their mind, body and spirit. Clients find a special place that acknowledges and affirms that their concerns matter. Clients discover answers to the practical ‘life now’ questions as a result of a breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship outlook.

As cancer survivors, BCRC Staff understand the many and varied reactions to a diagnosis. Your doctors provide a cure. And we act as the support system and family that will encourage and uplift you, so you find the stamina to move forward with a semblance of mindful wellness. BCRC is the place where anyone touched by breast cancer or dealing with benign breast health issues can find support and resources to live life to the fullest.

Since 1997, the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC) has helped many clients navigate and cope with the inevitable distress and matrix of emotions associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. We accomplish this in a non-clinical setting by offering support services and programs such as individual and group support, complementary therapies to rejuvenate the body, information and resources, a free lending library, survivorship wellness programs and practical necessities. All services are provided free of charge on an unlimited basis to help ease the burden of this disease whether one is living with cancer, and during or after treatment when you feel you have strength to participate.

Our door is always open and welcome walk-in visits, questions by telephone or email. No appointment necessary. Feel free to bring your friend, partner or spouse, and/or family along with you for your visit with us.

Tax ID #91-1790842
Tax Status & Classifications: Public Charitable Organization: 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1), and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
W9 Form

  • Silvana R. Kelly Silvana R. Kelly Executive Director

    Silvana is responsible for implementing the vision and overseeing the overall administration and financial security of the BCRC. Prior to joining the BCRC, Silvana worked as the Marketing Manager for First Nano, a nanotechnology company, where she successfully branded the company and its products as a leader in an emerging industry. Additionally, she has over 10 years medical marketing experience in the fields of facial and plastic surgery, and ophthalmology. Silvana holds a Bachelor's degree in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley. As a breast cancer survivor, she is honored to provide uplifting and compassionate support to the women she meets at the BCRC.

  • Armando Martinez Armando Martinez Director of Donor Engagement

    In his role as Director of Donor Engagement, Armando is responsible for creating and implementing key strategies and initiatives for donor engagement, recognition, and stewardship for individual and corporate donor groups. As Founder and Owner of Alegria Event Group — an event management, design and production company — Armando brings 20 years of experience in branding, planning, creative direction, event marketing, strategic partnerships, P.R. and social media.

  • Ana Luisa Rodriquez Ana Luisa Rodriquez Field Educational Outreach Coordinator & Health Promoter

    Ana Luisa actively promotes breast health educational programs in the field amongst the Spanish speaking population. She is bilingual and understands the particular challenges of cultural & social issues surrounding and impeding good breast health and early cancer detection screening within the target community. She navigates clients to access health providers and assists in learning to actively participate in their health wellness. Ana Luisa holds a Bachelor's Degree from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She also assist clients in accessing local health resources to ensure good breast health and early cancer detection, including access to social service resources.

  • Ellen Fogel, MSW Ellen Fogel, MSW Director of Integrative Therapy & Complementary Care

    Ellen is a 20-year dedicated BCRC Volunteer. She is a RIEKI Master and founding mother of the program, and sits on the Advisory Board. She recruits, trains and schedules the program practitioners. Ellen is instrumental in developing and bringing new modalities to benefit our clients. She works with and coordinates an active volunteer staff of 15-20 licensed practitioners dedicated to serving and instilling a sense of peace and wellbeing into our clients daily lives as they deal with breast cancer.

  • Silvie Pospiech Silvie Pospiech Administrative and Program Coordinator

    Silvie brings many years of legal, administrative, and social work, as well as personal experience with friends and family and their breast cancer journeys. As a German native, she graduated in social work from the Sophie-Scholl Berufskolleg in Duisburg, Germany. After relocating to the United States, she gained in-depth administrative experience as the Chief Executive Officer at an indie record label. She also worked as a personal caregiver and assisted a Santa Barbara paraplegic philanthropist in her mission to support various causes and charities including women's and disabled rights organizations. After receiving her degree in paralegal studies, she worked as an Executive Trust and Estates Paralegal at a well-established Santa Barbara law firm.

  • Liane Duffy Liane Duffy Outreach Communications and Creative Specialist

    Liane is responsible writing and distributing agency outreach messages through email, website, online calendar, and multiple social media platforms to keep clients informed and connected to support services. She has 20 years of experience as a development professional and joined the BCRC in 2020 to support and facilitate a transition to agency communication through virtual platforms with both clients and donors. She has a bachelor's degree from University of California, Santa Barbara.