Kara Stephenson, Director
609-497-2100, extension 346

Kara joined the Breast Cancer Resource Center as Director in January 2005. She is responsible for coordination and implementation of BCRC's community education, information and support programs. Since joining the YWCA, Kara has developed several new services including a support group for women with metastatic breast cancer, a support group for family and friends of breast cancer patients/survivors, and a volunteer skills development series. She’s also initiated two new fundraising events as part of BCRC’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities; the Pink Ribbon Campaign, and the In the Pink Fashion Show and Silent Auction.

Kara sits on the Office of Cancer Control and Prevention’s Breast Cancer Workgroup, and is a member of the Mercer County Cancer Coalition, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Central & South Jersey Affiliate Educational Advisory Committee.

Prior to moving to New Jersey, Kara served as Senior Executive for Support and Volunteer Programs at the Singapore Breast Cancer Foundation. There she supervised support and educational programs for Chinese, Malay, Indian and Caucasian breast cancer patients and their families; managed volunteer recruitment, training and recognition activities; and promoted breast cancer awareness in all four ethnic communities through outreach programs. She established and managed Asia’s first dragon boat team for breast cancer survivors, created a support group for Malay speaking breast cancer patients/survivors, and launched a program to train breast cancer survivors as peer counselors.

Kara has also worked in the blood transfusion safety field, first at the National Serology Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia coordinating national and regional blood transfusion quality assurance training programs; then with the Blood Safety Department at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland where she developed training programs and informational materials to improve blood transfusion safety in developing countries.

Kara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (International Studies major) from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. She lives in Pennington, NJ with her husband Matt.

To email Kara, click here


Laura Martin, Program Coordinator
609-497-2100, extension 349

Laura Martin has proven to be a great addition to the BCRC staff since joining us in November, 2007, especially during Kara’s extended leave. We are pleased to announce a change in her job title to Program Coordinator. Laura came to us from the Hopewell Valley YMCA, where she served as the Membership Director prior to taking some time off to go through her own breast cancer treatment and recovery. A native of Virginia, Laura spent twenty years moving around the country, including nearly fifteen years in glorious southern California , as her husband was transferred with his company. During those years, Laura worked in the fields of hotel and property management, accounting, and staffing. She has volunteered for numerous organizations, including serving as Vice President of the Washington Charter School , Treasurer of the Junior League of the Palm Springs Desert Communities, and the executive boards of multiple PTAs. Laura brings with her a lot of experience in event planning, which will serve us well as we plan the next “In The Pink” Fashion Show.

Laura attended the University of Virginia and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Michigan State University . She is a wife, a mother of two teenagers and a sister of a three-time breast cancer survivor. She is delighted to be a part of the BCRC team, where she can combine her professional skills with her personal experiences as a survivor to continue BCRC’s mission of providing support services to breast cancer survivors and their families.


To email Laura, click here


Debra Raines, Community Outreach Coordinator
609-497-2100, extension 303

Debra Raines is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC) of the YWCA Princeton. She facilitates the Women of Wisdom (WOW) Breast Cancer Education Program; gives breast cancer awareness and education talks for schools, corporations, churches, and community organizations; and manages the BCRC Networking Night sessions.

WOW is Debra’s main focus. She has overseen this program since its inception, watching it grow substantially each year. In 2006-2007, it reached 251 residents of Mercer County; in 2007-2008 it touched the lives of 498 people in Mercer and Middlesex Counties, and from April to December 2008, it already has been presented to 739 participants in Mercer and Middlesex counties plus Chicago via video conference.

One of the recent highlights of Debra’s experience with WOW was when she received confirmation to take the program to the Albert Bo Robinson Treatment and Assessment Center of Trenton. With the help of eloquent panel speakers and many other volunteers, she presented the early detection message to 140 women transitioning from incarceration to community life. Program feedback from these women was overwhelmingly positive.

Because Debra understands that “planting the seeds of knowledge” early can make such a difference in awareness, she is committed to taking the early detection message to local and underserved high school students throughout Mercer County, and beyond. She also engineered a partnership with the University of Medicine & Dentistry Of New Jersey (UMDNJ)—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School to host summer enrichment programs for disadvantaged high school and undergraduate students. The students will work with BCRC, giving seminars and workshops, and BCRC will provide educational tools, support, and awareness to the students.

Debra also represents the BCRC at health and community fairs, and at training and development conferences. She recruits and assists with the training of BCRC volunteers who support many of the BCRC community outreach activities. Her outgoing personality helps to make volunteers feel not only welcomed but also appreciated. At all times, she makes herself available to those in need of support, even if it’s simply a shoulder to lean on. Through her many outreach activities, Debra helps the BCRC “team” by bringing in financial contributions from various groups and organizations.

Born in Manhattan, New York, she is the daughter of a retired New York City Fire Marshal and retired New York City Board of Education Licensed Secretary. She has two sisters who also are employed by the New York City Board of Education.

The Queens College, City University of New York graduate lives in East Brunswick, New Jersey. In September 2008, Debra celebrated four years as a breast cancer survivor, she is passionate about using her own breast cancer experience to encourage, inspire, and give hope to others. Debra is a living testimony that you can survive and thrive after breast cancer.


To email Debra, click here

Brenda Esaw-Howard, Community Outreach Assistant
609-497-2100, extension 308

Brenda joined BCRC in 2008 and is currently holding the position of Community Outreach Assistant. Brenda workds closely with Community Outreach Coordinator Debra Raines to educate and empower women throughout central and South Jersey about breast cancer. With boundless energy and more than 20 years of experience in community services, Brenda is responsible for helping to identify and liaise with various organizations of underserved and uninsured women, including those in the Hispanic/Latina community.

A two-time breast cancer survivor, Brenda has traveled to various cities and states to share her poignant and courageous story. She first came to BCRC as a volunteer, and in her spare time continues to volunteer at local homeless shelters in Trenton, the Rescue Mission, Doorway to Hope, and the Bo-Robinson Treatment Center.

A graduate of the Trenton public school system, Brenda has a Bachelor degree in Biblical Studies, numerous certifications, and currently is pursuing her Associates degree in Social Services at Mercer County Community College. She is the wife of a local pastor, and has two grown daughters.

“I am very excited about this new adventure,” says Brenda, "and I hope that I can make a difference in the life of someone who is dealing with this disease. Thank you, BCRC, for giving me such a perfect opportunity to share!"



To email Brenda, click here