Free social and emotional support for anyone currently impacted by breast cancer.
Our Mission
The mission of Firefly Sisterhood is to foster one-to-one connections between women who are impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis and inspirational survivors and thrivers that serve as Peer Mentor Guides.
What We Do
Through our unique matching process, we connect support seekers to a personally selected Peer Mentor Guide whose breast cancer experience is similar. There are no automated matches here. Our program staff are personally involved with every single match, taking into account each person’s life experience and what is important to you. Our mentorship program is free and available at time of diagnosis, during treatment, and into survivorship. While Firefly Sisterhood was founded and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, our support services are available coast to coast.
Our History
In response to extensive research led by the Yoplait Division of General Mills, Firefly Sisterhood was founded in Minnesota with a bright vision: a world where no one faces breast cancer alone. The Big Bold Experiment was a General Mills company-wide campaign to promote innovation and community engagement. The Yoplait team worked alongside Olson Agency, conducting focus groups with breast cancer survivors. What they discovered was that women were craving meaningful connections with peers who had been through similar experiences, and the idea of Firefly Sisterhood was born.
The image of the firefly was the perfect symbol for the idea of one-to-one peer support, mentors lighting the way through dark times. “The more fireflies, the brighter the light. It really encapsulated what we hoped to create by connecting survivors.”
We are deeply grateful for the work of the Yoplait Division and Olson Agency, and through their inspiration we will continue to shine a light of hope in the breast cancer community.
Our People
Amy Gallagher | Executive Director
amyg@fireflysisterhood.org, 952-428-8945
Executive Director, Amy Gallagher, comes to The Firefly Sisterhood in April 2021 with a deep connection to the mission of helping women diagnosed with breast cancer. Having an extensive family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Amy was prompted to test for a genetic mutation in the BRCA1 gene, which came back positive. In June 2017, Amy opted to have a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy to reduce her chance of developing breast cancer.
Amy has an extensive background in health and wellness nonprofit work, especially those that help people diagnosed with cancer. She has strengths in event project management and logistics, volunteer and committee planning, fundraising and development, and organizational strategic planning.
Having spent the last five years working alongside volunteers within breast cancer organizations, Amy understands the importance of the connections formed at Firefly Sisterhood. Ensuring that women have the support when they need it most is what motivates her every day.
Genna Haddad | Program Manager
genna.haddad@fireflysisterhood.org 612-412-7713
Amy O’Donnell | Program Support Coordinator
amy.odonnell@fireflysisterhood.org 612-274-9637
Kara Nielsen | Program Support Coordinator
kara.nielsen@fireflysisterhood.org 612-513-5026
Board of Directors
Christine Ebert, Ameriprise Financial Services – Board Chair
Mary Jo Nye, Cyient – Vice Chair
Stephanie Tuntland, Korn Ferry – Treasurer
Ann Scott, Medtronic
Brianna Blazek, Apogee Enterprises, Inc.
Cheri Quinn, Well Farmer Marketing
Kate Shields Stenzinger, Lucina Analytics
Monique Romane, EcoLab
Yee-Ling Supik, Korn Ferry
Our Partners
Firefly Sisterhood does not offer medical advice or diagnose medical problems.
Firefly Sisterhood does not endorse or provide referrals to any paid services relating to breast cancer treatment or rehabilitation, including specific physicians, healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, or products.