After a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, designer and artist Shaney jo Darden founded the global non-profit organization The Keep A Breast Foundation (KAB) to raise awareness of breast cancer and to encourage prevention and early detection among young people.
Now, as KAB celebrates its 20th anniversary, Shaney jo is a leading voice in the cultural conversation about breast cancer and her visionary youth-targeted campaigns and programs featuring irreverent messaging, inventive art, cutting-edge pop culture and technology are fueling a paradigm shift among non-profit organizations. Since inception, KAB has expanded globally and has four core programs — Check Yourself, Non Toxic Revolution, The Keep A Breast Valley, and Treasured Chest. The iconic “i love boobies!” message, one of KAB’s signature breast cancer outreach and awareness campaigns, has become a generational staple for the young people she’s reached.
Shaney’s fierce commitment to arming young people with knowledge about breast cancer prevention and awareness has inspired action sports athletes, musicians ranging from punk to pop, and leading contemporary artists to help broadcast the message. KAB’s signature plaster casts of women’s and men’s torsos, hand-painted by world famous artists and auctioned for the cause, help fund the important work she does via events at which she educates thousands.
An expert on breast cancer philanthropy, Shaney jo has received many awards for her innovative fusion of advocacy, art, lifestyle-brand partnerships and street culture, and in the process has generated substantial funds for Keep A Breast via donations, partnerships, and licensing. She is a recipient of the Yoplait Champion Award, the SIMA Humanitarian of the Year Award, the MySpace Impact Award for Health and Safety. And notably, in 2011, Shaney jo delivered the keynote speech for TEDxSanDiego’s “The World in Our Grasp”.