We had the good fortune of connecting with Tarah Warren and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tarah, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Tenaciously Teal provides various forms of support to cancer fighters to help them navigate their cancer journey and provide love to those in the midst of the battle. Here are some ways that Tenaciously Teal helps cancer fighters:
Cancer Care Packs: T. Teal delivers Cancer Care Packs to treatment centers across Oklahoma and mails care packs nationwide to men, women, and children fighting all types of cancer. The care packs contain essential items needed to fight a cancer battle including; kleenex, chapstick, lotion, green tea, protein bars, cosmetic items, and each care packs includes a handwritten note from an adult or child.
Financial Assistance: T. Teal offers financial assistance to Oklahomans in need who are fighting cancer. This assistance can help cover medical and treatment expenses, transportation, groceries, or other financial burdens associated with a cancer battle. Additionally, T. Teal has purchased appliances such as a washer/dryer and refrigerator for cancer fighters living without one. By providing this support T. Teal aims to alleviate some of the financial stress experienced by cancer fighters and their families.
Brave shaves: T. Teal celebrates women’s beauty by offering private Brave shave events to help women face the hair loss process with strength, courage, and tenacity. These events provide an opportunity for women facing hair loss due to cancer treatment to shave their heads in a supportive and empowering environment. Brave Shaves help cancer fighters reclaim their sense of control and embrace their beauty during a challenging time.
Overall T. Teal offers an empowering approach to supporting cancer fighters by providing practical assistance, financial support, and opportunities for empowerment and celebration of an individual’s strength and tenacity. Through our various programs, T. Teal strives to uplift and inspire individuals affected by cancer and help them navigate the journey by providing them with love, community, and empowerment.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my career in child welfare just out of college. I knew I wanted to help people in my community and have always had a heart for people in need, so when I learned about the child welfare profession it seemed to fit my aspiration to help people in my community. My career in child welfare was extremely eye opening. I had never been exposed to that level of poverty and it was heartbreaking to see families who were struggling with just putting food on the table or others who rejoiced with just having a bed and clean sheets for their children.
When I was diagnosed with cancer I had been working in child welfare for more than six years, so I was very attuned to my surroundings as well as the needs of people. The catalyst for starting Tenaciously Teal was seeing people by themselves in their hospital room after my surgery. Many had no visitors, no flowers, and no hope. I decided to disburse the many flower arrangements I had received from friends and family and recognized what a simple act of kindness did to brighten someone’s day. I also heard from the people I gave flowers to how worried they were about working during cancer treatment, having money to afford gas to get to treatment, and struggled with the fear of the financial hardship cancer would bring.
I wasn’t going to alleviate all of the suffering around me, but I decided I could help shine a little light in the darkness, and started passing out care packs during my chemo treatments to those who were by themselves or looked like they needed a little joy. It started simple and grew as I recognized more need.
I was actually in my last semester of graduate school for my Masters in Social Work (MSW) when I was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer and starting chemotherapy treatments. I kept up with my classes and homework in order to graduate with my cohort in May of 2013. For graduation my cohort sold teal honor cords and used the funds to buy care packs for everyone in the chemo room on my last day of treatment. It was amazing to see everyone get a care pack that day, and see how a little act of kindness lifted the spirit in the entire room. It shined a light in the darkness!
Ever since that day we have continued to provide love to cancer fighters, and grown from simple acts of kindness to now disbursing 50,000 care packs nationwide since we began! T. Teal has also become my full-time job since 2016, and I have another full-time employee, and an army of volunteers that help me serve thousands of cancer fighters annually.
Additionally, I created a fundraiser, Care Packs & Cocktails in 2016 when I initially went full-time. The fundraiser began with 50 people in a house in downtown OKC. Now we pack out a concert venue every summer for the event and host more than 1,000 each year for the gala.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to shout out our loyal volunteers and donors. Both have played an instrumental role in driving t. Teal’s growth and impact. Our volunteers, Board of directors, and committee members have helped the organization reach more cancer fighters, expand its programs, and make a positive difference in the lives of individuals affected by cancer. So many over the last decade have dedicated their time, skills, and resources to the mission because they saw the impact when we were just beginning and forming out of small acts of love and kindness.
Website: www.tteal.org
Instagram: tteal_inc
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tarah-warren
Twitter: tteal_inc
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tenaciouslyteal
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tarahwarren8544?feature=shared