James Lane Post has partnered with Saunders & Associates to create the series “The Saunders Stewardship Impact.” This is the first installment, featuring Saunders & Associates’ agent, Cathy Tweedy.
She didn’t join the Ellen Hermanson Foundation to impress anyone. She saw a volunteer ad and thought it’d be a good way to help out in the Hamptons. Then she went to her first Ellen’s Run. The vibe was great, the cause was important, and something happened she still remembers: Emily Levin, Ellen’s sister and one of the people who started the Foundation, grabbed her from the volunteer table that morning and asked her to stand outside as the race began. That simple act made the whole thing feel real.
She’s been with the Foundation ever since, going from volunteer to board member to secretary. She helps with everything from fundraising and planning to meetings where they decide how to use the funds. The Foundation’s main goal is to ensure everyone on the East End can access breast cancer screening, care, and support, regardless of their financial situation. Even in the Hamptons, people can still struggle to get the care they need. She works to fix those problems by talking to people, working with partners, and funding what’s needed.
Cathy, what first brought you to the mission of the Ellen Hermanson Foundation — and was there a specific moment when it became personal for you?
I actually answered an ad the Foundation posted looking for volunteers. What started as a personal goal — new to the Hamptons, I wanted to meet more people in the community and get involved in something meaningful — turned into something much bigger.
The first Ellen’s Run I helped with was exciting and full of energy. On the morning of the Run, Emily Levin — Ellen’s sister and one of the founders — pulled me from the volunteer table and asked me to stand outside for the start. I got very teary. I still feel the emotion of that moment. It truly showed me how powerful the Run is and how important it is to raise money for the East End community.
What does your role on the board look like day-to-day?
I’ve grown with the Foundation — from volunteer, to board member, to now serving as Secretary of the Board. In that role, I prepare the official minutes for all board meetings. My background in advertising — where I wrote countless “conference reports” — prepared me perfectly for this!
Beyond that, I’m very involved in fundraising, sharing ideas around event development, and offering input on strategy. The most meaningful part for me is our grant meetings, where we decide how to distribute the funds we’ve raised and support the community. That’s when the impact of all the work truly comes to life.
For someone hearing about the Foundation for the first time, what’s the clearest way to explain who you serve and what impact looks like on the East End?
The Ellen Hermanson Foundation exists to ensure that every person — regardless of economic circumstance — has access to lifesaving breast cancer screening, care, and support. No one is ever turned away from the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for lack of insurance or inability to pay for treatment.
On the East End, many face real barriers to care. Distance, cost, limited insurance coverage, and lack of access to advanced screening. The Foundation was created to remove those barriers and make early detection and treatment available to all.
It does this by: funding state-of-the-art breast imaging and diagnostic equipment at the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center; expanding access to mammograms and early detection programs; providing direct patient assistance during treatment through Ellen’s Well, our psycho-social support program; and investing in education and community outreach so no one falls through the cracks.
Here, impact is measured in earlier detection, faster care delivery, and support for families when they need it most — without regard to financial means.
What’s one story that captures why this work matters? A moment that stayed with you and strengthened your commitment.
There are many stories that keep me committed to this work. In one way or another, they all reflect the same truth: people need support, clarity, and compassion when they need it most. Our goal is simple — to wrap our arms around every person who reaches out and help them find their way.
The Ellen Hermanson Foundation connects patients and their families with people who listen, explain, and genuinely care. They help create understanding around what lies ahead and make the process feel less overwhelming.
The Foundation also offers support groups, where women can share experiences, strength, and hope. Hearing others’ stories provides perspective and reminders that no one is alone in this journey.
Really, it goes beyond medical support. It creates a community where people feel seen, supported, and able to move forward with confidence.
Some write to tell us how the Foundation helped them. Those are the stories that remind me why this work matters, the stories that stay with me long after I read them.
How do you decide where to focus — awareness, direct patient support, screening/early detection, research, community programs? What’s the foundation’s north star?
Our north star is simple: early detection, better access, and stronger support for all. Every initiative is chosen based on where it can make the greatest impact locally. It’s about building a system of care, whether it’s new state-of-the-art equipment, patient services, or community partnerships. Our goal is for everything to work together, from education on the importance of mammography to ensuring no one faces breast cancer alone.
What are the biggest unmet needs you see locally in breast cancer support and care? And where do you think the community assumes resources exist — but they don’t?
It’s easy to assume that in a place like the Hamptons, everyone has access to what they need. But for many, there are invisible gaps — and the Foundation works every day to help close them. In recent years, we’ve built meaningful community partnerships to reach those who may not realize the importance of mammography or that help is available to them. Alongside tribal leaders, social workers, nonprofit partners, and others, we come together to share what resources exist — and to remind people that, if needed, these services can be provided at no cost — so everyone has access to the health care they deserve.
What actually works in the Hamptons when it comes to motivating people to give — especially beyond a one-time donation? What have you learned about building long-term supporters?
People don’t give simply because they’re asked — they give because they feel connected. Stories are what move people — both their own and those of others — and the relationships that grow from them, along with a clear understanding of the impact their support has right here in their community.
Showing exactly where each dollar goes is one of the most powerful ways to inspire ongoing giving. Whether it’s toward a mammogram, an ultrasound, transportation to an appointment, or the equipment that keeps us state-of-the-art. When people can see the difference they’re making, they don’t just give once — they stay.
How do you leverage your platform as a luxury agent to strengthen the cause in a way that feels authentic — not transactional?
A few years after I started volunteering, I moved to the Hamptons full time and went into real estate. Working with so many different people makes it simple, I talk to people. About the Foundation, about the community need, and about the very real impact of this work. The Breast Center exists because we are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of economic standing, has access to top-quality breast care right here on the East End.
I share stories — of the people we serve, of our community partners, and of the gaps that still exist, even in a place that appears so privileged. Many don’t realize there is an underserved population here, or how vital education and early screening truly are.
My goal is to open a conversation and build awareness. From there, I invite people to our key fundraising events — please save the 2026 dates: Ellen’s Run on August 16, our 5K, and the Summer Gala on July 24. They’re a direct way for people and companies to support the work. As a broker, I’m affiliated with Saunders & Associates, they have been a meaningful supporter of the Foundation.
If you could wave a wand and change one thing about how people approach breast health and screening, what would it be? And what do you want more women to know — especially those who feel “it won’t happen to me”?
Mammograms should be routine. Screening isn’t something you do because there’s a problem — it’s how you help prevent one. Too often, women assume they’re fine because they feel fine, or because life is busy and they put it off. But early detection can save their life!
Looking ahead, what are the foundation’s goals for the next 12 months, and what kind of help do you most need from the community — time, funding, corporate sponsors, event attendance, or medical partners?
We are a granting organization, so our key goal for 2026 is to raise more funds than ever, so we can continue supporting state-of-the-art breast imaging and detection equipment at Southampton Hospital, while expanding our community partnerships and support services.
We rely on the community to make this possible — through volunteering their time, fundraising, and the support of corporate and individual sponsors.
Where should people go first if they want to help — donate, volunteer, attend an event, or learn more about the organization?
You can learn more at ellenhermanson.org, or call the Foundation Office at 631-907-1952 or email us at info@ellensrun.org.
Learn more about Tweedy by visiting hamptonsrealestate.com.
