Join us in honoring the legacy of U.S. Air Force Veteran Matilde Cruz. Your gift ensures that Veterans battling cancer receive the most advanced and compassionate care available throughout their treatment journey.

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Mission Blue Skies is a VA-approved program that provides supplemental support to make cancer therapy more manageable for Veterans and their caregivers.

Research shows us that the backbone of effective cancer care relies on robust infrastructures and well-functioning health systems with adequate resources. Hospitals serving low-income communities, like our Veterans, have limited additional resources to afford their patients the supplemental support that makes cancer therapy more manageable. At BVMRF, we believe that Veterans deserve the best care possible, and we strive to serve our nation’s heroes with the same loyalty they displayed serving us. Mission Blue Skies was inspired by the service of brave men and women, particularly by the life and service of U.S. Air Force Veteran Matilde Cruz, who understood these critical needs and dedicated her life to serving others.

From her time in the Air Force to teaching in underserved communities, Veteran Matilde Cruz was committed to supporting those in need. Despite undergoing aggressive chemotherapy and facing incredible odds during her five-and-a-half-year battle with several cancers, she continued to serve. Mrs. Cruz frequently cooked for her cancer treatment team and her fellow Veterans receiving cancer treatment at the Bronx VA. Her unwavering support created a nurturing environment that helped patients endure intense treatments.

In her final days in February 2024, Mrs. Matilde Cruz requested that, instead of personal gifts and flowers, her family and friends donate to BVMRF to advance the quality of cancer care at oncology clinics at VA medical centers such as the Bronx VA. To honor her wishes and her legacy of service, BVMRF established the Mission Blue Skies program. This program serves as a permanent channel of support for Veterans undergoing cancer treatment at the Bronx VA, ensuring they receive the most advanced and compassionate care available.

How You Can Help

  • Make an Immediate Impact Through a One-Time Donation

    Your one-time donation can make a significant difference right now. Provide immediate support to our Veterans by funding meals, transportation, health education, and essential equipment. Every contribution helps us enhance cancer care and well-being for those who served our country.

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  • Maximize Your Support By Becoming a Recurring Donor

    By becoming a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual donor, you provide ongoing, reliable support that ensures our Veterans receive continuous cancer care and resources. Your sustained contributions help us plan and execute long-term projects, improving treatment and health outcomes for our nation’s heroes.

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  • Lead the Way by Becoming a Dedicated Fundraiser

    Take your support to the next level by becoming a fundraiser. Mobilize your network to raise awareness and funds for the Mission Blue Skies Program. Your efforts can inspire others to join our cause, amplifying the impact of your support and helping us reach more Veterans in need.

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Read the Mission Blue Skies Newsletter >

When you make a gift to the Mission Blue Skies program, you become part of a dedicated community committed to providing the best care for our Veterans. Your support ensures Veterans receive personalized and comprehensive care throughout their cancer journey.

Contributions to the program fund essential services such as meals and transportation for low-income Veterans undergoing cancer treatment, health education for patients and their caregivers, including nutrition guidance designed to alleviate cancer-related or treatment-related discomfort, and access to technology, equipment, and supplies that make cancer treatment more comfortable for hundreds of patients. Additionally, your gift helps advance quality improvement initiatives for the oncology treatment clinic and addresses funding gaps in cancer research, ensuring continuous advancements in care.

Your support can ensure that Mrs. Matilde Cruz's legacy continues to inspire and make a profound impact on the lives of the heroes who have served our country.

A Veteran using an MBS long-sleeve shirt with an IV access point for treatment.

 FAQs

  • Yes, the Bronx Veterans Medical Research Foundation, Inc. (BVMRF) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. BVMRF’s Tax ID is 13-3699250.

  • In 1988, Congress passed Public Law 100-322 that allowed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers to establish nonprofit research corporations (NPCs) to broaden the VA’s ability to benefit from private and non-VA public support. BVMRF is the NPC that administers extramural funding of diverse programs in the Bronx VA, including securing private and public funding for medical service programs to enhance the quality of care and health for Veterans.

  • Yes, the Bronx Veterans Medical Research Foundation, Inc. (BVMRF) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We'll send it to you upon successful completion of your donation.

  • If you donate online, your gift will be charged immediately. Any recurring gifts will be charged on the same day every month, or the next closest business day. Donations received by mail will be processed within 1-2 business days of receipt.

  • A donation receipt will be sent to you at the email address you provide on this form. Please keep a copy of your receipt for tax purposes. If you select a recurring donation, you will be sent an individual receipt each month when your donation is processed.

  • Yes, you can edit, update, and cancel your recurring donation. BVMRF’s monthly giving plans are managed on Classy, a secure donation platform. To learn how to make changes to an existing monthly giving plan, click here or contact BVMRFAdmin@va.gov or (718) 741-4442.

  • Yes, we will happily accept donations by mail.

    Please note in the memo line “Mission Blue Skies Donation” and make your check payable to BVMRF.

    Please mail your gift to our administrative office:

    BVMRF
    130 West Kingsbridge Road
    Bronx, NY 10468

    We will mail you a receipt for tax purposes; alternatively, please provide your email address if you wish to receive a receipt electronically.

  • Matching gifts are an excellent way to further the impact of your contribution. Your employer may double or even triple your donation with a matching gift! Check with your employer’s Human Resources Department to see what employer-matching opportunities are available. If your employer approves the matching gift, the company will send a check for the matching gift according to their company guidelines.

  • Yes. The security and confidentiality of your information is our highest priority. We use industry-standard SSL (secure socket layer) technology to protect your information and provide a safe and secure environment for online donations. We will not sell, trade, or share your personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations, and we will only share personal information if you have given us specific permission to do so.

  • Contributions to the program directly fund essential services such as meals and transportation for low-income Veterans undergoing cancer treatment, health education for patients and their caregivers, and access to technology, equipment, and supplies that make cancer treatment more comfortable. Additionally, your gift helps advance quality improvement initiatives for the oncology treatment clinic and addresses funding gaps in cancer research, ensuring continuous advancements in care.

  • BVMRF adheres to all federal and state reporting requirements, undergoes comprehensive annual financial audits, and submits mandatory annual reports to the Department of Veterans Affairs and to the U.S. Congress. Furthermore, BVMRF undergoes triannual audits conducted by the Nonprofit Program Office (NPPO), a VHA program office that operates as a liaison between the Veterans Health Administration and nonprofit corporations (NPCs).

  • We're happy to help in any way we can! Please contact BVMRFAdmin@va.gov or (718) 741-4442 or click here to visit the Supporter Center on Classy and view resources under “General” to learn more about managing your donations.

Contact the Bronx VA Oncology Service.

BVMRFAdmin@va.gov
(718) 584-9000

130 West Kingsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10468