Who We Are

The Joy to Life Foundation is a non-profit organization providing free mammograms for medically underserved women under 50 years of age in 28 counties in South Central Alabama. These counties include Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Russell, Washington and Wilcox.

The organization was founded in 2001 by Joy and Richard Blondheim of Montgomery, Alabama. Joy Blondheim, a breast cancer survivor, along with her husband, Richard, are dedicating their time and efforts to women who are fighting to win the battle against breast cancer. After extensive research to uncover the greatest needs, a partnership was formed between the Blondheims and the Alabama Department of Public Health's Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

There are probably thousands of women under 50 years of age in the medically underserved community who need mammograms. Many of these women lose their lives each year because they do not have the resources for early detection. These women do not have private insurance and cannot afford mammograms. Tragically, women die each year. This is why the Blondheims created the Joy to Life Foundation. "If we can reach these women early enough, we believe lives can be saved," states Mrs. Blondheim. The Joy to Life Foundation has been able to provide over 1,700 mammograms to date, and 11 women have been diagnosed and successfully treated.