About the Foundation and its Trustees

About the Foundation

The Bridget Nesko Ovarian Cancer Foundation (formerly, the Bridget Nesko Memorial Scholarship Foundation) is dedicated to the memory of Bridget Flynn Nesko, BSN, RN, who lost her life on November 28, 2022 from the ravages of ovarian cancer at the age of 55. Bridget died like so many other ovarian cancer victims – because of late diagnosis and misunderstood signs and symptoms on the part of her various medical team members who were simply unfamiliar with ovarian cancer, its signs, symptoms and early testing options.

Early signs of her ovarian cancer were present as much as six years prior to its diagnosis when she was required to have a hysterectomy because of heavy bleeding and pain. Those signs, among others, went undetected by the medical community, until her illness reached a critical “Stage 3C”, by February of 2021.

Because of Bridget’s – and millions of women’s similar experiences with ovarian cancer – the Foundation is committed to defying ovarian cancer by:

Providing and promoting ovarian cancer education and awareness to the medical community, the media, and the public through the Bridget Nesko Ovarian Cancer Education Center, and;
By working to defy ovarian cancer’s impact on victims, caregivers, and their families through earlier access to information, evaluation, detection, intervention, testing, treatment and as needed, end-of-life support.

The Foundation also provides financial and operational support to other nonprofit organizations committed to the fight ovarian cancer.

Financial and volunteer support is provided for these initiatives through contributions from the public, other Foundations or public and private sector sources.

Through private funding provided by the founder, the Foundation also grants financial support for programs intended to honor Bridget Nesko’s memory and legacy, including awarding financial stipends and career advisory support to children of families impacted by ovarian cancer.

The Foundation is a nonprofit public charity formed in the State of New Jersey in December 2022 – less than three weeks after the death of the organization’s namesake. The Foundation received its nonprofit tax-exempt 501c3 status from the Internal Revenue Service in January 2023, allowing it to solicit tax deductible financial and in-kind gifts and contributions from donors wishing to support the organization in its mission.

A copy of our 501c3 recognition letter from the Internal Revenue Service can be found below.

Foundation’s Original 501c3 Award Letter from the IRS

A copy of our Foundation’s 2023 Form 990 Tax Statement, filed with the Internal Revenue Service, can be found below.

Bridget Nesko Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Inc. – 2023 IRS Form 990 Tax Filing

HOW WE OPERATE AND ARE STRUCTURED

The Foundation is structured to have Regular Public Members, who elect and can serve as elected Trustees, or in other positions with the Foundation. We have various classes of members who serve on various operating Boards, including Family Members, Advisory Members, Student Members and Honorary Members. Each classification of membership retains certain rights and privileges of association with the Organization.

All public donations made to the Foundation are used exclusively for public and medical community ovarian cancer awareness programs through the Bridget Nesko Ovarian Cancer Education Center.

Public donations to the organization will NEVER be used by volunteer Trustees, Advisory Board Members or Corporate Officers for salaries or personal expenses.

If you would like to become a Member of the Foundation, volunteer, share YOUR story, or financially support our efforts, please click on those words above.

Our Board of Trustees for 2024