Keep A Breast Foundation

Keep A Breast Foundation, commonly known as Keep a Breast or KAB, is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working in breast-cancer prevention, education, and early detection. It was founded in 2000 by Shaney Jo Darden and Mona Mukherjea-Gehrig, whose work grew out of art, fashion, and action-sports communities in Southern California. Rather than presenting breast cancer only through clinical or fear-based messaging, the organization developed a deliberately accessible cultural approach intended to make conversations about breast health more approachable for younger audiences. The founders' collaboration began before the nonprofit was formally established. In 1998, Darden and Mukherjea-Gehrig organized events that brought together friends, coworkers, local young people, and artists from street-art, fine-art, fashion, and action-sports circles. After an acquaintance of Darden was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, they adapted this event model toward breast-cancer awareness. That year they developed a process for creating breast casts that could be individually decorated by artists, and they held their first breast-cast auction. Subsequent exhibitions and related events included projects in Tokyo, Portland, Bordeaux, and other art, retail, and cultural settings. KAB obtained formal nonprofit status in 2005. In 2008, Darden left her employment to work for the foundation full-time, and the organization moved from her home into an office in Carlsbad, California. The foundation later became associated with a broad range of awareness merchandise, educational materials, touring events, social-media activities, and partnerships with commercial and cultural organizations. Its work has reached audiences through music festivals, action-sports events, retail collaborations, online content, and international affiliates. One of KAB's best-known initiatives is the Check Yourself program. It promotes breast-health awareness and encourages regular self-checks through printed materials, online education, blogs, and the Check Yourself! mobile application. The app is designed to explain the self-check process and provide recurring reminders. The related #checkyourselfie campaign used social media to encourage people to share the prevention message and direct others toward the app. The foundation's "I love boobies!" message, introduced in 2008, became its most recognizable public-awareness platform. Silicone bracelets and other merchandise used the phrase to address breast health in language intended to feel direct, informal, and less intimidating to young people. Merchandise revenue has supported KAB's programs and outreach. The bracelets also led to a legal dispute when some United States schools prohibited students from wearing them under dress codes governing sexual language or imagery. The Third Circuit held that the bans violated students' free-speech rights, and the United States Supreme Court declined to hear the subsequent appeal. KAB also operates or has operated programs addressing people living with breast cancer and environmental risk. Treasured Chest gives eligible women, including those diagnosed with breast cancer or testing positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, an opportunity to create a breast cast. Non-Toxic Revolution promotes public education about potentially harmful chemicals in food and the environment, especially chemicals discussed in relation to breast-cancer risk. Other initiatives have included DIY Action, Fit 4 Prevention, Imagine If..., and This Is My Story. The foundation has participated in the Vans Warped Tour since 2001 and continued through the tour's final edition in 2018. Its touring presence combined educational materials, volunteers, support, and merchandise, and included collaborations connected with the tour such as Check Yourself! Vol. 1 and Music for Boobies. KAB has also worked with brands and organizations including Rastaclat, HUF, True&Co., Valiant Entertainment, S.W. Basics, and…

Keep A Breast Foundation emerged from the creative and action-sports communities of Southern California. Shaney Jo Darden and Mona Mukherjea-Gehrig began organizing art and fashion events in 1998, initially presenting work by friends, colleagues, local youth, and artists from street-art and fine-art circles. The events were influenced by the founders' interest in bringing people together through progressive art and cultural programming. In 2000, after a friend of Darden was diagnosed with breast cancer, the pair redirected this community-building model toward breast-cancer awareness. They developed a technique for producing breast casts that could be customized by artists and organized their first breast-cast auction. The format became a distinctive part of the foundation's identity, allowing breast-cancer education and fundraising to be connected with artistic expression rather than presented only through conventional medical communications. Later exhibitions and projects appeared in locations and venues including Tokyo, Portland, Bordeaux, American Rag, Bare Minerals, and the Snow Show. The organization formally became a nonprofit in 2005. Darden left her job in 2008 to work for the foundation full-time, after which the operation moved from her home to an office in Carlsbad, California. During this period KAB expanded its use of merchandise, events, educational materials, and partnerships to reach younger people. Its most visible phrase, "I love boobies!", was introduced in 2008 as a deliberately lighthearted and shame-free way to begin conversations about breast health. Bracelets and other products bearing the phrase became popular among teenagers, while proceeds helped fund the foundation's programs and outreach. The bracelet campaign also generated a significant free-speech controversy. Several school districts prohibited students from wearing the bracelets because administrators considered the wording inconsistent with school dress codes. Litigation eventually reached the Third Circuit, where the court held that the bracelets represented protected expression about a social issue and were not plainly offensive or disruptive in the relevant school context. The Supreme Court declined to take up the case. Darden discussed the campaign and its controversy in a 2011 TEDx talk. KAB's educational portfolio developed beyond the bracelet campaign. Check Yourself provides printed and digital information encouraging regular breast self-checks, and the Check Yourself! app explains the process and allows users to set monthly reminders. Treasured Chest offers breast-cast kits and a creative support opportunity for women diagnosed with breast cancer or testing positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. The kits have been distributed throughout the United States, including to many women under 40. Non-Toxic Revolution focuses on informing young people about potentially hazardous chemicals in food and the environment and their possible relationship to breast-cancer development. The foundation has also used participatory and community-based campaigns. DIY Action enables supporters to organize their own fundraisers with KAB educational materials and awareness merchandise. Fit 4 Prevention links physical activity and wellness with cancer-risk reduction. Imagine If... invited young people to reflect on a world without cancer through traveling education booths at tours, festivals, and events. This Is My Story collected written and video accounts from people affected by breast cancer and shared them through online channels. From 2001 through the last Vans Warped Tour in 2018, KAB maintained a presence on the tour with a staffed educational tent, volunteers, merchandise, and support resources. It also participated in creative collaborations involving touring artists, including Check Yourself! Vol. 1 and Music for Boobies. Other partnerships have involved Rastaclat, HUF, True&Co., Valiant Entertainment, S.W. Basics, and Thrive Causemetics. The foundation has developed an international network with affiliates reported in Japan, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and Chile. KAB Europe operates from Bordeaux, France, under the leadership identified in reference material as global CEO Lorene Carpentier. Across these activities, the organization has maintained a recognizable model that combines prevention education, early-detection awareness, creative culture, and community participation.

1. 2019Thrive Causemetics October support initiative

   Thrive Causemetics announces a campaign supporting Keep A Breast Foundation during October, including a stated donation tied to social-media reposts.

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2. 2018Final Vans Warped Tour participation

   KAB's reported participation in Vans Warped Tour continues through the tour's final edition.

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3. 2011Co-founder addresses bracelet controversy

   Shaney Jo Darden discusses Keep A Breast and the public controversy surrounding its bracelet campaign in a TEDx presentation.

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4. 2008Full-time expansion and launch of the "I love boobies!" message

   Darden begins working for the foundation full-time, while KAB introduces its youth-oriented "I love boobies!" breast-health awareness message.

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5. 2005Nonprofit status is granted

   The organization officially receives nonprofit status in the United States.

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6. 2001Participation in Vans Warped Tour begins

   KAB begins touring with Vans Warped Tour, combining education, volunteers, support, and merchandise at the event.

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7. 2000Keep A Breast Foundation is established

   Following a friend's breast-cancer diagnosis, the founders adapt their art-event model to breast-cancer awareness, develop artist-customized breast casts, and hold the first breast-cast auction.

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8. 1998Founders begin art and fashion events

   Shaney Jo Darden and Mona Mukherjea-Gehrig organize creative events involving artists, local youth, and members of the action-sports and cultural communities.

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A youth-oriented breast-cancer prevention and education nonprofit that uses art, music, fashion, action-sports culture, social media, and approachable language to encourage breast-health awareness and early detection.

• Check Yourself programBreast-health education

  An educational program that communicates breast-health information through printed materials, digital content, blogs, and the Check Yourself! app. Its central message is that people should become familiar with their breasts and perform regular self-checks. The app is intended to explain the process and provide a monthly reminder, making prevention information accessible through a routine digital tool.

• Check Yourself! appMobile health education

  A free application associated with the Check Yourself program. It provides guidance about breast self-checks and allows users to set recurring reminders. The app extends KAB's prevention message beyond events and printed materials into an individual, repeat-use format.

• Treasured ChestPatient support and creative program

  Treasured Chest gives women diagnosed with breast cancer, or those testing positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, an opportunity to create a breast cast. The program has distributed kits across the United States and has reached many participants under 40. It uses creative expression as a form of personal documentation and support.

• Non-Toxic RevolutionEnvironmental health education

  A public-education initiative focused on potential chemical hazards in food and the environment, particularly substances discussed in relation to breast-cancer development. Its stated purpose is to inform and motivate young people to examine environmental exposures and participate in prevention-oriented action.

• "I love boobies!" merchandiseAwareness merchandise2008

  A line of bracelets and other awareness products using KAB's deliberately informal breast-health slogan. The merchandise was designed to start conversations among young people about breast cancer and prevention. Proceeds have supported KAB programs, campaigns, outreach, and, in some periods, grants for research.

• Breast-cast exhibitions and auctionsArt and fundraising program2000

  Artist-customized breast casts form one of the foundation's original fundraising and awareness formats. KAB has presented casts through exhibitions, auctions, and collaborative cultural projects in several countries and cities, connecting breast-cancer education with contemporary art and community events.

• 2008"I love boobies!"

  United States · International

  A shame-free breast-health awareness message using informal language and merchandise to encourage young people to discuss breast cancer, prevention, and early detection.

  Outcome. The bracelets became widely recognized, generated merchandise funding, and led to a major school free-speech dispute.

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• 2001Vans Warped Tour outreach

  United States

  KAB operated an educational and support presence at Vans Warped Tour events, using a staffed tent, educational materials, volunteers, merchandise, and artist collaborations.

  Outcome. Participation continued through the final Vans Warped Tour in 2018.

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• #checkyourselfie

  International

  A social-media campaign encouraging people to share breast self-check awareness messages and promote the Check Yourself! app.

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• DIY Action

  International

  A supporter-led fundraising framework that supplies educational materials and awareness merchandise for independent events such as music gatherings, skateboarding activities, cook-offs, and birthday fundraisers.

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• Fit 4 Prevention

  United States

  A national prevention and wellness movement encouraging physical activity and healthier lifestyles as part of a broader approach to reducing cancer risk.

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• Imagine If...

  International

  A participatory program inviting young people to express what the world might be like without cancer through a traveling education booth at music tours, festivals, and other events.

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• This Is My Story

  International

  A storytelling initiative collecting written and video accounts about the personal impact of breast cancer and distributing them through KAB's website, social channels, and video platforms.

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• 2008Shift to full-time nonprofit operations and youth-oriented messagingStrategy

  The foundation was expanding its public profile and needed dedicated leadership and a more accessible way to discuss breast health with younger audiences.

  What changed. Darden began working for KAB full-time, the foundation moved into an office, and the organization introduced the "I love boobies!" message.

  Aftermath. The message broadened KAB's visibility but also produced school-dress-code disputes and litigation.

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• 2000Adopt art-led breast-cancer awarenessStrategy

  The founders responded to a friend's breast-cancer diagnosis while already working through art and fashion events.

  What changed. They applied their progressive-art community model to breast-cancer education and created artist-customized breast casts.

  Aftermath. The art and breast-cast format became a foundational part of KAB's fundraising and public identity.

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• 2019Thrive Causemetics supports Keep A Breast Foundation

  Thrive Causemetics announced an October initiative supporting Keep A Breast Foundation, including a commitment connected with social-media reposts and a stated donation of profits on October 1.

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• Third Circuit protects student wearing an "I love boobies!" bracelet

  A dispute over school restrictions on Keep a Breast Foundation bracelets reached the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The court concluded that the bracelets conveyed social and political commentary about breast-cancer awareness and that the school ban violated students' free-speech rights. The Supreme Court later declined to review the case.

  LawsuitOther
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1. Keep a Breast Foundation
2. Keep A Breast Foundation official website