Quilting for a Cause
Every NiftyFifty swap created more than quilts for participants — each one produced charity quilts benefiting Breast Cancer Awareness, donated or auctioned at hospitals and research centers across the country.
Quilting for a Cause
Each NiftyFifty swap created quilts benefiting Breast Cancer Awareness, donated or auctioned at hospitals nationwide. The quilts went to the Carol Baldwin Center in New York, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Washington, Mary Washington Hospital in Virginia, University Women's Health Center in Alabama, Moffitt Cancer Institute, and were designated for St. Jude's. The original NiftyFifty Breast Cancer Survivor and Memorial quilts traveled across the country, collecting signatures from survivors and family members.
The original two NiftyFifty Breast Cancer Survivor and Memorial quilts traveled across the country, collecting signatures from survivors, family members who lost loved ones, and anyone touched by cancer.
Where the Quilts Went
Charity quilts from NiftyFifty swaps were donated and auctioned at hospitals and cancer research facilities nationwide.
NF 5
Carol Baldwin Center, New York City
NF 7
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Washington State
NF 16 & 18
Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, Virginia
NF 20, 10, 13, 21
University Women's Health Center, Alabama
NF 23
Moffitt Cancer Institute and Research Facility
NF 28
Designated for St. Jude's
Brenda's Wish Quilt
In Memory of Brenda Neily — April 14, 2000
Brenda Neily was a breast cancer survivor from Massachusetts who traveled to Virginia to participate in the NiftyFifty Quilters' International Twenty Plenty I Breast Cancer Charity Quilts gathering. Impressed by the group and their quilts, she decided to host her own Nifty Fifty and Twenty Plenty International Quilt Swaps, with each group also making breast cancer charity quilts. She hosted NF4, co-hosted NF6, and hosted Twenty Plenty II. When her cancer returned, Vickie Ratthaler and Teresa Drummond took over her responsibilities. During her illness, Brenda wanted to create a quilt as thanks to Teresa — she purchased a full bolt of Hoffman print fabric, Teresa's favorite designer, to distribute fat quarters to quilters for state-themed blocks. After Brenda passed on April 14, 2000, Marjorie Young of New York completed the project, mailing fabric, collecting blocks, assembling, quilting, and shipping the finished quilt to Teresa.
Block Contributors
Pam
Washington Monument
Nikki
Wisconsin Barn
Wendy
Liberty Bell
Marjorie Young
Arizona Cactus, Hawaiian Shirts, New York Skyline
Mary Pope
Vermont Mountain Peaks
Steph Winn
Nevada Card Trick
Brenda Neily
Massachusetts
Vikki Ritthaler
Wyoming
Carolyn Nash
North Dakota
Suzanne Pratt
Alabama
Mary Bell
Michigan
“Those who visit my house always comment on the quilt. It is a great excuse for me to spread the quilt out and tell them the story behind the quilt.”
— Teresa Drummond, NiftyFifty Founder
In Memory of Brenda Neily — Our NiftyFifty 4, 6, and Twenty Plenty Plus Hostess. A breast cancer survivor from Massachusetts, Brenda traveled to Virginia to participate in the NiftyFifty Quilters' gathering and was so inspired she hosted three swaps herself. When her cancer returned, the community rallied around her. After her passing on April 14, 2000, Marjorie Young of New York completed Brenda's final project — a quilt of Hoffman print fabrics made from blocks by NiftyFifty quilters across the country. 'Brenda's Wish Quilt' lives on as a symbol of love and community.
“Not What I Expected”
by Maretta
After her 2002 uterine cancer diagnosis, Maretta found healing through quilting. When her husband Dave passed unexpectedly in September 2009, she experienced quilting paralysis — unable to create despite knowing quilting's healing power. Nearly a year later, a charity quilt commission became her creative catalyst, completed in under three weeks. 'Sometimes I hear his voice when I'm working, and that is so comforting.'
Dedicated to Madeline Douty — The Survivor page is dedicated to Madeline Douty, a six-year Breast Cancer survivor who showed great strength, courage and shared much joy, happiness and sunshine with her family throughout her illness.