A Timely Homecoming for Stolen Dreams

by Tammy L Adams

Stolen Trailer and Wedding Gowns Recovered,

U.S. Customs and Border Protection/ Homeland Security at Work

The season's hand of renewal cast a favorable light upon Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation on the blossom-covered evening of April 5, 2007.  Alert officers of the U.S. Customs Border Protection at the Nogales Arizona Port of entry, recovered the Foundations stolen trailer along with its cargo of 3 million dollars worth of wedding gowns.

While doing a customary inspection of a trailer returning from the Mexican border following refusal of entry, CBP Officer Chris Dominga experienced an uneasy feeling about the 40' Pace American 5th wheel. His well-trained eyes spotted several rows of tape, obviously masking some of the trailers markings, and his gut instinct instantly told him something was amiss. 

Upon further investigation, officers discovered the trailer contained the downy white of more than 1000 wedding gowns, while a thorough inspection of the taped markings revealed the web address for Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.  All the puzzle pieces were falling into place, and the CBP realized in all probability they were holding the $3 million worth of dresses stolen, in the November 2006 Scottsdale robbery.

The theft took place November 5, when the Foundations' "Brides Against Breast Cancer, Nationwide Tour of Gowns," stopped for the night in Scottsdale, AZ while en-route from Washington, D.C. to Hollywood CA for a year-end fund-raising event.  The incident, which began by leaving the Foundation in a desperate state, soon became a whirlwind of blessings as compassionate individuals and company's worldwide, inundated Making Memories with heartfelt donations. The total number of contributed gowns replaced their losses more than twofold, allowing the Foundation to fulfill the 20 awaiting Christmas wishes.

Abducted Wishes Returned

An overflowing attendance at the Tampa FL "Brides Against Breast Cancer" sale, had Fran Hansen, Co-Founder of Making Memories, engaged in a flurry of activity. Consequently, when her cell phone began ringing, she nearly ignored the unfamiliar number. However, something nudged her to hit the talk button.

The faceless voice on the other end of the line inquired whether she had authorized a trailer to cross the Mexican border.

"No! That must be our stolen trailer!"  She declared.

Fran experienced a reoccurring impression that the thieves had hidden the gowns somewhere close to where they disappeared.  "I was the only person who honestly believed we would eventually get the dresses back," she said. "People donated those dresses out of the goodness of their hearts and they were destined to come home!" She had even express in a letter dated March 2 to Detective Robert Tufts, her hunch that the dresses were "hiding right under our noses."

It turns out her intuition was right.  “When the call came in, I felt blessed beyond my wildest dreams,” said Hansen.  "I’d been praying for that moment for the past several months.”

Customs Boarder Protection Commissioner W. Ralph Basham told reporters, “Every day the men and women of the CBP work hard to protect the American way of life, but it is a rare day when we can have a hand in restoring dreams,” said Commissioner Basham.  “The men and women of CBP are absolutely delighted to be able to return these stolen wedding dresses, and the hope they represent to Making Memories and the women who are recipients of their good works.”

Expanding Horizons

From its conception in 1998, Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation's primary wish granting event has always been "The Brides Against Breast Cancer's, Nationwide Tour Of Gowns," sales.  Now, Co-Founders and mother/daughter team, Fran Hansen and Anna Orr, are looking toward the future with, arms-wide-open, to embrace several new and exciting fundraising opportunities for expansion of their mission.

"It is the mission of Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation "To provide an opportunity for metastatic breast cancer patients to fulfill their final dream or wish. Our intention is to provide these individuals with a special time of 'Making Memories' together with their families, a chance that might not become a reality without the assistance of the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation."

Although "Quilters Against Breast Cancer" is an ongoing limb of the Foundation, thanks to Making Memories National Quilt Administrator, Marla Wyant, the project is gearing-up for a new phase.  Quilters worldwide are joining the cause, by transforming flawed wedding gowns into exquisite bridal quilts, the proceeds from these magnificent works of art, help grant final wishes to terminally ill women and men with breast cancer.  Their generous contributions allow families to spend one last cherished moment together, uninhibited by illness and financial uncertainties.  For more information on Quilters Against Breast Cancer visit our website at http://www.makingmemories.org/quilt.html

This year Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation has formed partnerships with several corporate sponsors, The Dearfoams ® Company, Fosters Group, Lucy Active-Wear, Mid-Atlantic Curves and Bank of America to name a few, they are collaborating in a common vision to bring a moment of joy to the life of individuals faced with terminal breast cancer.  For links to these and other Making Memories sponsors visit

http://www.makingmemories.org/our_sponsors.html

The newest addition to the Making Memories family of wish granting projects is the Pink Envelope Project (PEP.) It is a community of committed, dedicated, and imaginative "earth angels" with a passion for reaching beyond themselves to help Making Memories fulfill its mission to

• collect enough pink envelope donations each year to satisfy every PEP wish request
• provide breast cancer patients an opportunity to fulfill one final dream and share a special time "Making Memories" with their loved ones
• touch lives while aggressively promoting breast cancer awareness
• register 20,000 new Pink Envelope Members this year

Coming soon to the Pink Envelope Project, look for the exciting new "PEP Network!" On your own personal site, you will connect in a network of VIP volunteers to share ideas, create new fundraising activities, and share resources for successful benefit events. Visit the website at http://pinkenvelopeproject.org/ or contact Terry Hale, Pink Envelope Project Director at 503-922-0618 for additional information.

Even with all the expanded fundraising divisions, the "Brides Against Breast Cancer, Nationwide Tour of Gowns" sales continues to be the primary source of fundraising for Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.  Now, thanks to the watchful eyes on our borders, Making Memories will be hitting the road this spring with their reunited treasure-trove of gowns. 

"The vast majority of the gowns were recovered," said Fran Hansen, "these gowns were donated with the generous intentions of granting dying wishes for terminal breast cancer patients … it was devastating to all of us when they were taken, knowing that without those gowns, wishes could not be granted.  Now we can turn these gowns into special memory-making events for terminal breast cancer patients."

If you desire to view the gowns in person, please visit the website to learn when the "Tour of Gowns" will be in a city near you. Explore the complete calendar of events at

 http://www.makingmemories.org/calendar_of_events.html