Community Highlights: Meet Tarah Teal Green of TENACIOUSLY TEAL

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarah Teal Green .

Tarah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
At 29 years old, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer. In the middle of treatments and uncertainty I saw firsthand how overwhelming a cancer diagnosis can be, not just physically, but emotionally and financially.

What stood out most wasn’t just how hard the fight against cancer is, but the gaps in support others around experienced when I had so much support. I was determined to change that for a few I saw with particularly difficult situations and began delivering small care packages in the chemo room to those who were alone. The care packs contained useful items paired with handwritten notes to remind those by themselves that they weren’t alone.

What started as a single act of kindness quickly grew, and those first care packs turned into a movement.

Today, through a nonprofit I started after treatment, Tenaciously Teal, we have delivered over 55,000 care packs, provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial assistance, and created meaningful programs like Brave Shave™ and Tenacious Together to bring community and empowerment to those in the fight.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey hasn’t been linear and been marked by real challenges that required a lot of tenacity.

When I first started Tenaciously Teal, I was still in the middle of my own fight. Building something for others while navigating surgeries, chemotherapy, and the uncertainty was hard, but a good distraction in the midst of the fight.

After starting Tenaciously Teal there were constant questions: how to fund care packs, how to meet growing demand, how to fundraise, and how to read financials.

As the organization grew, so did the weight of responsibility. Supporting cancer fighters isn’t transactional, but relational. That means walking alongside people through diagnosis, recurrence, and sometimes loss. Carrying those stories, celebrating victories while grieving losses, can be emotionally heavy.

There have also been the behind-the-scenes challenges of building a sustainable organization—hiring the right team, navigating budgets, balancing program growth, and ensuring that every dollar raised truly translates into impact. Scaling without losing the personal touch that made the mission special has also always been a delicate balance, but I believe something T. Teal ultimately does well.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What people should know about Tenaciously Teal is that it’s not just a nonprofit.

At its core, Tenaciously Teal exists to ensure that no one faces cancer alone. Every care pack, every event, every dollar of financial assistance is rooted in the understanding of what it actually feels like to be in the fight.

What truly sets Tenaciously Teal apart from other organizations is how deeply relational and hands-on the work is.

Most organizations provide support at a distance. Tenaciously Teal steps into people’s lives. They sit with fighters, celebrate milestones, show up in hospitals, create spaces for connection, and walk alongside families through every stage of the journey. It’s not just about services—it’s about being seen, known, and supported.

Another difference is the combination of immediate comfort and tangible support:

-A care pack that brings relief and encouragement in a hard moment
-Financial assistance that helps families breathe when bills pile up
-Community events that remind fighters they are not isolated

Tenaciously Teal also carries a level of authenticity and credibility that comes from being founded by a survivor. In fact the small team of three people are all survivors.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For those just starting out, I always say this—I wish I hadn’t compared myself in the beginning to people who had been building for years.

Now, I find myself giving that same advice to others. People see the impact of Tenaciously Teal today and feel behind before they’ve even begun, but what they don’t see, just like I didn’t, are the late nights, the uncertainty, the sacrifices, and the grit it takes to build something from nothing.

They don’t see the moments you question everything.
They don’t see the seasons where progress feels invisible.
They don’t see the tenacity it takes to just keep going.

There’s no shortcut to meaningful impact. It’s built day by day, decision by decision, showing up even when it’s hard.

So don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle or even their decade of work. Just start.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tteal.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tteal_inc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tenaciouslyteal/
• LinkedIn: Tenaciously Teal
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tenaciouslyteal