- Dr. Ernie Bodai, with Kaiser Permanente, is the man behind the Breast Cancer Stamp. The stamp is sold through the United States Post Office and a portion of the sales raises money for breast cancer research. Currently the stamps have raised over 960 million dollars. “This is the only stamp in the world that has ever saved a life.” Dr. Ernie Bodai
This is the story of an amazing man with an idea, a powerful belief, the driving passion, confidence and determination in the face of opposition to make a dream come true.
It was Christmas Eve in 1995 and after everyone else was asleep in his home Bodai was preparing a lecture on the history of breast cancer surgery. Breast cancer goes back as far as the egyptians in 4000 bc and he was looking art artwork to go with his lecture. Suddenly an idea popped into his mind– To create a postage stamp and with a bit of added cost to consumers, raise funds for cancer research.
With that goal in mind he contacted the United States Post Office with a proposal. They said NO. But Bodai said so what! He packed a bag and went to Washington DC to pay a visit to Congress and anyone else he could think of that would listen to his idea. The answer was still no but that didn’t stop Bodai. “I had so many patients behind me. It got to a point that I couldn’t come back and face these ladies with failure. There was no way in hell I was going to give up.”
At a local Washington DC library he found an 8th grade civics book, which taught him how to write a bill and he continued his quest. Two years later and 15 self-funded trips to Washing ton DC on July 29th 1997 Bodai sat proudly in the gallery of the House of Representatives and watched as Newt Gingrich led the passing of the vote 432-3 to create the Breast Cancer Stamp. Next stop the Senate, where the vote was unanimous– 100-0. On August 10th President Bill Clinton signed it into law, which mandated the post office to sell his stamp. The first print run was 10 million stamps and the first stamp issue date was July 29, 1998.
At this point the United States Post Office has sold over 960 million stamps that has raised over $80 million dollars going directly to breast cancer research.
“Stamp Money” as Bodai calls it, has allowed funding for research that has led to greater understanding of other cancers as well. The popularity of the stamp has soared worldwide. Currently 22 different countries are selling it to raise money for breast cancer research in their own countries. Interested in more stamp facts? You can check out the site at http://www.curebreastcancer.org. Click here to Read Bodai’s bio here. 
We asked Dr. Ernie Bodai a few questions:
Who is one of your greatest inspirations? JFK and Leonardo DaVinci
What important things would you include in your things-still-to-do list? Find a cure for cancer.
What is something you love the most about yourself? Perseverance
What moves you and or touches you about your community? How good they have been to me. (Patients)
What are you most proud of? The STAMP project
What gets you up in the morning? Excitement about who I am going to meet today.
If you have a completely free day what would you CHOOSE to do with it? Be with my granddaughter.
What are you most passionate about? Life
Are you surprised because your career is a happy accident or are you delighted because it’s what you always wanted? I am lucky to have what I have. Family, career, patients.
