"Nancy Brinker is one of my heroes. Turning tragedy into courage, this amazing woman created the Komen Foundation from scratch and turned it into a huge nationwide organization dedicated to making the cure of breast cancer not only possible, but highly visible and urgent." A fellow Texan, Dr. Gabriel Hotobagyi of Houston, spoke these words in 1997. He had received the Brinker International Award, which recognizes cancer researchers for significant contributions. Winning the award, he said, was moving because he had known Susan Komen when she was a patient in his institution.
It was after losing Susan to breast cancer in 1980 that Nancy Brinker resolved to fulfill her sister's final request: to crusade against breast cancer. She began with some good friends in her living room, a few hundred dollars and shoebox full of names -- and went on to established the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Since its incorporation in 1982 through fiscal 1998, the Foundation has raised more than $210 million for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs. An international organization, it has a network of more than 40,000 volunteers working through local affiliates and Komen Race for the Cure events. The Foundation runs an innovative, responsive grant program, with a current portfolio of over $33.5. In addition to research, it funds breast cancer education, screening and treatment projects for the medically under-served in their own communities.
Brinker served as chairman of the Foundation, supervising all aspects of initial organizational growth. Currently, she serves on the Foundation's international board of directors. She is actively involved in strategic planning and the concerns of staff and volunteers. Of special interest is international expansion in Argentina, Germany, Greece and Italy.
She has advocated women's health issues in congressional hearings, served on the 1986 and 1991 National Cancer Panels under Presidents Reagan and Bush, and under Vice President Quayle to monitor research, progress and developments in the fight against breast cancer in 1992. She testified before the United States Democratic Policy Committee's Congressional Cancer Forum, participated in the international Women's Forum. She is a collaborating partner for the National Dialogue on Cancer.
A breast cancer survivor herself, Brinker uses her experience to heighten understanding of the disease. She is popular public speaker in demand across the country. She speaks on the importance of patient's rights and medical advancements in breast cancer research and treatment.
Brinker was a signatory and witness to the Treaty of Paris Against Cancer presented at the Palace of Versailles in February 2000 as part of the International Congress of Anticancer Therapy and World Summit Against Cancer. Jacques Chirac, President, Republic of France, presented Brinker with the 200 Cino del Duca Award for exceptional contribution to the field of oncology.
On October 12, 2002, at The Pierre in New York City, Nancy Brinker was installed into the Cancer Research & Treatment Funds Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died of breast cancer at the age of 36. Eighteen years later, the Foundation is widely recognized as the national leading catalyst in the fight against breast cancer.
The Foundation's stated mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. As the most progressive grassroots organization fighting breast cancer today in the country, the Foundation has more than 35,000 volunteers working through 117 Komen affiliates in communities across the country and pilot affiliates in Argentina, Greece and Italy.
The Komen Race for the Cure series is the largest series of 5K fun/fitness walks in the world. Since its origination in Dallas in 1983, the Race has grown from one local event of 800 participants to a national series of 98 races.
Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 370 national grants totaling more than $45 million for breast cancer research and outreach projects. It currently supports research at a variety of institutions in four different countries. The national grant program adheres to a peer-review process recognized by the National Cancer Institute.
Komen affiliates across the country fund non-duplicative breast cancer outreach projects for the medically underserved in their local communities, working with local medical experts and community leaders to conduct comprehensive community needs assessments. Community profiles are used to establish local grant application and review processes consistent with the Foundation's national standards and its mission.
The Foundation is a source of breast health and breast cancer information for people all over the world. Its web site (www.breastcancerinfo.com) provides information about research findings, clinical trials, local outreach programs, volunteer opportunities, and Komen programs and events.
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