July 2011 Newsletter

2011-2012 Grant Recipients

The Nebraska Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure—along with our generous supporters—is working to end breast cancer forever. What many people may not realize, is that up to 75 percent of the net income from Komen Nebraska is dedicated to fighting breast cancer in communities across the state. The remaining 25 percent of our annual income goes to the National Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program, which supports the most promising breast cancer research projects at institutions around the world. Through events like the Komen Nebraska Race for the Cure®, in 2011 we are able to invest more than $560,000 in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in Nebraska as part of our Community Grants program. 

The following organizations are our 2011-2012 Community Grantees and their funded programs: A Time to Heal Foundation - $45,100 - “A Time to Heal for Co-Survivors” Alegent Health Cancer Center - $53,920 – “Image Recovery Center Patient Assistance Fund” CATCH, Inc. - $48,000 – “Missing Link” Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska - $26,188 – “Healthy Breast Education and Screening Options for Adult Minority and Low-income Women in Dawson and Buffalo Counties” Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation - $29,620 – “Breast Health Screening and Testing for Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer” Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services - $50,560 – “Every Woman Matters” Nebraska Medical Center - $34,000 – “Life Renewal Center” OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc. - $24,148 – “Patient Navigator and Educational Outreach Program” OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc. - $50,000 – “Breast Cancer Screening and Treatment Program” Saint Elizabeth Foundation - $15,000 – “Early Detection in Minority Populations” Saint Francis Medical Center - $15,309.10 – “The Outreach Risk Awareness Project” UNMC - $56,518 – “Development of a Community-Based Lay Navigator Program” Visiting Nurse Association - $112,585 – “Providing Assistance to Breast Cancer Survivors”

From left: Kate Sommer, Komen Nebraska Board President; Lynette Farhart, Komen Nebraska Executive Director; Kristi Perrotto and Mary Trauernicht, St. Elizabeth Foudation Representatives

The total amount granted is $560,948.10. We are truly thrilled to be partnering with these incredible organizations, and we look forward to continuing our commitment to end breast cancer forever.

  

Susan G. Komen Central Nebraska Race for the Cure Update

Left: 2011 Susan G. Komen Central Nebraska Race for the Cure Co-Chairs Ally Kaiser and Julie Weir   

The Komen Central Nebraska Race for the Cure® is going strong!  Our tremendous Race committee is busy working on recruiting teams and sponsors.   With the registration piece "live" on-line, we can really begin to get participants excited about our Race!   The Race course set-up and organization has taken shape under the great leadership of Race Director Greg Brown, and Race Organization co-chairs Molly Trettel and Carmen Pearse.  We hope participants will come and enjoy a beautiful crisp fall day in Central Nebraska on the pristine campus of UNK. To register now for the Race, just click here.

 

2011 Komen Leadership Conference

Best Science, Boldest Community, Biggest Impact and United Against Breast Cancer was the theme for the 2011 Komen Leadership Conference convened in Fort Worth, TX in late March. Over a thousand people, eleven of them representing Komen Nebraska’s affiliate, met for three days to explore the various ways Komen can continue to lead the world in breast cancer research, service, and advocacy.

Komen Nebraska board member Karen Daneu attended the conference and offered the following highlights:

The Best Science presentation detailed the money Komen has spent in research funding since its inception--$610 million dollars. Komen promotes research to attack all breast cancers, especially the most aggressive forms, and wants to fuel a cure within a decade. Komen supports both peer review and directed research, and encourages clinical trial participation.

The Boldest Community presented collaboration as key, and it begins with the grantees. Encourage partners in the community to maximize impact---put the experts together and watch them solve problems and go to the next level.

Biggest Impact offered a fundraising session, encouraging affiliates to experiment with the Race format, such as offering a10k vs a 5k run, and to work with donors to get the most and best results.

United Against Breast Cancer urged ways to advocate, including getting to know lawmakers and educating legislators. Be pro-active: have a contingency plan if funding is cut.

In addition to Karen, the affiliate was represented by Kate Sommer, board president; Cristina Castro-Matukewicz, board member; Beth Groh, Omaha Race co-chair; Ally Kaiser, Central Nebraska Race co-chair; Lynette Farhart, Komen Nebraska Executive Director; Mary Nelson, Komen Nebraska Grants and Outreach manager; Alissa Neu, Komen Nebraska program manager; Kay Ryan, grantee, A TIME TO HEAL; Kristi Perrotto, grantee, St Elizabeth Cancer Outreach program; and volunteer Cyndi Hume.

These attendees shared some thoughts about their time in Fort Worth:

Kristi Perrotto, survivor and Cancer Outreach Coordinator for Lincoln’s St Elizabeth Regional Medical Center said, “I loved hearing [SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE founder] Nancy Brinker speak. She is full of energy and really gave wonderful advice, and it brought back a lot of enthusiasm.”

Program manager Alissa Neu felt the KLC helped her focus. She said: “For me, [the conference] was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our own affiliate representatives, all there from different perspectives, and to have two days to develop ideas and strengthen our impact in our service area.”

Executive director Lynette Farhart noted that being among so many advocates was inspiring. “The unwavering dedication of those involved to create a world without breast cancer is remarkable,” she said.

Mary Nelson, Grants and Outreach Manager, summed up the experience: “This is my second year of attending the Komen Leadership Conference and I always walk away feeling incredibly inspired! While I enjoy all of the presentations, my favorites are those that focus on the great strides that Susan G. Komen for the Cure is making in the public policy arena, and the impact that our policy work is having on the fight against breast cancer.”

Conversations for the Cure®

On the last Thursday of every month, the Nebraska Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Methodist Health System host “Conversations for the Cure.”  The Nebraska Affiliate developed Conversations for the Cure to capitalize on the existing network of support and resources among breast cancer survivors, co-survivors, and providers in Nebraska and to encourage the exchange of experiences and knowledge on a wide range of breast cancer topics. This program offers a casual environment, for anyone interested, to attend a presentation related to breast cancer.  Each monthly program focuses on a different aspect of the disease.

Nebraska Methodist Health System continues to sponsor the Conversations for the Cure series and provides refreshments for all attendees. In addition, Rhonda Post-Seip and Bridget Rolenc from Methodist Health System coordinate all of the topics and speakers, and have done so from the program’s beginning.  These ladies have been INSTRUMENTAL in making this program a success.  We have had an increasingly tremendous response rate to this dynamic program, and our attendance continues to grow. 

In 2010, we hosted our first Conversations for the Cure in Lincoln, Nebraska, in partnership with St. Elizabeth Hospital.  St Elizabeth has been a Komen grantee for a number of years, and we are excited to extend this program’s reach into the Lincoln area.

If you are interested in attending Conversations for the Cure, please visit our website for information on upcoming presentations, as well as information on how to RSVP.

Grantee Spotlight: Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska

Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska in South Central Nebraska is proud of the partnership with the Nebraska Affiliate of Susan G Komen For the Cure. As a result of this partnership a Patient Navigator/Promotora has been hired to assist women through some of the obstacles of receiving quality health care, including clinical breast exams, mammography, and self breast exam education. Maria Barocio, employed by Community Action since 2000 working with several programs as an interpreter and assisting families in need of services, has taken on this position. 

The primary Patient Navigator/Promotora duties for the Susan G. Komen Healthy Breast Education and Screening Options for Adult Minority and Low-Income Women include:

• Helping young women attending the Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutritional program to learn about self breast exams and early detection, empowering them to make healthy life choices for the prevention of breast cancer
• Assisting patients to schedule appointments for mammography, financial assistance/guidance for those unable to afford screening
• Assisting patients to remove health care barriers such as language and culture, transportation and finances for their clinical breast exams, mammography and any further studies as indicated relating to breast disease
• Developing a breast cancer support group for Non-English speaking participants
• Providing breast screening information and healthy breast education for the community at health fairs 

Komen Nebraska Affiliate Goes to Capitol Hill

Telling lawmakers that “This is where the ribbon meets the road,” Komen Founder and CEO Nancy Brinker kicked off the Komen Advocacy Alliance Lobby Day in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, April 14th. Hundreds of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Affiliate representatives streamed across Capitol Hill and urged lawmakers to preserve early detection and treatment programs, especially for vulnerable groups such as the poor and uninsured, and to maintain federal investments in cancer research.  Attending on behalf of the Komen Nebraska Affiliate were:  Lynette Farhart, Executive Director; Mary Nelson, Grants and Outreach Manager; and, Kay Ryan, co-founder of the A Time to Heal program, which has long been a Komen Nebraska- sponsored breast cancer rehabilitation program.  Komen Nebraska was pleased to meet with all five of Nebraska’s Congressional offices, and share with them the work that Komen Nebraska is doing in the fight against breast cancer.

From left: Lynette Farhart, Executive Director, Mary Nelson, Grants and Outreach Manager, Kay Ryan, Co-founder of the A TIME TO HEAL program, and Senator Mike Johanns and his legislative correspondent Ally Mendenhal

Puttin' on the Pink: A Party with Promise

On Friday, April 8th, 2011, 225 people joined the Nebraska Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®  at their annual “Puttin’ on the Pink: A Party with Promise” cocktail event. The event, held at the Baxter Ford Showroom courtesy of President Mickey Anderson and the Baxter Auto family, featured a silent auction, special Pink Martinis, and catering by Kevin Newlin of Releve’ Passione. The Affiliate utilized the event to recognize a number of supporters, including three Pink Tie Guys (gentlemen supporters of Komen Nebraska): Jeff Funk of Hassel & Funk Photography, Komen Nebraska Board of Directors member Jim Mulhall, and long-time dedicated volunteer Dave Kozol. Recognition was awarded to the top business team, West Corporation’s West Workers 4 A Cure. The employees at West Corp. raised over $13,700 through cookie sales, rubber duckie races, and “pinking” –not punking—their executives.

In addition, the top 25 individual fundraisers are elected annually to the Pink Honor Roll. The 2010 list boasted a tie, making 26  honorees The 24 women and two men included 13 survivors and nine returning members from the 2009 list, shaded in pink, who increased their culmulative pledges by 24%. The 2010 Pink Honor Roll, in order of  highest amount raised, are:
Rhonda Flanigan
Debra Keith
Kate Sommer
Shelley Fulton
Aja Peister
Deb Mecom
Jayne Dean
Sherry Slater
Cyndi Dudil
Jennifer Sobszyk
Daniel Levy
Abby Knight
Virginia McDowell
Kristen Kelley 
Denise Ewing
Lisa Wilson
Allsion Stodolka
Cindi Ramaeker
Ruth Sylvester
Paula Reeves
Melody Stark
Amanda Siemon
Melissa Frary
Michelle Watson
Cheryle Greene
Rory Sherman
 
Carol Wang of KMTV Action3News and Dave Webber, Baxter Ford spokesperson, shared emcee duties for the evening. The event was chaired by long-time Komen Nebraska Volunteer Beth Groh, with Jim Mulhall representing the board of directors. Lynette Farhart, Executive Director of the Affiliate, says, “We are so grateful to all of our supporters and sponsors that joined us to celebrate. It is because of them that we are able to award community grants that help the women of Nebraska.  With their support we will continue to make an impact and hopefully help to create a world without breast cancer.”

During the reception, the Komen Nebraska Affiliate announced the 2011 Community Grant recipients, distributing $560,948.10 to organizations serving women and families in the state of Nebraska in their fight against breast cancer. “Each person I spoke to loved the event and it gave the Affiliate an opportunity to showcase to the public the important grants we fund in Nebraska, not to mention the nearly $300,000 we contributed this year to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program!”, said Kate Sommer, Affiliate Board President.

Pink Tie Guy: Jeff Funk

What does it take to be a Pink Tie Guy? Pink Tie Guys earn their title by supporting the Komen Nebraska Affiliate with their time and talents. It is never just a one-time gig when you sign on with Komen, and perhaps there is no better example for showing up perennially than Jeff Funk, named to the 2010 Pink Tie Guy Hall of Fame at the recent Puttin’ On the Pink: A Party with Promise event.

Jeff is a photographer and co-owner of Hassel and Funk Photography, located in La Vista. Each year, Jeff is present on Race Day, snapping photos and capturing the images that make the Race for the Cure so impactful. A special event each year is our Survivor photo, a group shot of all survivors at the Race. Year after year, Jeff figures out how to illustrate the many faces of survivorship. We haven’t made this easy for Jeff, because every year we ask him to include more and more people in that picture! In 2010, his 7th year of volunteering, he provided a copy of that picture to our 1300 registered survivors. In addition, Jeff mans a kiosk at the Race site where survivors can stop by and have a free photo taken with family or their race team. Jeff says that the greatest reward is when a survivor confides that they look forward to having that photo taken each year with family and friends, because it is a marker for them.

Jeff’s day job finds him photographing families, graduates, bridal parties, and special events. He has owned his own business for 10 years and is a Diamond Fellow member of the Professional Photographers of Nebraska.

 

Help us “Spread the Word” – join the Komen Nebraska Speakers Bureau

Komen Nebraska is interested in recruiting new speakers to join our Speakers Bureau.  The Speakers Bureau is a group of volunteers who routinely give public presentations about the Komen Nebraska Affiliate, some basics on breast health and the importance of early detection, and on any personal stories or experiences they may have to share.  Our current Speakers Bureau is made up of people from all walks of life….we are looking to add to our incredible Speakers Bureau team, and we would welcome any of our Komen supporters and volunteers, survivors, co-survivors, men, women….really ANYONE who is passionate about the fight against breast cancer and the work that Komen Nebraska is doing.

Komen Nebraska receives a number of requests for speakers from organizations across the state, and fulfilling these requests is an important part of our Mission.  If you have a passion for Komen and for sharing information about the importance of breast health, please contact Mary Nelson at mary.nelson@komennebraska.org.