Partner Appreciation Event - January 2011
2010 Affiliate Awards
Each year volunteers work on committees, at the Race, or in our community to improve awareness of breast cancer, and raise money to save lives. On January 27, 2011, the Affiliate recognized those volunteers and community members at its annual Partner Appreciation Awards Ceremony.
Promise of One: An individual who has volunteered for the Komen Affiliate for a minimum of one year. Their achievements, time, compassion and volunteer spirit serve as benchmarks for all volunteers. This volunteer has contributed extraordinary efforts which enabled the Komen Affiliate to make a significant impact on the Komen promise: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.
2010 Recipients:
Ann Reiner
Ann Reiner is an oncology nurse and teacher at OHSU who has served in many crucial volunteer capacities over her 13 years with Komen Oregon. In 1996, she founded the OHSU First Aid Team Tent for the Portland Race for the Cure. She has also been a member of the Education Committee and the Strategic Planning Task Force and currently serves on the Medical Advisory Committee, Patient Assistance Task Force, Program Committee, and the Planning Committee for the Breast Cancer Issues Conference. As an oncology nurse and teacher at OHSU, Ann is a role model who empowers her nursing students, the medical community, and the other volunteers and staff at Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Kathy Frederick
Kathy is the founder of Row for the Cure, a fundraiser that has benefited the Affiliate since 1994. The first regatta in 1994 raised a modest $1,500. Today, because of Kathy’s vision and passion, Row for the Cure has blossomed into a multi-sport event in over 20 U.S. cities and even Germany. The event series now raises over $300,000 annually, and since its inception, Row for the Cure has raised over $1.1 million for local Affiliates of Komen for the Cure. A member of the Row for the Cure committee, Janna Brown (who is also a breast cancer survivor) says: “Kathy’s grace, humility, energy, cheerfulness and inclusive personality incorporated two worlds – all in support of raising awareness for breast cancer.”
Survivor of the Year: An individual who is a breast cancer survivor and a member of the Oregon and SW Washington community who has supported, demonstrated and served the Komen Affiliate and inspired others who travel the journey of breast cancer to live the Komen promise: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.
2010 Recipient:
Kris Knox
Nine years ago, Kris Knox formed Play for the Cure, a softball tournament in Salem, Oregon that raises funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The tournament is the primary function of the Linda L. Vladyka Breast Wellness Foundation, created in memory of Kris’ mother, Linda L. Vladyka, who lost her battle with breast cancer. The event drives participation from all over the state, and even Washington and California, raising funds through event entry fees, sponsorship, and participant fundraising.
In 2009, on the eve of the 8th annual Play for the Cure, Kris was faced with her own breast cancer diagnosis. She didn’t want the focus on herself, but reminded herself that no one gets a “get out of cancer free card” and that she was joining her newest family…the family of breast cancer survivors. To date, their cumulative donation to Komen is $150,000.
Strength of Many Award: A group of volunteers who demonstrate dedication, commitment, creativity, initiative and dependability to the Komen Affiliate and the breast cancer community for a minimum of one year. Their achievements, time, compassion and volunteer spirit serve as benchmarks for all volunteers. Through their teamwork, they have made significant strides that impact the Komen promise: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.
2010 Recipient:
Oregon Women’s Sailing Association (OSWA), Sail for the Cure
The women of the OWSA created Sail for the Cure from a simple sail and picnic, to the largest charity event on the Columbia River. Their focus is two-fold: raise funds for the Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and provide the opportunity to sail. The 2010 Sail for the Cure: “Making Breast Cancer Walk the Plank” drew record attendance, as 648 women, men and children took to the Columbia aboard 102 sailing yachts. More than 200 “crew” were first time participants. Forty-six survivors and their families also joined in the festivities this year, a fact that makes them particularly proud. The women of OWSA have contributed approximately $270,000 to the local Affiliate through this enormously successful event.
Community Partner Grantee Award:
A community partner who has received Komen grant funding for at least two years and has implemented an outstanding program that significantly impacts their target community and demonstrates the Komen promise: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. This award is selected by the Komen Affiliate Grant Committee.
2010 Recipient:
American Cancer Society Transportation Program
The American Cancer Society became a Komen grantee in 2005, when Komen and ACS recognized that transportation was a significant barrier to the early detection of breast cancer and treatment for women diagnosed with breast cancer. With a significant population of Oregon and SW Washington living in rural communities, they quickly realized that each offered a piece of the puzzle to meeting this need – Komen had the money and ACS had the drivers.
Over time, the program has grown as ACS began to use their call center to distribute gas cards around the state. Now, Komen and ACS partner together to reach all of Komen’s service area, including SW Washington and far Eastern Oregon using their phone center, gas card distribution system, and Cancer Resource Centers. Although Komen funds the program, ACS does not charge Komen for the use of their infrastructure and take only the standard 10% for overhead to deliver these amazing services. This year, their grant is $85,000 and the need continues to grow.
Corporate Partner Award: A company that provides financial support, initiative, dedication and a sustained commitment to the Komen Affiliate, our community and to the Komen promise: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. This award is selected by the Komen Development Advisory Committee.
2010 Recipient:
Fred Meyer
As a long-time supporter of Komen, Fred Meyer’s partnership with Komen extends far beyond the usual event sponsorship. Not only do they sponsor the Portland and Eugene Race for the Cure events, but they also provide significant in-kind sponsorship to the Survivor City areas at both Races, including food, beverage, and lots of goodies for survivors! This past fall, their in-kind donations for Survivor City are valued at more than $50k+ beyond their sponsorship agreement.
In 2008 Fred Meyer was the first corporate partner to launch the Affiliate’s “Partner in the Promise” program, a year-round sponsorship program that supports the mission events of Komen. Their annual $25,000 sponsorship has made them one of the Presenting Partners for the past three years. In 2010 alone, Fred Meyer has provided over $85k in cash contributions and an additional $85k in in-kind contributions.