Appointment Builds on Komen for the Cure’s Global Promise
DALLAS – October 29, 2008 – Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the leader of the global breast cancer movement, is expanding its international mission with the appointment of Annetta Hewko as vice president of international, reporting to Komen for the Cure President and CEO Hala Moddelmog.
Hewko will guide the development, implementation and management of Komen’s growing international outreach programs, including culturally sensitive education, scientific research and screening programs in various international markets. She also will act as a breast cancer diplomat, exploring opportunities to expand Komen’s promise across the globe. Komen has initially targeted eight countries in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe for outreach.
“Annetta and her team will strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones as we fulfill our promise to end breast cancer around the world,” said Moddelmog. “Her appointment underscores our commitment to build partnerships and provide help in countries where women are suffering and dying for lack of awareness and treatment.”
Hewko is a breast cancer survivor with extensive experience in building international businesses and collaborative relationships. She comes to Komen from PepsiCo, Inc., where she most recently served as the director of health and wellness international. During 12 of her 16 years at PepsiCo International, she was based in the field helping to develop businesses and capabilities in markets throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. She received her M.B.A. from The Kellogg School at Northwestern University, where she also earned her B.S. in engineering. Hewko will be based out of a new Washington, D.C. Komen office, to be opened early next year.
“Susan G. Komen for the Cure has made amazing strides in 26 years, and the result has been better detection, better treatments and higher survival rates for this disease in the United States,” said Hewko. “Now is the time to expand to other countries, particularly to developing countries where 70 percent of new global breast cancer cases are expected to originate and where mortality rates are often two to three times higher than in developed countries.”
Susan G. Komen for the Cure international outreach
With more than 1 million women worldwide receiving a breast cancer diagnosis each year, Komen for the Cure believes it is critical to increase advocacy for, and education about, this life-threatening disease. Hewko will seek to build upon the growing influence of Susan G. Komen for the Cure across the globe.
- Last year, during Komen’s first-ever Global Advocate Summit in Budapest, Hungary, Komen launched an eight-country pilot program – the Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness – to help countries decrease breast cancer mortality rates. Countries participating in this initiative include Brazil, Costa Rica, Jordan, Mexico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.
- Earlier this year, Komen announced the launch of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund®, which will be central to the organization’s international outreach. The Fund will provide grants to non-governmental organizations to develop and implement breast health and breast cancer programs, and services in countries experiencing high breast cancer incidence and death rates.
- Just this month, Moddelmog led a delegation of physicians, researchers, advocates, survivors and celebrities, including actress Gabrielle Union, philanthropist Malaak Rock, wife of comedian Chris Rock, and breast cancer survivor and activist Billye Aaron, wife of baseball great Hank Aaron, to Ghana to officially launch the Ghana Breast Cancer Alliance. In the same week, the first-ever Tanzania Race for the Cure® was held, organized by the Tanzania Breast Cancer Foundation in collaboration with Komen.
About the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund®
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Global Promise Fund is dedicated to reaching underserved people in areas where breast cancer death rates are highest by increasing breast health awareness; improving access to detection and treatment; recruiting and funding medical staff; providing services to breast cancer survivors and their families, and recruiting and training lay ambassadors to promote breast cancer awareness and treatment messages in underserved areas around the globe.
