The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Honored as 2005 Outstanding Foundation
(News release courtesy of The Association of Fundraising Professionals)
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Honored as 2005 Outstanding Foundation
Organization to Receive Award at International Conference on Fundraising
Alexandria, VA - January 19, 2005 - The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is honoring the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for its comprehensive approach to breast cancer issues, including its tremendous communications, public education and fundraising activities. The Komen Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. In just over two decades, the Foundation has become the leading resource in the world for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.
"Being named the 2005 Outstanding Foundation by the AFP is humbling and challenging as it reminds us at the Komen Foundation how far we've come in the fight and how many are willing to go the next distance with us to end breast cancer as a life-threatening disease," said Susan Braun, president and CEO of the Komen Foundation. "The Komen Foundation is accepting the award in recognition of the countless staff and volunteers who have raised necessary funds, educated their communities, braved new ideas and partnerships - done everything possible - to truly embrace Nancy's promise to her sister and made it their own personal mission to see an end to breast cancer."
The Komen Foundation
A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards and educational, scientific and community outreach programs around the world. Since inception, together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and generous donors, the Komen Foundation has raised more than $740 million for the fight against breast cancer.
The Komen Race for the Cure®
The Komen Foundation's comprehensive approach to public awareness and education includes one of the best known fundraising events in the world, the Komen Race for the Cure® Series, the largest series of 5K run/fitness walks in the world. Since its origination in Dallas in 1983, these special events have grown from one local Race to a series of more than 100 races annually with more than one million participants worldwide.
The Foundation's advocacy role
In the United States, the Komen Foundation has taken a leadership role in public policy activities, launching the Komen Champions for the Cure™ program. This advocacy effort, which includes many of its 75,000 active volunteers, seeks to educate the president, Congress and other policy makers about breast cancer and what they can do to improve breast cancer policy.
"The Komen Foundation's extraordinary success is even more remarkable given that it has only been in existence for just over 20 years," said AFP President and CEO Paulette Maehara, CFRE, CAE. "It is an outstanding example of a foundation that doesn't just fund programs, but through public education, coalition-building, training, fundraising and advocacy, seeks to create an environment where those programs will have maximum impact. AFP is honored to present them with the 2005 Outstanding Foundation award."
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was nominated by the AFP Greater Dallas, Texas Chapter. Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., chairman of the board of the Komen Foundation, will accept the award on April 5, 2005 on behalf of Komen at the AFP Awards for Philanthropy Banquet during the International Conference on Fundraising in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 26,000 members in 171 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs. The Association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. For more information, go to AFP's Web site (www.afpnet.org).
