15 Years of Hope... - Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of Susan ...

15 Years of Giving...
Your Dollars Make a Di�erence Giving Locally: A Family’s Commitment
While our annual report focuses on financial
responsibility, we never lose sight of the human
impact those dollars represent. Breast cancer
strikes individuals, and individuals respond
with life-saving capacity and compassion.
Sometimes donors contribute in solitude. At
other times they join together with friends,
family or business associates. Either way,
individuals act.
Individuals also receive. Komen funds breast
health education, screening and early detection,
transportation in rural areas and survivor
support programs. Komen grants fund services
and resources upon which isolated, minority and
low-income women depend.
There is no substitute for what individuals can
accomplish together.
My first Race for the Cure was in 1993. I was new to Portland and a runner, so it was natural
that I would sign up. I paid my entry fee, ran the race and went home. I knew vaguely about
Komen’s role in breast cancer advocacy, but I never thought to fundraise. Then I met my partner
Liz MacDonell. She brought the notion of “intentional giving” to our family.
Today, the Susan G. Komen Foundation is at the top of our giving list. To be there, in our
minds, an organization needs to address basic needs and do it in an effective and results-oriented
way. Komen does all that. For us, Komen National’s funding of critical medical research and
lobbying for government-funded breast health initiatives, combined with the local affiliate’s
state-wide funding of community-based organizations helping local women, creates a powerful
combination in the fight to cure breast cancer. We’re honored to be part of that fight.
There are many other nonprofits doing great
work in the community, too. But Komen is
personal for us now. I was diagnosed with
breast cancer in 2001. We had it “easy,” because
we had good health insurance, were able to
research and educate ourselves about treatment
options, and talked with several quality
healthcare providers in the area. That’s not true
for everyone. We greatly appreciate that the
Oregon & SW Washington Affiliate of the
Komen Foundation helps people like us and
also seeks out and assists women who don’t
have the same access to good healthcare.
From left to right: Lisa Domenico, son Cole and
Liz MacDonell
We are proud donors and volunteers to our local Komen Foundation and will continue to be in
the future.
Lisa Domenico, Board Vice-President
6 | THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION | OREGON & SW WASHINGTON AFFILIATE | ANNUAL REPORT 2005-06