Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker Included in TIME Magazine's “100 Most Influential People” for 2008

Founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Honored For Launching, Leading Global Breast Cancer Movement

DALLAS – May 1, 2008 – TIME magazine has included Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, in its list of the world’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ for 2008.

Ambassador Brinker, who currently serves as the nation’s Chief of Protocol, was cited for her leadership in the global breast cancer movement by well-known political analyst and breast cancer survivor Cokie Roberts, who wrote the tribute in the special May 12 issue of TIME. The TIME 100 list recognizes men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming our world. “Being included in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2008 is a fitting honor for Ambassador Brinker’s tireless career as a breast cancer advocate,” said Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s President and CEO Hala Moddelmog. “She is an accomplished matchmaker between science and society and a visionary whose foresight has led to major advancements in the way breast cancer is detected, diagnosed and treated.”

Keeping a promise
Those familiar with the history of Susan G. Komen for the Cure know that the organization was founded by Ambassador Brinker 26 years ago on a promise she made to her beloved sister, Susan G. Komen, who died at age 36 from breast cancer. Not only did Ambassador Brinker found the organization that has become synonymous with breast cancer globally, she brought the disease out of the shadows of secrecy and shame in large part by launching Komen for the Cure’s well-known and emulated Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series®, the world’s largest and most successful education and fundraising event for a charity and the precursor to the booming cause-related marketing movement. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is known as a pioneer in the cause-related marketing industry, and thanks to Ambassador Brinker’s pioneering efforts, the organization boasts partnerships with more than 170 companies.

“I was raised to give back to the world, which is why I have dedicated my life to fulfilling the promise I made to my sister, Susan, to end breast cancer forever,” said Ambassador Brinker. “How can we stop fighting when a woman dies from breast cancer every 75 seconds throughout the world?”

Delivering life-saving messages worldwide
Through Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Ambassador Brinker has delivered life-saving messages to people in more than 200 countries and opened dialogue about the disease in regions around the world where breast cancer is still stigmatized and misunderstood. She has served, throughout her career, as an example of the ‘power of one’ and as proof of how personal activism can drive global social change.

Today, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists and the world’s largest private source of funds for breast cancer research and community health programs. To date, the organization has invested more than $1 billion in scientific research and community health programs. With its recent announcement of $100 million in scientific research grants, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is well on its way to investing an additional $2 billion by 2017 in order to effect a measurable decrease in breast cancer incidence and mortality globally.

In addition to its domestic initiatives to address breast cancer disparities, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is making inroads through its work to address staggering breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in countries throughout the world. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is working internationally through its 10-country pilot program designed to decrease deaths within the next 10 years. In establishing the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund, the organization has provided a way by which private donors and corporate partners may make direct investments in the organization’s global initiatives.

Ambassador Brinker’s background
In recent years, Ambassador Brinker, who is a breast cancer survivor, has served on the boards of FasterCures and the LHC Group. Prior to her appointment as Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary in 2001, she served on the boards of Manpower, Inc. and U.S. Oncology. She served on the national advisory boards of the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, Women’s Health Resource Center, Women’s Health Initiative, the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship and the National Cancer Institute. She is a former board member of such not-for-profit organizations as New York University’s Medical School Foundation and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project. Ambassador Brinker has testified before the United States Democratic Policy Committee’s Congressional Breast Cancer Forum and participated in the International Women’s Forum.

Recipient of numerous national awards
Ambassador Brinker is the recipient of numerous national awards, including the 2007 Trumpet Award, the 2007 Pro Cultura Hungarica Medal, the inaugural American Association for Cancer Research Centennial Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 2007, the 2007 Castle Connolly National Health Leadership Award, the 2007 IARC Medal of Honour, the American Society of Breast Disease 2006 Global Pathfinder Award, the 2005 Mary Woodard Lasker Public Service Award in Support of Medical Research, the 2005 Advocacy Award presented by the National Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation, The Champions of Excellence Award presented by the Centers for Disease Control, the ASCO Special Recognition Award and Ladies’ Home Journal’s 100 Most Powerful Women in America, among many others. In addition, she was inducted into the Cancer Research and Treatment Fund, Inc., Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame and the Modern Healthcare 2007 Health Care Hall of Fame.

Ambassador Brinker continues her involvement with Susan G. Komen for the Cure in her private capacity, as time allows, during her service as U.S. Chief of Protocol.