Nancy G. Brinker, Leader of Global Breast Cancer Movement, Attends State of Union Address as Invited Guest

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Founder Advocates for Underserved, Represents Breast Cancer Patients, Survivors

DALLAS – January 23, 2007 – Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and leader in the global fight to end breast cancer, represented millions of Americans affected by breast cancer during tonight’s State of the Union Address.

Health care is a top priority among all Americans and, because of her commitment to addressing the social, cultural and financial conditions that prevent women from receiving quality breast health care and treatment, Brinker was invited by Mrs. Laura Bush to attend tonight’s event. The opportunity draws attention to the fight that Susan G. Komen for the Cure and America is waging to find the cures for the number one health concern of women.

“I was honored to be invited to attend such a powerful event discussing health care in America. National events such as this reinforce the urgent need to make discovering and delivering the cures for cancer a social and political priority,” said Brinker. “Over the past 25 years, Komen for the Cure has changed how the world talks about and treats breast cancer. And though we have made great strides, the difference between life and death for thousands of women too often is determined by health care disparities that exist in this country.”

First Lady Laura Bush, right, accompanied by, from left, Ambassador Nancy Brinker, Dr. Nancy Ho, and Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo during President Bush's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, January 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Advocating for quality care for all women
One of the primary goals of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is advocating for all women to receive quality breast health care and treatment. The organization works for public policy changes and government funding for breast cancer, and awards grants to local programs that support breast health and breast cancer awareness. Additionally, as part of its $1 billion total investment in breast cancer research and community outreach programs in the past 25 years, Komen has invested millions of dollars in research focusing on the breast health needs of ethnic and racial minority populations.

Komen’s efforts to bridge cultural gaps include developing breast health education materials in culturally appropriate formats, supporting translator programs to assist with language and cultural barriers to medical care, funding screening programs for women with little or no health insurance and establishing a bilingual, toll-free breast care helpline, 1-800 I’M AWARE.

Nancy Brinker
In addition to her role as Komen founder, Brinker served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Hungary and has served on the National Cancer Panel under Presidents Reagan and Bush. She has been an advocate in congressional hearings, the U.S. Democratic Policy Committee’s Congressional Breast Cancer Forum and the National Dialogue on Cancer. Brinker is the recipient of numerous national awards including the 2007 Trumpet Award, the American Society of Breast Disease 2006 Global Pathfinder Award and the 2005 Mary Woodard Lasker Public Service Award in Support of Medical Research and the Health Sciences.