January 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM KOMEN KENTUCKY

Happy New Year from the board of directors and staff of Komen Kentucky. We are looking forward to a productive year, where we will continue to provide funding for research and important breast cancer screenings and treatments, as well as offer education and support to the women, men, and families in Kentucky and Southern Indiana facing the disease.

To that regard, Komen Kentucky is in the process of collecting grant applications from government [170(c)(1)] and/or nonprofit [501(c)(3)] organizations that provide breast health/breast cancer programs and services. Since our founding in 1999, Komen Kentucky has invested more than $11 million locally to provide mammograms, treatment support services, transportation assistance, and survivor programs, plus we have contributed another $4 million for groundbreaking breast cancer research. With your ongoing commitment, we will continue toward our goal of reducing breast cancer deaths in the U.S. by 50% by 2026. 

We are excited to launch Pink Untied, a more casual, less expensive evening than our former Pink Tie Ball. The Lexington Pink Untied will take place at Keeneland's Clubhouse on February 10 and Louisville's Pink Untied will be held on February 24 at The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. Both events are generously sponsored by Delta Dental of Kentucky. For more information on purchasing a table, becoming a sponsor, or donating auction items, please visit our website or contact the Lexington office at (859) 368-7133, or the Louisville office at (502) 495-7824. We hope to see you at one of them.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

Showing WHAT PINK MAKES POSSIBLE,

Bob Iezzi
Komen Kentucky Board President

SURVIVOR SPOTLIGHT 

Leslie Webb

In August 2006, two weeks before her 47^th birthday, Leslie Webb went to the doctor to hear the results of a biopsy that had been done after a routine mammogram had shown suspicious signs. Since she felt she was “way too young” to be diagnosed with breast cancer and didn’t have a family history of the disease, she had not taken anyone with her to the appointment. When the doctor announced it was ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and she would need a mastectomy, Leslie wanted to run to her car and cry. She shared the news with her husband and three children, then spent the rest of the afternoon on the internet, learning as much as she could about the disease.

She decided not to have breast reconstruction at the same time as her mastectomy because she was interested in the tram-flap surgery and needed to quit smoking first. However, once she was ready a few months later, she had no desire to go back to the hospital. Since she had not needed radiation or chemotherapy and was feeling better, the thought of being a patient again did not interest her. After retiring in 2015 from her 31-year career as a social worker, she finally began her breast reconstruction process. She opted for saline implants at this point and, in hindsight, wishes that she had opted for them at the time of her mastectomy. 

“I have been blessed to meet many other survivors throughout the past 11 years. I hope I have been a good support to others. I know how overwhelmed I felt during those first few months and how lucky I was to have so much wonderful support from family, friends, and co-workers.”  

Women like Leslie are the inspiration for the work we do at Komen Kentucky and why we work hard to fund research and share information about breast cancer and treatment options, among other things. If you are willing to share your Survivor story to provide hope and encouragement to others battling the disease, please contact us. 

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT 

CLARK Material Handling Co.

In 2007, CLARK made an intentional commitment to support Susan G Komen Kentucky. Many of their employees had family members or friends that had been affected by breast cancer and many of their dealers and vendors had related stories. It seemed that everybody knew somebody who had been touched by this terrible disease and CLARK decided that they wanted to be a part of the solution.

They began to engage their employees, dealers, vendors, and friends in support of Komen Kentucky and this annual program culminates at the Lexington Race for the Cure in October. Over the past ten years, CLARK has raised $350,384.59. They feel "the 59 cents are just as important as the dollars because every penny helps in the cause to find the cure and CLARK is honored to be a part of it."

Thank you CLARK Material Handling Co. for your ongoing support of Komen Kentucky. 

Welcome Mary Oberst

Help Susan G. Komen Kentucky welcome Mary Oberst to our team as an outreach and events intern in the Louisville office. Mary is a junior, majoring in economics, at the University of Louisville. She is also studying pre-pharmacy. She is interested in cancer research and prevention, and wants to help us work towards a healthier state and a decrease in cancer incidences. Additionally, Mary volunteers at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center pharmacy. Welcome Mary!

Komen Kentucky Partnerships

Komen Kentucky is fortunate to have many partnerships throughout the state. If your company would like to be featured, like those listed here, please contact us.

If you are ready to get a new car and don't know what to do with your old one; or had a wreck and need to find a spot to unload the damaged one, Komen Cars is here to help! Contact us at 1-855-566-3622 during normal business hours or online anytime. We will send a tow truck at no cost to you (if needed) to pick up your old car and take it to auction. You will get a valuable tax write-off and Komen Kentucky will get funds to support its mission.

Allgeier Air (Air Conditioning and Heating) will donate 10% of each service call made by the Allgeier Pink Truck (up to $100) to Komen Kentucky. If you snap a picture with the driver of the truck and post it to the Allgeier Air Facebook page, they will donate an additional $20 for each picture.

Construction Machinery Company is another generous partner of SGKK. They donate 5% of their equipment rentals throughout the year to Komen Kentucky and have various pieces of construction machinery painted pink in our honor.   

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Komen became the organization it is today through the hard work and generosity of many dedicated survivors, volunteers, donors, and corporate partners. If you are looking to get involved in a meaningful cause, Komen Kentucky would love for you to get involved with us!

VOLUNTEER - Komen Kentucky emails a monthly Volunteer Update that lists volunteer needs for the upcoming month. If you would like to be added to that subscriber list, please click here and check "Volunteer Information and Opportunities."  

If you are part of a group looking for service hours, please contact us. We have a number of projects that would be great for students or volunteer groups.

COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT - If you want to get more involved in the planning and implementation of SGKK's signature events (Race for the Cure and Pink Untied), contact the Louisville or Lexington office to sign up for a committee. 

 SPONSOR - If your company or organization would like to get marketing exposure while giving back to the community, please consider becoming a sponsor of one (or more!) of our programs or events. For more information, contact our Louisville office, (502) 495-7824 or our Lexington office (859) 368-7133.

DONATE - Many people know that 75% of Komen Kentucky's net revenue goes to support LOCAL breast cancer screenings, treatment support services, education, and survivor programs, while the remaining 25% is invested in breast cancer research, but they may not be aware of some of the different ways they can show their support:

- Host a fundraiser/awareness event at your home, office, neighborhood, or school. Chili cookoffs, penny wars, dress down days, candy bar sales, etc. have all been used as effective ways to raise both awareness about breast cancer and funds for the cause. 

- Donate online - you can make a one-time gift or schedule monthly donations using our online giving platform.

- Consider adding Komen Kentucky to your estate plans or asking your family to designate Komen Kentucky as the recipient of memorial gifts, when applicable.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - Consider inviting Komen into your church/place of worship for a "Worship in Pink" event where a short message about breast cancer awareness is shared and breast cancer survivors are recognized. Visit our website for more information.

Kentucky Golf Classic a Success!

Hats off to Mike Davis and his Kentucky Golf Classic Committee for holding another successful golf scramble to benefit Komen Kentucky. The committee proudly presented our Lexington office with a check for $20,000 in early December.

Photo Recap from the December Open Houses

Thanks to everyone who attended our Holiday Open Houses in December. We loved having the opportunity to see and celebrate our survivors, donors, grantees, sponsors, and volunteers. The work we do at Komen Kentucky would not be possible without all of you!

Thanks to Thrivent Financial, Otter Creek Tavern, and Work the Metal (Louisville Open House), as well as Papa John's, Oram's Florist, and Nothing Bundt Cakes (Lexington) for their support.