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First, I encourage you to please view this video message from Founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, regarding the recent changes to Komen granting strategy. I also remind you that, like you, the Philadelphia Affiliate is concerned about these changes and are in discussion with Komen National Headquarters to do all we can to protect you our loyal supporters and all you invest in our work here at home. Then please continue to read this month’s news from the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate…

It’s February… and love is in the air. So is the 2012 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure!

As we enter the heart of Race season, your lives as keepers of the Komen Promise will be awash with appeals to register, fundraise, support others … and you will delve more deeply into what it is you hope to achieve in your personal breast cancer mission.

The inundation of love occurring around February 14 has me thinking how perfect love is for empowering our breast cancer movement. It’s an emotion possessed by all of us. It’s so pure and naturally achieved… requiring no thinking, planning, reasoning, hard work or ’stressing’ to experience it in its fullness. Even just a smidgen of love can put everything into focus, reminding us of what really matters.

And so, In the midst of all our Race activity, my message to you is simply: return to the basics of LOVE. Let love provide your focus. Let love inspire your activism. Love of the men and women in your lives today. Love for your granddaughters, and great-grandchildren you have yet to meet. Love for yourself.

I assure everyone, if you don’t worry so much about the what, where, when and how of your activism – but instead let your love illuminate your path – that love will manifest itself in beautiful ways that bring our community, as well as our world, ever closer to an end to breast cancer forever.

Whatever Valentine’s Day means to you, I truly hope you experience the full joy of receiving – and giving – love with those who matter most.

With thanks and love,

Elaine I. Grobman
Chief Executive Officer

RACE UPDATES
Focus on Registration – for the Race, for the Kids Dash, for the Fun & Fulfillment!

You may have noticed, for this year’s Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure, we’re ‘coming on strong’ to motivate EVERYONE to officially register for the Race. Yes, we love to see Eakins Oval awash in Race-goers every Mother’s Day. However, three simple facts are all we need to stress why registration is so critical:
If everyone who came out to last year’s Race actually registered, we would have raised an additional estimated $2,695,000.
Through our Community Grants Program, $2,695,000 could potentially fund 21,560 mammograms.
Last year, it’s estimated 100,000 PA women in need of a mammogram did not have access to one.
So, you see, registration DOES make a measurable difference. And we’ve got great motivations for every age and type of breast cancer activist to register officially this year:
Volunteers: be inspired by a heartfelt message from fellow volunteer & 2012 Race Co-Chairperson, Rick Brown
Kids: read about our February Sponsor Spotlight featuring the UnitedHealthcare’s Kids for the Cure: Dash to Make a Difference and Children’s Funfest
Perks Lovers: Everyone who registers benefits from the V.I.P. green!
In-Person Fans: From Macy’s to the Phillies & more, we have tons of convenient opportunities for you to register plus get your Race materials on the spot.
RACE TEAMS

Team Rallies Keep Rolling with Our First-ever Fundraising Fair.

First, we thank Cancer Treatment Centers of America, our Champion Sponsor of the Promise, for, once again, hosting an incredible, inaugural Team Rally for our Race for the Cure season. Please take time to experience and be inspired by this Rally of Champions with our Rally photo gallery and the First Commandments of Race Participation offered by some of our top fundraisers and Team Captains.

Secondly, we call all Team captains, members and Race volunteers to “Step Right Up!” to our first-ever FUNDRAISING FAIR, taking place at our second Team Rally on February 21 at Chapman Nissan. The concept is simple: we give you free ‘Komen Cash’ to spend, and you experience the fundraising fun and fundamentals! No matter what the size of your team, the Fundraising Fair has fabulous ideas and learning ‘by example’ to help make this a stellar Race season for everyone.

Check out all the exciting details and R.S.V.P. now.

Thank you to the Chapman Auto Stores family for opening their venue to us, as well as providing all our Rally food, beverages and accommodations.

AFFILIATE NEWS

Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Expands Our Service Area to 15 Counties.

We are proud and very happy to announce that the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate’s request to expand our service to include Adams and Lebanon Counties, PA was recently approved by Komen National headquarters.

Our expansion initiative was motivated by the fact that the two new counties previously had no formal Komen representation, and there is a measurable need for breast health services in many of their communities – with statistics showing that more than one-third of the women living in Adams and Lebanon counties are not receiving recommended breast cancer screenings. Moreover, a steady growth of Affiliate resources will allow us to provide the new counties with the same quality of services we’ve been delivering to our other thirteen counties for years.

We thank all of you for helping to make this new chapter in our history possible – for it is due to your loyal support, growing generosity and devoted volunteerism that we can expand our service to Adams and Lebanon Counties, as well as continue to serve the other thirteen counties relying on us to lead them into a world without breast cancer.