Association of Fundraising Professionals Present Lunch with the Ambassador- Nancy Brinker

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Nancy G. Brinker

The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Palm Beach County Florida Chapter (AFP) will host an informative and inspirational luncheon on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at the Hilton Palm Beach Airport Hotel in West Palm Beach. The keynote speaker is one of America’s most prolific fundraising professionals, Nancy G. Brinker.

Beginning at noon, guests will enjoy lunch followed by a presentation by Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen and the Promise Fund of Florida, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, U.S. Ambassador, and Lifetime Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Nancy G. Brinker has been described as the leader of the global breast cancer movement. Her journey began with a promise to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything possible to end the shame, pain, fear, and hopelessness caused by this disease. The organization that bears Susan's name has changed the world in one generation.

In 1982, shortly after Susan's death from breast cancer at 36, Brinker founded Susan G. Komen®. Brinker faced an uphill battle: newspapers balked at printing the words "breast cancer," no one talked openly about the disease, there was no internet, and few, if any, support groups. There were few treatment options for breast cancer patients, and limited resources were committed to the disease. Brinker broke the silence around breast cancer. The organization has invested $3.2 billion in cancer research, education, screening, and treatment.

Nancy’s creativity in raising awareness led to programs that at the time were revolutionary: In 1983, she founded the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® series, which is now the world’s largest and most successful education and fundraising event for breast cancer. She also pioneered cause-related marketing, allowing millions to participate in the fight against breast cancer through businesses that share Komen’s commitment to end the disease forever. Komen’s unwavering advocacy for breast cancer survivors led to new legislation and more significant government research funding. Major advances in breast cancer research have been touched by hundreds of millions of dollars in Komen funding.

Brinker's determination to create a world without breast cancer matches her passion for enlisting every segment of society- from leaders to citizens- to participate in the battle. In 2009, President Obama honored Nancy with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, for this work. The same year, she was named Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control by the United Nations' World Health Organization.

In 2010, Brinker released her New York Times best-selling memoir "Promise Me," an inspirational story of her transformation from bereaved sister to the undisputed leader of the ongoing international movement to end breast cancer. She was named one of TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People" in 2008. From 2001-2003, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary and was U.S. Chief of Protocol from 2007-2009, where she was responsible for overseeing all protocol matters for visiting heads of state and presidential travel abroad. In 2008, President George W. Bush appointed her to The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.

In 2018, Brinker spearheaded the creation of Promise Fund of Florida, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the outcomes and reduce deaths from breast and cervical cancers in South Florida, where over 80,000 women reside with no insurance and no medical home. The Promise Fund is utilizing partnerships, navigation, policy changes, and community awareness to create a model of care to be replicated throughout the country. In October 2020, the Promise Fund opened their inaugural Mammography Screening Center, where over 1,000 women were screened during the first year of the Center’s operation. The Promise Fund provides education and screenings to prevent late-stage diagnosis and improve community health for under-resourced women facing health disparities.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 30,000 members in 200 chapters. throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. AFP believes that to guarantee human freedom and social creativity, people must have the right to freely and voluntarily form organizations to meet perceived needs, advocate causes, and seek funds to support these activities.

To learn more about the AFP Palm Beach County Chapter and/or to RSVP to “Lunch with the Ambassador” visit afpglobalpbc.org or email afppbc@gmail.com.