It is rare - and perhaps even a first - that the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate awards our Pink Ribbon of the Month to an activist who has been with us for just a couple of months. Also rare is that this recognition goes to a supporter barely one decade old! These two facts in and of themselves attest to the power embodied in the passion of ten-year-old Ariana Flores.

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. 

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate is very happy that the leadership at our headquarters listened to our supporters and the one voice of the asserted by Komen Affiliates nationwide and decided to amend the grant policy.

This month, we are happy to award our Pink Ribbon to a group of fourteen "keepers of the Komen Promise" who have taken it upon themselves to be the guardians of each and every breast cancer activist in our service area... and beyond.

As winter bears down, it's nice to think back to the warm, relaxing and days of summer... especially when the memories evoke a $34,500+ contribution to our fight against breast cancer! For this respite from winter and the amazing fundraising, we thank Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, and proudly recognize them with our December Pink Ribbon.

THANK YOU PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS FOR RAISING $40,580 !!

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate, Philadelphia School District and Dietz & Watson Team Up for 4-week fundraising and educational initiative... with extraordinary results!

OYP... CRW... QCI... CPG... all warmed up with the light of a shining STAR - we endearingly call them our 'Alphabet Soup' of activists, and proudly award the whole 'bowl full' with our November Pink Ribbon of the Month!

Elaine Grobman Promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Having led the community breast cancer movement for more than two decades, former Executive Director re-affirms her personal and professional commitment to continued and growing empowerment for all people and generations.

It may seem a little corny to say our October Pink Ribbon honoree is all tied up in the Komen Promise to end breast cancer forever... but we think this is the most appropriate way to describe the utter devotion and let's-do-more attitude of Philly Pretzel Factory!

Cancer Treatment Centers of America® Teams up with CBS 3's Talk Philly for bi-monthly discussions on important breast cancer and cancer issues

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate is happy to share with our readers a wonderful new resource for anyone who is facing a cancer diagnosis, has had a loved one touched by cancer, is a caregiver for a cancer patient, or simply wants to take charge of their health by staying on top of the cancer news and issues.

Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Receives Special Honors from Community Friends

In August, at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Volunteer Thank-You Celebration, we honored Team SugarHouse Casino with our Pink Heart award for their exemplary display of team spirit in participating at the 2011 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure. So, we thought it only fit to next honor the entire SugarHouse family with our September Pink Ribbon of the Month for the many ways they have stepped up to empower our mission in less than six months.

In August, there's a three-way tie in the middle our Pink Ribbon of the Month - which the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate presents to a group of gentlemen we lovingly call our 'Tripod'... Dan Johnson, Dr. Kurt Bomze and Howard Kanowitz, Esq. For over twenty years, this team of photographers has been capturing the moments of the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure, as well as every Komen Philadelphia Affiliate event, special occasion and even everyday occurrences in our work.

Last month, the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate family lost a dear friend, Barbara Zeid. With our June Pink Ribbon of the Month, we celebrate Barbara's life by sharing her legacy with all of you. Like our namesake Susan G. Komen, Barbara continues to be a survivor in this world, for she has touched and helped save thousands of lives through her twenty-one year relationship with Komen.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."

This well known quote by Henry Adams is a perfect lead for our June Pink Ribbon story... ALMOST! For, certainly, in the case of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) and their dedication to the Komen Promise, we need to include SHE and HER when honoring our local teacher-activists in the cause.

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate extends our deepest sympathies to the family and friends to Wawa employee and loyal activist in the breast cancer movement, Kimberly Eline.

Baltimore may have its own famous 'Charm City Cakes', but here in the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate community, we have something far better... a 'Classic Cake with both charm AND heart!'

INTRODUCING PROMISE ME, TO BENEFIT SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE

Susan G. Komen for the Cure commits nearly $58 million in 2011 to tackle the toughest issues with new, innovative approaches to breast cancer research.

As the global leader in the breast cancer movement, Komen's latest research grants focus on the development of  breast cancer vaccine, creating more effective therapies and reducing disparities in treatments for African Americans and other ethnic groups. 

Esteemed business leaders make commitment to helping save lives by serving on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure,

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate recently announced the election of a new Treasurer for its Board of Directors, Ronald B. Morris, CPA, Managing Member of Innovative Financial Services, LLC. Four new Members were also named to the Board: Frank Becker, Director of Human Resources, Chesapeake District, UPS; Judy Kellem, Owner/President of Facilities Relocation Consultants, Inc.; Sloane Six, CEO/President, Hazleton Oil & Environmental, Inc.; and Lawrence A. Smith, Owner, Tradewinds Marketing International.

If you look to the calendar to measure the age of this month's Pink Ribbon recipient, he's our youngest ever. But, if you look to his activism in and contributions to the breast cancer movement, Skylar Clemens measures up to - and in many instances measures beyond - adults anywhere from two to nine decades his senior!  At just seven years old, Skylar has devoted nearly half his life to, as he says, "Helping Komen fight breast cancer in many ways so they can save more moms like mine."

Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Announces Relationship with LevelUp

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate is thrilled to announce a new campaign with our friends at LevelUp... offering a fun, unique way to enjoy exquisite dining and other unique experiences PLUS help raise funds to empower the breast cancer movement.

Charles Chen was born in the Year of the Rabbit - an astrological sign for those who are sentimental, sensitive, hospitable and genuine.  Now, we're not one to argue with the wisdom of the ages, but when it comes to Charles and his friendship to the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate, they left out a few key attributes! For in addition to these four, Charles is also: loyal, generous and compassionate... to the extreme.

In  2011-2012, the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate will proudly distribute over $2 million in grants to the following 38 organizations in our 13-county service area. 

These grantees are hard at work every day in our neighborhoods - building bridges to women in need of critical breast health services.

www.KomenPhiladelphia.org/Video

NEW GOAL: 8 MILLION VIEWS… $100,000 MORE TO EMPOWER THE CURES!

UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania proudly supports the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate -- our collective commitment... compassion... and conviction can make a world without breast cancer a reality.

In May, the recipient of this month's Pink Ribbon recognition will be honored again as the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate's Volunteer of the Year.  And when it is presented - at our Race for the Cure Sponsor Party - it will be a hallmark event, for Neil Stein is the youngest person to ever receive this award from The Affiliate. 

For January, the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate is delighted to tie a long, loving pink ribbon around the 'trunk' of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Although the seeds of our relationship have been planted only recently, the energy, passion and generosity shown to us by the PHS team in just a few short months leaves no doubt that our friendship will blossom into an ongoing and powerful resource for everyone united in our community breast cancer movement. 

Komen honors the woman whose courageous battle sparked a nationwide discussion on cancer.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure expresses condolences to the family and associates of our long-time friend and ally Elizabeth Edwards, who passed away December 7, 2010 following her long battle with breast cancer. 

Somewhere in the Delaware Valley is a woman who beams every time she wraps herself in her 'very special pink scarf.' On the other side of the world is the woman who knitted it. The two never met, and most likely never will. Yet each gave a life-altering gift to the other, both forever connected by about six feet of pink-knitted hope... and the passion of Tara O'Brien and Lisa Scarpello, our December Pink Ribbon of the Month honorees. 

In May, 2009, we shared the story of Sloane Six, a young mother of one energetic 6-year old who was just making the transition from breast cancer patient to breast cancer survivor. At the time, Sloane was getting ready to take her first triumphant walk down the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum during the Survivors Parade of Pink at the annual Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure®. Hair still short and growing in after chemo, Sloane walked joyfully with her son Skylar by her side in a pink t-shirt designed to imitate a prescription pad from the oncology department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania that proudly proclaimed, "I Am Cured, Sloane Six, Survivor!"

Since early October, 2010, Komen Philadelphia Affiliate supporters and the YouTube community have been viewing, sharing and viewing again the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate's 'Team Ra-Ras Kicks Breast Cancer.' In its first month of being on the Internet, the video generated more than 500,000 views and raised more that $95,000 for The Affiliate, with UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania donating 10¢ to the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate for every YouTube view.

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate is proud to recognize Donna Massanova, CPA, as our Pink Ribbon of the Month recipient, and simultaneously announce her being named the first-ever active Honorary Chairperson of the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure.^®

This month, we are proud to honor Sally Rotenberg, breast cancer survivor and dedicated Komen Philadelphia Affiliate volunteer, with our "Pink Ribbon of the Month." A recently retired teacher of nearly 40 years, we choose to share Sally's story this month because, as teachers, parents and students dive into the new school year, Sally has important lessons for everyone!

Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers will see whether they can change the genetic "signature" of a woman's breast cells to mimic the protective effects of pregnancy on the breast and thus substantially reduce the risk of getting breast cancer, with funding announced today by Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world's largest breast cancer organization.

It is with much honor and gratitude that we dedicate our August Pink Ribbon to the memory of Mary Markham Thompson, a loving breast cancer survivor who passed away of other causes this past winter. We do so in friendship with her children, Karen Givnish, Mark Thompson and Diane Muntean, as well as her four grandchildren.

University of Pennsylvania Researcher Named to "Ultimate Think Tank" as Part of the Next Step in Breast Cancer Research from Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate congratulates Susan Domchek, MD, Clinical Researcher from the University of Pennsylvania, for being selected to serve on the new Komen for the Cure Scientific Advisory Council, focusing on innovative and the most effective research in breast cancer science. This panel of more than sixty top-ranking scientists, clinicians and advocates were selected and united by Komen to guide the extensive research program of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world's largest breast cancer organization.

This month, we are proud to honor Jason Lichterman, co-owner of J.M. Lichterman & Co. with our "Pink Ribbon of the Month." An energetic, successful young businessman, Jason is taking his entrepreneurial spirit to a whole new realm--using his art and expertise in jewelry to help the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate truly "sparkle" in the breast cancer movement.

It is rare - in fact, unprecedented - that we bestow our Pink Ribbon honors to a partner who has been active with the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate for barely two months. However, our first experience with the team from Le Castagne was more than enough to convince us that their generosity, professionalism and passion for the cause epitomizes all that the Pink Ribbon of the Month embodies.

This Sunday, thousands of people at the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure will smile, stick a few bills into a six-foot pig, and walk away filled with pride knowing they have helped make a true difference in the fight against breast cancer. This opportunity for all generations--this campaign that in its first year raised more than $50,000 to save lives--never would have existed if not for our creative, compassionate friends at Dietz & Watson, Inc.

If you've ever attended the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure, Komen Philadelphia Pink Tie Ball, survivors luncheon or any other Komen Philadelphia Affiliate event, the reason you cherish it is our dedicated, talented and generous friend, Fred Stein. From the Survivors Parade of Pink to the Kick-Off Under the Stars, so much of what distinguishes our movement and defines our success is the child of Fred's mind, as well as his heart.

This tax season YOU can help find a cure for breast cancer!
 
Look for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition's Income Tax Check-Off for Breast Cancer Research on Line 35 of your state income tax form and donate your refund for breast cancer research today! All of the money donated goes directly to Pennsylvania-based cancer researchers. To date this highly successful initiative has raised over $2.5 million for breast & cervical cancer research.
 
For more information visit www.pabreastcancer.org/tax or call 1-800-377-8828 x101.

As we celebrate the milestone 20th anniversary of the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure - looking back to where we've been, and ahead to where we aspire to be - there is a truth that echoes again and again: "We simply couldn't have done it without CBS 3."

Last year, Walter Rosewitski had a personal fundraising goal for the Komen Philadelphia Race for the cure of $50,000. And now, in celebration of our blockbuster 20th anniversary of the Race in Philadelphia, Walt is out to top that total.

Being only a few months away from the 20th anniversary of the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure®, we could think of no more worthy recipient of this month's Pink Ribbon award than the extraordinary team at the Philadelphia Police Department, who - for all twenty years - have provided steadfast service to assure every Race participant can enjoy the event safely and happily.

This month, we are proud to honor Len Weinstein - activist, breast cancer co-survivor, and "Mr. Sports" in the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate volunteer family - with our "Pink Ribbon of the Month." In his devoted breast cancer activism, Len exemplifies LIVING THE PROMISE to the utmost degree, demonstrating outstanding ingenuity, initiative, resourcefulness and love for his community. His clear passion for the Komen vision of a world without breast cancer, as well as outstanding ability to embrace all generations in the breast cancer movement, is an inspiration for us all.

To all our dear friends that make up the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Family:

This message to you has but one purpose: ASSURANCE.

The amazing 2009 Philadelphia Tickled Pink! event - which united approximately 450 moms and teens and raised more than $100,000 for the breast cancer movement - all started with one teen, Eliza Davis.

Having just wrapped up the most successful Komen Philadelphia Pink Tie Ball® in the event's eight-year history, we could think of no more worthy recipient of this month's Pink Ribbon award than the extraordinary team at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia Hotel. From the moment the Pink Tie Ball was just a dream in our eyes, the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia not only embraced the idea, they MADE the event the premier happening of the city's fall social season.

Top Evaluation Applauds Fiscal Soundness, Sustainability of Programs
For the fifth year running, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has once again received the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent evaluator of charities. Just 5 percent of charities achieve a four-star rating five years in a row, a testament to our stewardship of your funds and dedication to our mission. 

We are pleased to share with the entire Komen Philadelphia Affiliate family an exciting announcement that, once again, demonstrates the leadership of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in the global battle against breast cancer. Our founder, Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, recently receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom - our nation's highest civilian honor - in a ceremony at the White House on August 12. She joins a prestigious group of medal honorees that includes Desmond Tutu, Senator Edward Kennedy, and physicist Stephen Hawking.

The grassroots activism that makes Susan G. Komen for the Cure a worldwide leader is definitely going strong throughout the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate service area. The ongoing efforts of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, led by its Business Manager, John Dougherty, create an excellent example. 

The grassroots activism that makes Susan G. Komen for the Cure a worldwide leader is definitely going strong throughout the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate service area. The ongoing efforts of Temple University football, led by head coach Al Golden and his wife, Kelly, create an excellent example.  

Salon L'Etoile: Alternative Hair, Amazing Heart

Nineteen years ago, Mel Silverman, Co-owner of Salon L'Etoile & Spa in Jenkintown, PA, sat in his breakfast room making thousands of pink ribbons for distribution at the first Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure.®  At this year's Race, Mel watched with pride as one of his clients took her place in the breast cancer survivors Parade of Pink, not hiding her head bald from treatment, but proudly displaying her pink wig, made possible by Mel.

The grassroots activism that makes Susan G. Komen for the Cure a worldwide leader is definitely going strong throughout the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate service area. The ongoing efforts by The Star Group create an excellent example.  

The grassroots activism that makes Susan G. Komen for the Cure a worldwide leader is definitely going strong in the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate service area. The ongoing efforts by the Jane Lopoten School of Dance create an excellent example.

Globally, a case of breast cancer is diagnosed every twenty-nine seconds. And, while the fight against the disease is far from over in the U.S., the numbers are even more discouraging internationally. In South Africa, for instance, only 5% of breast cancer cases are detected in the earliest, most treatable stage-compared to 50% of the cases in the U.S.