Pink Ribbon of the Month, October: Donna Massanova

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.®

 


A Partner, Employee Benefits Plans Practice Leader, at ParenteBeard -- a company dedicated to giving back who has been a loyal supporter of the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate for several years -- Donna has shown tremendous resourcefulness, ingenuity and passion for taking on her responsibilities as Honorary Race Chairperson, as well as a member of the newly formed Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Leadership Committee.

 

However, in describing Donna, all these titles and names can be replaced by one word: activist.  She has committed to numerous roles to take our Race over the top this year in terms of fundraising and participation, and if you talk to her for just 15 seconds, you not only hear in her voice that she will make it happen, but you see it in her eyes, and feel it in the energetic aura around her. 

 

To say Donna has a zest for all she puts her mind to is an understatement; and The Affiliate is fortunate she has set her mind on helping us create a world without breast cancer! Professionally, she has been instrumental in ParenteBeard's growing practice and leadership in the field of Employee Benefit Plan Audit Services, a driver of quality practices, and a major contributor to the firm's marketing, business development and employee education/training in the benefits arena. And now, in the position of Honorary Chairperson for our Race, Donna brings a wealth of capabilities and experiences cultivated via her personal and professional undertakings.

 

But again, what is so inspiring to us all is not so much what Donna aims to do and the resources she brings to the table do to it, as it is the attitude, motivation and pure love that is driving her activism. In Donna's own words:

 

"This position is a great honor for me, and I dedicate myself to not just meeting the goals The Affiliate and I set forth, but exceeding them. In doing so, I hope to include everyone I can in the fulfillment of the Komen breast cancer movement... to give my colleagues, contacts and friends the same opportunity this Honorary Race Chairpersonship gives to me -- the opportunity to make a difference in ending breast cancer.  It is not just life-saving, it can be life-changing for all of us."

 

Immediately after accepting the Honorary Chairperson position, Donna started a letter campaign, the first step in achieving very aggressive goals to take 2011 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure corporate team formation, corporate fundraising and sponsorships to new levels. In addition, she's dedicated to including breast health education and awareness of the work of The Affiliate family into all of her outreach.

 

"From now until Race day -- and beyond -- Donna is dedicating herself to not only leaving her own legacy, but embracing thousands of other people to believe in the difference they can make in ending generations of fighting as supporters of the 2011 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure," said Elaine I. Grobman, Executive Director of the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate. "For far too long, daughters, mothers and grandmothers... sons, fathers and grandfathers... have been fighting against this disease. With a compassionate, focused woman such as Donna Massanova empowering the breast cancer movement, our victory is surely close at hand."

 

Pictured: Donna (center) with fellow members of the Executive Women International, for which she is serving as Board President in 2010-2011.