Susan G. Komen For The Cure Recognizes Cleveland Breast Cancer Activist With Volunteer Award

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 18 Feb 2008 - 4:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Patricia Terstenyak of the Northeast Ohio Affiliate received Susan G. Komen for the Cure's annual Outstanding New Volunteer Award at Komen's 2008 Affiliate Leadership Conference, Feb. 8-9, in Dallas.

As the world's largest breast cancer organization, Komen for the Cure's promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Terstenyak, a Cleveland resident, was recognized as this year's Outstanding New Volunteer for helping further that promise through a wide range of activities in her first year with Komen's Northeast Ohio Affiliate. She is a member of both the education and grants committees, co-chair of the Komen Community Representative sub-committee and she was a member of the education committee's strategic planning meeting in 2007.

The Komen Outstanding Volunteer Awards were established in 1998 to recognize the volunteer work accomplished by individuals and groups within the Komen Affiliate network. The awards honor volunteers in four distinct categories: Outstanding New Volunteer; Outstanding Individual Volunteer; Outstanding Group Volunteer and Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer.

"Patricia has shown great commitment to Komen's promise to end breast cancer since becoming involved with the Northeast Ohio Affiliate just over a year ago," said Carrie Clark, the Komen Affiliate's Community Outreach Manager. "She has demonstrated exemplary volunteer spirit, dependability and dedication to the organization and is well-deserving of this award."

In addition to recruiting and securing volunteer educators for Komen events, Terstenyak provided orientation training regarding Komen and its promise. In the past year, she showed initiative by developing a training and orientation manual for Komen Community Representatives, grantees and volunteers.

Terstenyak was instrumental in the planning and success of the 2007 Grant Writing Workshop, for which she assisted in writing the PowerPoint presentation and working one-on-one with grantees. According to other advocates at Komen's Northeast Ohio Affiliate, her extensive knowledge of public health issues and policies contributed to the development of the session, and she was very helpful in making the workshop a more interactive process by developing goals, objectives and proper evaluation methods for the educational programs.

"I am so pleased to volunteer with Komen," said Terstenyak. "It provides many opportunities to serve and educate all women and men. It is a great honor and surprise to receive such a meaningful award."

About the Northeast Ohio Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

The Northeast Ohio Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure-along with those who generously support us with their talent, time and resources-is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in our community. We join more than 100,000 breast cancer survivors and activists around the globe as part of the world's largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events like the Komen Northeast Ohio Race for the Cure, we have invested over $10 million in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects throughout our 15 county service area. Up to 75 percent of all funds generated by Komen Northeast Ohio stay in the local community while the remaining income goes to Komen for the Cure's Grants Program supporting research, awards and educational and scientific programs around the world. Join us by calling 216-292-2873 or visiting us online at http://www.komenneohio.org.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit http://www.komen.org.