Thanks to everyone who supported or joined us at our first-ever virtual fundraiser, 30 Years of Radical Disruption and Compassionate Resistance on October 15th. Over one hundred members of our community of radical, badass breast cancer activists came together from all over the country to reflect on our past successes and recommit to the work that lies ahead. And we did recommit! Together we raised over $75,000 toward our work to achieve health justice for everyone at risk of and living with breast cancer!
If you weren’t able to join us, don’t worry! You can still make a donation. Thank you!
Our deep gratitude goes to Tania Katan, our emcee who guided us through an unforgettable evening with her energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to activism. We are also thankful to Belle Shayer for her heartfelt stories about Breast Cancer Action’s early years. And to Ricki Fairley and Dr. Monique Gary for laying out the work that we still need to do. Finally, thank you to Voices Lesbian A Capella for Justice for their beautiful and inspirational performance. Thank you all.
Emcee: Tania Katan
Tania Katan is a powerhouse, a dynamic force of nature who’s 2019 book “Creative Trespassing” was the Porchlight Book Award Winner for Best Business Book in Creativity & Innovation. She’s also co-creator of the globally viral campaign #ItWasNeverADress for which she reimagined the women’s bathroom symbol as the cape-wearing super hero she’s always been.
As a transformational speaker (IRL and Virtually), Tania is highly sought after to teach people and companies how to think INSIDE the box, in order to unleash creativity and inspire compassionate action. Some of the organizations and major conferences impacted by her talks include: CiscoLive!, Expedia, Amazon, Google, Humana, Etsy, TED, World Domination Summit, Uber, and Comedy Central Stage.
Tania’s transformative work has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, HuffPost, Time, BuzzFeed, CNN, GLAMOUR, Adweek, Mashable, Forbes, Money Magazine, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls. For more on Tania Katan, please visit: www.taniakatan.com
A superhero to Breast Cancer Action, she’s been a regular emcee for our annual variety show Acting Out – For the Health of It. We are so honored that she’ll be leading us through this momentous (and fun) occasion.
Special Guests
Belle Shayer is the only surviving founder of Breast Cancer Action. Belle was initially treated for breast cancer in 1984 and was told she was cured. When her cancer recurred in 1988, she felt shattered, frightened, and furious. However, she did her homework, studied her pathology reports, and told her doctor she wanted a second lumpectomy rather than the mastectomy he recommended. He balked, so she found another doctor who did not. Belle Shayer turned from breast cancer patient to breast cancer advocate as a result and to this day, she advocates on behalf of Breast Cancer Action. Belle will share some stories from the early days of the organization.
Dr. Monique Gary is board certified, fellowship-trained Breast Surgical Oncologist and Medical Director of the Grand View Health/Penn Cancer Network Cancer Program in Sellersville, PA, where she also serves as director of the Breast Program. In addition to receiving numerous awards and accolades, she is currently the only black breast cancer surgeon in the state of Pennsylvania. (She can be heard weekly as the co-host of “The Doctor is IN”, a live web series on Blackdoctor.org along with Ricki Fairley.)
Ricki Fairley is the co-founder and CEO of Touch BBCA (the Black Breast Cancer Alliance). Ricki is a founding member of #BlackDataMatters, which, in partnership with Citizen, encourages and elevates the importance of Black women participating in clinical trial research. She also serves as an Ambassador and Advisor for the Live Humanly Campaign and works with drug companies to provide the patient advocate voice for breast cancer drug development. Together, Ricki and Dr. Gary will talk about healthcare disparities in breast cancer treatment and research.
Before stepping in to lead Breast Cancer Action, Marj Plumb served for over forty years in senior management and consulting positions with a variety of non-profit organizations working in health, mental health and substance abuse, economic justice, environmental justice, education, LGBT rights, violence prevention, and social justice/civil rights. Marj also consulted with the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) for over ten years, providing training in community-based participatory research for community and scientific partners, and facilitated CBCRP’s Special Research Initiatives planning innovative research on the environmental causes and disparities in breast cancer. Marj will give an inspiring update about our 2020 Think Before Your Pink® campaign.
Voices Lesbian A Cappella for Justice is based in Oakland, California and was founded in 1988 (just two years before Breast Cancer Action). We believe in sharing our social justice values and promoting queer visibility through musical excellence and the power and beauty of song. Their finale performance will energize and inspire you to take action, along with the rest of our program.
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Activist
Karen Klein and Ben Golvin
Peggy Huston
Cathy Kornblith
Mark Matteucci and Joan Finnigan
Tracy Tamasi
Campaigner
Dr. Elissa Arons
Betsy Cotton
Gail Kaufman
Lee Ann Slinkard and Maria Morris
Protester
Robert Appel
Abigail Arons and Matthew Bennett
Mary Armour
Joyce Bichler and Michael Kimbarow
Judy Bloom
The Disabled in Development Project
Laurie Drabble and Carol Pearce
Leslie and Alex Gleser
Robert Gould and Patrice Sutton
Ben and Katie Horne
Karuna Jaggar
Mary and Joshua Lipp
Pratap and Chitra Pal
Dr. and Mrs. Narenda Parson
Sonja Perkins
Yamini and Tushar Ranchod
Marj Plumb and Tracy Weitz
Ann and Larry Wheat
Barbra Wiener
Our Sponsor list is in formation, please check back for updates!
Thanks To Our Event Committee
Abigail Arons * Peggy Huston * Kate Holcombe * Gail Kaufman * Channte’ Keith * Karen Klein * Julie Morgan * Lee Ann Slinkard * Cat Williams