Carolina Woman Magazine

Racing Toward the Cure

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s single largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage — from the causes, to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between. Carolina Woman is proud to have been a sponsor of the NC Triangle Affiliate of the national organization every single year since its launch in 1997.

Q What’s your group’s mission?
A Our promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

Q How is that accomplished?
A Tens of millions of dollars in grants are awarded nationally each year to fund cutting-edge research. Additionally, 125 Komen for the Cure Affiliates, like the one here in the Triangle, raise funds to support community mobilizing and programs that help local women.

Through the Komen NC Triangle Community Health Grants program, nearly $11 million has supported the best nonprofits and healthcare providers in delivering education, screening, treatment and post-diagnosis programs and services since 1997. Last year, $1.2 million in Community Health Grants helped to provide more than 5,000 breast-cancer screenings to uninsured North Carolina women.

Q What’s the group’s history?
A The Komen NC Triangle Affiliate was founded in 1997 by Jeanne Peck, a breast-cancer survivor who organized the first Komen NC Triangle Race for the Cure at Meredith College. That event attracted 2,500 people and raised about $100,000, and in 14 years it has grown to 25,000 participants raising $2 million.

Jeanne Peck passed away in 2009 from lymphoma, 20 years after her breast-cancer diagnosis, but her passion and legacy continue through the programs and volunteers supporting the NC Triangle Affiliate.

Q Who is involved?
A Almost 100,000 individuals have contributed money, time, ideas and resources to the Komen NC Triangle Affiliate. Recognized for exceptional stewardship of funds, Komen strives to keep administration expenses very low and depends heavily on a huge community of volunteers to plan and execute programs locally and nationally.

Each year, 25,000 individuals participate in or support the Komen NC Triangle Race for the Cure, which will take place June 11, 2011 at Meredith College. The Race for the Cure Series is Komen’s signature event; more than 150 Race for the Cure events worldwide attract over 1.5 million participants.

Q How can Triangle women get on board?
A Make a donation, sign up to volunteer, or sign up to organize a fundraising event through our website, www.komennctriangle.org.

Minrose Gwin, an author and English professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, released her newest novel, "The Queen of Palmyra," which tells the story of a young girl living in the racially- divided South of the 1960s.

Jean Anderson, a Chapel Hill food writer and cookbook author, has produced a new cookbook, “Falling Off the Bone.” The title, which will be released this month by Wiley, features more than 150 meat recipes.

Vinita Jain, a Raleigh artist, is a finalist for the Art Kudos International juried competition for her painting “Fire in the Sky.” Meanwhile, “View at Lake Lure” and “The Barns” were displayed at the Pastel Society of North Carolina’s show.

Jacqueline Hagan, a professor of sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill, received the 2010 Distinguished Book award from the Latina/o sociology section of the American Sociological Association for her work “Migration Miracle: Faith, Hope and Meaning on the Undocumented Journey.”

Rosemary Wyche was named director of development and communications for Raleigh’s Contemporary Art Foundation, the organization responsible for raising money to renovate the Contemporary Art Museum.

Gov. Bev Perdue and the Wake County board of commissioners named the newest members of the Wake Technical Community College board of trustees:
• Brenda Castonguay, vice president of administration for Cree
• Merrie Hedrick, a member of the Wake County Board of Equalization and Review

Dr. Krista Perreira, a health economist and associate professor of public policy at UNC-Chapel Hill, received the Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prize for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement by Young Faculty, along with a $5,000 stipend.

Carol Jenkins, director of the UNC-Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library, received the 2010 Cornerstone Award from the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries for her role with the association’s Future Leadership Committee.

Denise McCann, owner and director of the Triangle Area Mathnasium, a year-round learning center that teaches math to children, won the 2010 Best Multi-Unit Performance award for the success of her four Mathnasium centers in Cary, Brier Creek, North Raleigh and Apex.

Susanna Gibbons, employment law practice group leader at Poyner Spruill, a firm with offices throughout North Carolina, was named to the 2011 edition of “Best Lawyers.”

Barbara Hemphill, a Raleigh productivity expert and professional organizer, will present the keynote speech at Orvention, an organizing convention for professionals in Europe.

Crystal Suazo, a partner at Vaco Raleigh, an executive placement and consulting firm, will be featured in the 2011 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom page-a-day calendar.

Elaine Buxton, CEO and president of Cary-based Confero, a national customer experience measurement company, will serve on the Triangle Go Red for Women executive leadership team.

Stephanie McArthur was hired as project manager by woman-owned architectural firm BJAC, based in Raleigh.

Laura Schoppe, president of Apex consulting firm Fuentek, announced that Dr. Julie Markoski joined as technology transfer consultant.

Carlene Cleary, a Cary resident, became project manager at Mulberry Tree Consulting, a strategic advising firm.

Emily Asbell, a Cary resident, has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple, a national, direct-sales company featuring easy-to-prepare foods.

Margaret Gifford, of Farmer Foodshare, a farmer-led community program, helped host the Triangle Farmer Foodshare Challenge, which was a one-day effort on Sept. 25 to raise more than 4,000 pounds of local food for hungry people in the Triangle.

Elizabeth Woodhouse, general manager at Durham’s Four Square Restaurant, hosts a wine dinner in conjunction with Stolpman Vineyards this month.

Shirley Freeman, of the Waccamaw-Siouan tribe, joined the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs.

North Carolina treasurer Janet Cowell spoke at the Women’s Executive Series for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce about preserving the state’s pension system and restoring the public’s confidence.

Kristin Liebers and Sarah Umstead Walker, graduates of UNC-Chapel Hill, joined Howard, Merrell & Partners, a Raleigh advertising agency, as members of the account management team.

Suzanne Magnus, of Cary, joined Cross + Associates, a marketing firm focused on health care and higher education, as senior account executive.

Beverly Murray, president of Cary-based brand experience agency R+M, announced that the firm will be an agency of record for the anti-litter movement of the Wake County Environmental Services Department.

Natalie Perkins, president of Research Triangle Park branding and design firm Clean Design, announced that St. Jude’s Ranch for Children is its newest client.

Patty Briguglio, president of Raleigh’s MMI Public Relations, announced that the firm has been named agency of record for Longistics, a global logistics solutions provider in Research Triangle Park.

Casey Steinbacher, president and CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, was elected chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Dr. Anitra Manning, a member of the Wake County Community Foundation board of directors and the Triangle United Way Women’s Leadership Council, was named director of strategic partnerships and development at the YWCA of the Greater Triangle.

Cristin DeRonja, an N.C. State University graduate and N.C. Certified Parent Educator, was named director of the new advocacy center for SAFEchild, a Wake Forest child abuse-prevention agency.

Rachel Selisker, president of Seamark Advisors, was named board chair of the Wake Tech Foundation leadership team.

The N.C. Press Club named the winners of the 2010 Communications contest hosted by the National Federation of Press Women, including:
• Suzy Barile, of Cary, in the “Opinion for Daily Newspaper” and “Nonfiction History Book” categories
• Christa Gala, of Cary, in the “Continuing Coverage,” “Special Articles — Food” and “News Reporting” categories
• Kathy Newbern, of Raleigh, in the “Feature Photo,” “Professional Column on the Air” and “Photographer-Writer Special Articles — Travel” categories
• Iris Vinegar, of Raleigh, in the “Special Articles—Home” category

Leah Brown, president and CEO of Cary’s A10 Clinical Solutions, accepted a position on the board of directors of the Greater Women’s Business Council.

Martina Ballen, senior associate director of athletics for business and finance at UNC-Chapel Hill, was named chair of the board of directors of the Autism Society of North Carolina.

The Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood announced its new board members, all of whom are from Raleigh:
• Kay Schoellhorn and Kari Howe Stoltz were named members of the board of advisors.
• Saundra Freeman was named a
board member.

Dana Jennings, CEO of the N.C. Center for Women in Public Service, recognized the graduates of the 2010 Women in Office Institute:
• Lori Bush, of Cisco Systems, an electronics and communication corporation, in Wake County
• Goldie Byrd, an endowed professor of biology at N.C. A & T University
• Kathryn Deiter-Maradai, of Teague, Campbell, Dennis & Gorham, a Raleigh law firm
• Linda DeVore, of the “Fayetteville Observer”
• Kimberly Duffley, of the N.C. Department of Justice
• Adrienne Lumpkin, of Alternate Access, an e-business solutions firm, in Wake County
• Mary Musacchia, of Corvette & Musacchia, a RTP law firm
• Violet Rhinehart, of the N.C. House of Representatives

Kate McAllister, president of the Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties, announced that the league will partner with Huggies “Every Little Bottom” program to help address the communities’ diaper shortage.

Sharon Hill, Chapel-Hill based business etiquette trainer and professional speaker, was the keynote speaker for the Professional Women’s Business Conference in Raleigh.

Fonville Morisey Realty announced:
• Karen O’Dwyer, of Pittsboro, joined as a full-time sales associate in the Chapel Hill office.
• Pamela Mansueti joined as a full-time sales associate in the Brier Creek office.

Linda Sandifer, team leader of the Keller Williams Preferred Realty Durham office, announced that Susan Van Vleet has joined the company.

Dawn Brenengen, of Citizen Homes, was named new homes specialist for Lakestone Village in Fuquay-Varina.

Cindy Morris, vice president of Raleigh-based WinStar Homes, announced the construction of new homes at Brightwood Trails in Durham.

Susan Coker, owner of contemporary clothing and accessories gallery Dina Porter, organized a lecture series called “Celebrate Women,” set to take place throughout October and November.

Melissa Booth, a Hillsborough resident and owner of Melissa Designer Jewelry, won the Jerry Miller Award for “Best of Jewelry” at the Lazy Daze Arts Festival in Cary.

Deborah McNaughton, founder and president of Azuli Skye, a jewelry company in Apex, will be a contributing author in the book “Careers From the Kitchen Table 2010 National Home Business Directory.”

Karen Albright, president of Triangle medical skin spa company BodyLase Skin Spa, was named the 2010 Woman Business Owner of the Year by the Greater Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Dr. Lisa Carey, associate professor of medicine and UNC Lineberger associate director of clinical science, will be principal investigator for research on genetic variations and their effects on chemotherapy patients, funded by a $215,000 grant from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Dawn Williamson, president and founder of Wake Forest-based international children’s charity CHERUBS, announced that the foundation received a contribution of $30,000 from the APX Family Foundation.

Dr. Sally Harbold announced the creation of the St. Paul’s Center for Hope and Healing in Cary, which provides bereavement classes, mental health seminars, support groups and a cognitive therapy program.

Dr. Amy Abernethy, an oncologist at the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, was lead author of a study challenging the value of oxygen therapy in end-of-life care.