Susan G. Komen Central and South Jersey’s Second Annual IMPACT Luncheon Raises $50,000
Susan G. Komen Central and South Jersey (Komen CSNJ) held its second annual IMPACT Luncheon, an event that aimed to educate and inspire while raising funds for life-saving breast cancer services in the local community, on March 23, 2018 at The Hamilton Manor. This empowering event raised $50,000 for the fight against breast cancer.
“We are grateful for the generosity of our sponsors, donors and attendees,” said Elizabeth James, Komen CSNJ board member and IMPACT Luncheon committee co-chair. “The success of this event will further our vision of a world without breast cancer.”
The IMPACT Luncheon, sponsored by TD Bank, RWJBarnabas Health and On Target Staffing, featured plentiful networking opportunities, raffles and prizes, and three impactful guest speakers who shared their own breast cancer stories with attendees.
Shridar Ganesan, MD, PhD, is the Chief of Molecular Oncology and Associate Director for Translational Research at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Dr. Ganesan spoke about his research in breast cancer biology and DNA repair, and what inspired him to work with breast cancer patients and their families.
Meryl Marshall, founder of Hynt Beauty and breast cancer survivor, shared her courageous story of loss, love and hope. She shared what motivated her to start her own luxury beauty line that is free of harmful or carcinogenic ingredients.
Melissa Surdez, Senior Human Resources Director at Johnson & Johnson and metastatic breast cancer liver, shared her philosophies on “living into your life” and making meaningful connections with people, from strangers to lifelong friends, to help experience life to its fullest.
“The person who is in front of me is what matters; I break bread and connect with people,” said Surdez in her powerful presentation to attendees. “Their stories matter to me, and when you take the time to really break bread with people, you give them the license to be them and you get the license to be you.”
The funds raised from this event will help to provide individuals in our communities with life-saving breast cancer services, such as mammograms, patient navigation, breast cancer education and more. A portion of these proceeds will benefit national research initiatives and priorities, including metastatic breast cancer treatments and disparities in breast cancer outcomes.
For event photos, please visit www.komencsnj.org/impact.
About Susan G. Komen Central and South Jersey
Susan G. Komen Central and South Jersey (Komen CSNJ) is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in the local community. Through events like the Komen CSNJ Race for the Cure®, Komen CSNJ has invested nearly $15 million in community breast health programs in its 13-county service area and has helped contribute to the more than $920 million invested globally in research. For more information, call 609–896–1201 or visit komencsnj.org.
