Nancy Brinker
Born Nancy Goodman in Peoria, Illinois to Marvin Goodman, a businessman and Ellie Goodman, a Girl Scout leader and community activist. Her sister Suzy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1977 and died in 1980. By her side through three brutal years of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, Nancy promised her she would do everything to stop the heartless progression and social stigma of breast cancer. In 1982, Nancy and a small group of friends established what became Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization that has raised more than $2 billion for breast cancer research, education and health services around the world. In 1983 Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy followed by chemo.
Nancy has been involved in politics actively for many years. She was appointed to the President's Cancer Panel in 1990, the National Cancer Advisory Board in 1996, and to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2008. She served as United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2001 to 2003 and as President George W. Bush’s White House Chief of Protocol from 2007 to 2009 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 by President Obama.
“That day was an education for me. I'll never forget it. Standing in teh doorway, watching the reaction of the men and women gathered there, I witnessed the poewrful effect of unwavering, uncomplaining, uncompromising leadership. It changed me. It was one of those moments when you say to yourself, [in italics] That's what I want to be when I grow up. and you know you've grown up a little already, simply because you recognize it.Norman called Ducky-Bob's party supply and ordered chairs while I wheeled the second bed out to the hallway. Mommy, Margaret Valentine, and I rushed around, getting everything we needed to cater the cramped but memorable even, and on Tuesday morning, about three dozen top members of the Chili's team jammed into Norman's room at Presbyterian Hospital. Norman didn't what his people to see him lying down, so I'd helped him get into a jogging suit and robe, and propped him up on one of those rolling carts they use to distribute meals. He was in unthinkable pain, but he spoke to them from his heart about how much he appreciated them, how committed he was to the success of the organization, and how far they could all go together.”