Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and World Health Organization goodwill ambassador, will come to OSU on April 7 to inspire philanthropy at this year’s Women for OSU Leadership and Philanthropy Council Spring Symposium.
The symposium was created to educate women about philanthropic planning and empower them to be difference makers. Last year, 250 people attended the inaugural Women for OSU Symposium, hearing Olympic gold medalist and keynote speaker Jackie Joyner-Kersee share the impact charitable giving has on her life.
“We were extremely pleased with last year’s symposium and hope to continue that success this year. Our goal is to educate women about the impact of philanthropy and motivate them to play a larger role in supporting those causes for which they feel passion,” said Pat Knaub, director of the Women for OSU Program. |
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Nancy Brinker |
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Brinker will discuss leadership lessons that enabled her to transform a small living-room operation into a billion-dollar global network. She will also speak about “the power of one” — the ability of every individual to lead a fulfilling life of success and significance.
Brinker and a handful of dedicated friends created Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1982, named in memory of her sister who died of breast cancer at 36. After forming the organization, Brinker was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent aggressive treatment and is now a more than twenty-year survivor.
Brinker’s passion to end the shame, pain, fear and hopelessness caused by breast cancer has been the driving force behind her efforts to grow the organization. Today, Susan G. 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 and energize science to find the cure. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is the most successful fundraising and education event for charity ever created.
Known globally as an agent of change, Brinker served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary from 2001 to 2003 and U.S. Chief of Protocol from 2007 to 2009. In May, she was appointed by the World Health Organization as Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control. She has received countless awards and recognition for her work including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and continues to dedicate her life to serving others.
For those passionate about OSU, the Women for OSU Spring Symposium is a unique opportunity to gather together and learn about financial planning, philanthropic decision-making and leadership skills development.
The mission of Women for OSU is to create a culture that inspires the philanthropic potential and celebrates the leadership and impact of Oklahoma State women. Originally called Women in Philanthropy, the program was created within the College of Human Environmental Sciences in 1995 but was reorganized in 2008 to serve the entire university.
Individual tickets to the symposium are now available here. For more information about the symposium or the Women for OSU program, contact Knaub at 405-385-5194.
About Women for OSU
The Women for Oklahoma State University Leadership and Philanthropy Council’s mission is to create a culture that inspires and celebrates the leadership and philanthropic impact of Oklahoma State women.
“Women are powerful in their giving and their philanthropic efforts, and they’ve certainly been recognized, but this is an exciting opportunity to celebrate their contributions to OSU’s success and get more women involved with the university,” says Women for OSU Chairwoman Anne Greenwood.
The 40-member council is a diverse group of female alumni and friends of the university with a lifetime family giving history of $50,000 or more. The council is charged with developing a spring symposium and regional events throughout the year to reconnect and inspire women who have a passion for OSU.
History
Women in Philanthropy was formed in 1995 by then-dean Dr. Pat Knaub as a program within the College of Human Environmental Sciences. Adopted from the University of Wisconsin, the program was put in place to move women into leadership and philanthropic roles through education and motivation. Women in Philanthropy had a successful 10-year consecutive run with increasing attendance at its annual symposium.
In 2005, the program took a three-year hiatus and was reinvented into a university-wide effort known as Women for Oklahoma State University Leadership and Philanthropy Council. The reformed program now connects women from every OSU college and campus, celebrating the important impact they have on Oklahoma State.
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