Nancy Brinker

Nancy Brinker founded the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization in 1982, transforming it into the world’s largest nonprofit source of funding for breast cancer research and awareness. Under her leadership, the organization has invested nearly $3 billion in research, community health outreach, advocacy, and programs across more than 60 countries, fundamentally revolutionizing the global approach to breast cancer. A key initiative was the establishment of the Susan G.

Komen Race for the Cure® series in 1983, which grew into the world’s largest series of 5K run/fitness walks, attracting over a million participants annually. Her early impact in public service was recognized with appointments to the National Cancer Advisory Board by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and to chair the President’s Cancer Panel by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. Brinker’s distinguished career further evolved into diplomatic service, beginning with her appointment as the United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2001 to 2003.

Komen for the Cure. Her profound impact and dedication to public service were formally recognized in 2009 when she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Her extensive accolades also include induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, and she was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois in 2016. Demonstrating ongoing commitment to health advocacy, Brinker co-founded The Promise Fund in 2018.

This initiative directly addresses the critical lack of preventative breast cancer diagnosis in South Florida, impacting thousands of women through essential screenings and care. Nancy Brinker continues to solidify her legacy as a transformative leader in global health and diplomacy, leveraging decades of experience to drive measurable change in cancer control and international relations.