Cover Story
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Story by Bailey Hemphill. Photos by Bill Sitzmann
(L-R) Joy King, Michelle Belsaas, and Connie Sullivan.
American Cancer Society Celebrating 100 Years of Birthdays
B
eing “the official sponsor of birthdays” doesn’t mean the American Cancer Society shows up at parties to oversee the unwrapping of presents or the blowing out of candles on the cake. It’s a tougher sponsorship, one that requires copious amounts of fundraising, long-term research, and dedicated volunteers. Because they believe everyone deserves to have a full life without the looming threat of cancer.
www.BestOfOmaha.com
“We are determined to make this cancer’s last century,” says Joy King, regional vice president of ACS in Omaha, who previously worked as a regional executive director in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. “We want to change the stats from two out of three people surviving today in the U.S. to three out of three surviving. As an organization, we have never been more ready to put the American Cancer Society out of business.” >> GALA 2013 • july/august 127