DALLAS, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R), the leader of the global breast cancer movement, is expanding its focus on strategic development and public policy issues with key appointments announced today.
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Komen for the Cure named Gail Marcus as chief financial officer, Gary Dicovitsky as vice president of development and Martina "Tina" Hone as vice president of public policy. Hone also will serve as president of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance, Komen's sister advocacy organization. All three will report directly to Susan G. Komen for the Cure President and CEO Hala Moddelmog.
"The addition of these excellent leaders underscores Komen's commitment to secure better health care for everyone and to ensure there are adequate dollars to fund our mission to end breast cancer forever," said Moddelmog. "Gail, Gary and Tina will add depth to our already outstanding finance, development and public policy teams."
These additions also cement the Dallas-based organization's national presence: Hone will be based out of a new Washington, D.C. office, to be opened early next year, and Dicovitsky will be based on the West Coast.
Marcus will oversee all financial matters affecting the organization, which has received Charity Navigator's highest rating -- four stars -- for the past two consecutive years (FY 2006 and FY 2007). The organization recently announced its 2008 research grant portfolio -- investing an unprecedented $100 million in research grants to U.S. and international scientists this year alone.
"Susan G. Komen for the Cure already excels in managing its finances and donations," said Marcus. "We will continue to be responsible stewards of funds as we strive to invest an additional $2 billion over the next ten years toward fulfilling our promise to end breast cancer forever."
Marcus' career has been marked by significant leadership positions in domestic and global healthcare. Prior to joining Komen, Marcus was President and CEO of Caris Diagnostics. A breast cancer survivor, she previously held senior leadership roles with AdvancePCS, United HealthGroup and Cigna Corporation.
She earned her M.B.A. from the Wharton Graduate Division of the University of Pennsylvania, a M.S.E. from the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Engineering and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. She has been serving on the board of directors for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Dallas Affiliate.
Dicovitsky will oversee the cultivation of major gifts, planned gifts, foundation gifts, individual philanthropic gifts, direct marketing and e-philanthropy to advance Komen's promise to raise and invest an additional $2 billion over the next decade to breast cancer research and community programs. Since inception, Komen has invested more than $1.2 billion in the cause, making it the world's largest source of private funds for breast cancer research and community outreach programs.
"Susan G. Komen for the Cure is unparalleled in its commitment and ambition," said Dicovitsky. "Leveraging the passion of its millions of global supporters, I have no doubt Komen can achieve its goal of investing another $2 billion in the effort to discover and deliver the cures."
Dicovitsky's background spans more than two decades in philanthropic fundraising at some of the nation's leading universities, including Dartmouth College, Princeton University, Pomona College and the University of Virginia. He most recently served as the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at the California Institute of Technology, where he led the largest fundraising initiative in Caltech's history, exceeding its goal by raising $1.424 billion. Considering Caltech's relatively small alumni base, faculty and staff, this ranks among the most successful of all university fundraising campaigns in history. He earned a Masters of Education from Loyola College, and a B.A. from Dartmouth College.
Hone will serve as the leader of Komen's Washington, D.C. office, including serving as a central liaison to the White House, Capitol Hill, state legislatures, and key policymakers. Under her leadership, the 501c4 Susan G. Komen Advocacy Alliance will continue to aggressively advocate at all levels of government for increased funding for research and access to screening and treatment.
"Komen is known in Washington as the face and voice of women and survivors across the country," said Hone. "In the coming months, we plan to dramatically strengthen the Susan G. Komen Advocacy Alliance's position as a positive agent of change from the White House to each state house."
Hone has broad experience in public policy, coming to Komen most recently from Congressional Quarterly, where she was the Executive Director of CQ Events. Prior to joining CQ, she served as the Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations at the American Legacy Foundation. She also is a former House Judiciary Committee Counsel and a former Associate Undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Hone received her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall) and her B.A. in political science from the University of Chicago.
Marcus replaces outgoing CFO, Kevin Speirits, who remained with the organization through a period of transition after resigning earlier this year. Hone replaces Diane Balma, who previously served in this role before transitioning earlier this year to Komen's vice president of strategic alliances.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, 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 for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested more than $1.2 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit http://www.komen.org or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.
CONTACT: Sean Tuffnell, +1-972-701-2111, stuffnell@komen.org, or Andrea
Rader, +1-972-855-4320, arader@komen.org, both of Susan G. Komen for the
Cure
Web site: http://www.komen.org/
