The Foundation’s Board of Directors and Advisory Council have been very successful with their annual special event, Ellen’s Hope, the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation’s Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon. If you are interested in being a volunteer for Ellen’s Hope, please contact the Foundation at 804-523-3210.

The Foundation is happy to be contacted by interested members of the community wanting to organize their own event or promotion benefiting the early detection of breast cancer.

Here are some examples of special events that have been successful. Click on the entry for additional information:

• Philoptochos Society of the Saint Helen’s and Constantine Greek Orthodox Cathedral raises $4000 for the Foundation.
• “Coins for Cancer” at Colonial Heights High School Benefits the Foundation.
• Art Show at Hermitage Country Club Helps Raise Awareness.
• “To Know Is To Live” Golf Tournament at the Crossings.
• Fink’s Jewelers Mother’s Day Event Focuses on Early Detection of Breast Cancer.

You can create an event on your own and give the Foundation the net proceeds, or you can contact the Foundation at 804-523-3209 if you need help and advice.

Please make your contribution payable to “Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation” and send to:

Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation
4480 Cox Road, Suite 100
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060

Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation’s Federal tax identification number is: 202671818. All donations are tax deductible, and all donors will receive a written acknowledgement of their gift.

Special Event Descriptions

Special Events offer volunteers and donors the opportunity to work on a project in the community that will benefit the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation.  Volunteers have generously given of their time and resources to organize the following Special Events to benefit the Foundation.

Ellen’s Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon

Ellen’s Hope, the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation’s Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon, is the signature event for the Foundation and its volunteers.  Having raised over $250,000 since its inception, more than two hundred and twenty guests fill the elegant ballroom at the Commonwealth Club in October each year to hear Dr. Ellen Shaw de Paredes and other special guests talk about the importance of early detection of breast cancer.

“The funds raised at the Luncheon are so important to the Foundation,” said Lynne Laskin, who co-chaired the event in 2008 and 2009.  “Our sponsors are always so generous, and our volunteers always do a fabulous job in leaving no stone unturned with all the details of the event.”

Stephanie Rochon serves as the Mistress of Ceremonies.  She always adds just the right personal touch by relating her own passion about the early detection of breast cancer.

Planning for Ellen’s Hope begins in January of each year.  Please call the Foundation at 804-523-3209 if you are interested in volunteering.

Philoptochos Society Raises $4000 for the Foundation

The Philoptochos Society is a philanthropic organization comprised of the Saint Helen’s and Constantine Greek Orthodox Cathedral women that donates charitable funds to local non-profit organizations whose missions are important to the Society.  At the invitation of Stacey Kovanes, Board of Directors member Lynne Laskin, and Advisory Council member Eazy Milligan attended a Philoptochos Society meeting in order to meet these generous women and gratefully accept President Sasa Howard’s offer of a fundraising event.

In 2009 the Philoptochos Society presented a lovely dinner and silent auction to 85 guests, along with a fashion show hosted by Mrs. Tonya Hurt of the Cabi clothing line.   Dr. Paredes gave a PowerPoint presentation on the advancement of women’s breast imaging, and how the Foundation relentlessly strives to further that goal.  By the end of the night, the Philoptochos Society raised over $4,000 for the Foundation!  We are humbly grateful to the Greek Cathedral for promoting our vision and hosting such an enjoyable event.  Our heartfelt thanks go to Mrs. Stacey Kovanes, Mrs. Sasa Howard, Father Nikolas Bacalis, and all the women of the Greek Cathedral who helped make the dinner such a huge success.

“Coins for Cancer” at Colonial Heights High School

A group of students from Colonial Heights High School organized an event entitled “Coins for Cancer” to honor their teacher, Lesly McBride, and to benefit the Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation.  Mrs. McBride was diagnosed in April 2009 with breast cancer, and this effort by her marketing students took place during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness celebration.  In October 2009, students, teachers and others participated in a “Pink Out” to highlight breast cancer awareness.  The “Coins for Cancer” fundraiser netted about $1,700 for the Foundation.  The 20-year veteran teacher was completely surprised by her students.  “They really rallied around me,” said Mrs. McBride.  “It really humbled me.”

Hermitage Art Show Benefits Foundation

Art Shows held in 2009 and 2010 at Hermitage County Club focused on saving lives through the early detection of breast cancer.  Local artists displayed their works for a two-week period at Hermitage and ten percent of the sales of the art was donated to the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation.  “We were so pleased that the Club chose the Foundation,” said Lynne Laskin.  “The Art Show has supported many worthwhile local charities through the years, and to have it support the early detection of breast cancer this year means so much to the many women golfers, tennis players, and general membership of Hermitage.  We are particularly thankful to Diane Mugford and Anne Chaddock for all their hard work on this event.”

Inaugural Foundation Golf Tournament is a Success

In May 2010, Advisory Council member and Volunteer of the Year Beverly Presser organized the inaugural “To Know Is To Live” Golf Tournament  to benefit the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation and to educate the public about the early detection of breast cancer.  The Tournament was held at The Crossings Golf Club, and more than 60 people participated.

The winning team was Little Caesar’s Pizza.  More than $4,300 was raised to benefit the Foundation, but more importantly, the players had a wonderful time while supporting a great cause.  Key volunteers who worked with Beverly to help make the tournament possible included Shirley Clott, Kim Filipowicz, Ellie Pappas, Patsy Rice and Elsie Rose.

Beverly Presser is making plans for future tournaments.  If you are interested in volunteering at the tournament, please contact her at: 804-553-1355 or e-mail her at: BAPresser@comcast.net.

Fink’s Mother’s Day Reception

When Vicki Robinson, assistant manager at Fink’s Jewelers Short Pump Town Center, suggested that the Foundation hold a special Mother’s Day promotion with Fink’s, the Foundation was most fortunate to again have an opportunity to partner with this premier jewelry retailer.

Fink’s donated a percentage of the total sales for the evening to the Foundation. In addition, they donated gift bags which were sold to those attending by volunteers Lynne Laskin, Eazy Milligan, Carol Berling, and Dale Mays. The gift bags contained pearl earrings as well as other value-added treats. The Iron Horse in Ashland donated the food for the evening, and Wine Lovers donated the beverages.

The biggest surprise of the evening was when one of the guests won a diamond “Hope” necklace in 18k white gold by designer Roberto Coin. Dr. Paredes had the pleasure of announcing the winner’s name.

Fink’s Jewelers, which is based in Roanoke and has 17 locations across Virginia and North Carolina, is committed to helping fight breast cancer. “It is a very important cause for us,” said Mrs. Robinson. “We are so pleased to be able to help support the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation.”

“The evening was wonderful in bringing together many new and current supporters of the Foundation,” said Dr. Paredes. “We are very grateful to Finks.”

Ellen’s Hope Luncheon

When former First Lady Susan Allen and Former Secretary of the Commonwealth Betsy Beamer took the leadership role of co-chairs of the 2010 Ellen’s Hope Luncheon, they weren’t quite sure how it would go in the sluggish economy of 2010.

“We were just hoping that even in a sluggish economy, the passion for this important issue would remain strong” said Mrs. Allen.  “And we were so pleased with the support for Ellen’s Hope.”

Betsy Beamer agreed, “It was so heartening to have companies and individuals stepping up to the plate to help us raise money and awareness for the early detection of breast cancer.  I want to especially thank Siemens for being our major sponsor.”

Over two hundred and thirty sponsors and guests filled the ballroom at the Commonwealth Club on October 7, 2010 to hear from both Dr. Ellen Paredes and Dr. Diane Wilson.   As a VCU faculty researcher and educator in the area of cancer prevention, Dr. Wilson’s research specialty has been focused on developing and testing healthy lifestyle interventions to help cancer survivors improve diet and exercise habits for cancer risk reduction.  Her remarks, “Between Hope and a Promise:  Nutrition, Exercise, and Cancer Risk Reduction” were enthusiastically received.

Mrs. Allen singled out Dr. Sarah Forbes and Richard Freidman for their efforts with the raffle.  “We knew that we needed extra special help with the raffle, and Dr. Forbes and Richard were wonderful to assemble some fabulous prizes!” said Mrs. Allen.  Prizes for the raffle included a week at the Outer Banks, a weekend trip to Las Vegas, Redskin football tickets, and a flat-screen HD television.

Board of Director member Stephanie Rochon, co-news anchor at CBS 6, kept everything moving along smoothly as Mistress of Ceremonies.  She introduced Dr. Paredes who spoke about “The Foundation of Early Detection.”  Dr. Paredes talked about the important role that volunteers play at the Foundation as advocates for the early detection of breast cancer.  She then took the opportunity to present a well-deserved volunteer of the year award to Lynne Laskin (see related article on page X).

Plans are already underway for next year’s luncheon, with a tentative date of October 20, 2011.  If you are interested in being involved with the Ellen’s Hope Luncheon as a volunteer, please e-mail Paredes@ParedesFoundation.org.

Ellen’s Hope 2010 Sponsors

For the fourth consecutive year, Siemens was the presenting sponsor of Ellen’s Hope with a gift of $15,000.  Susan Allen and Betsy Beamer created four new categories of support for Ellen’s Hope:  Guardian of Hope, Crusader for Hope, Patron of Hope, and Friend of Hope.  We were very pleased to count the following donors among our Guardians of Hope and Crusaders of Hope:  Christian & Barton, L.L.P., Dominion Resources, Cynthia Haw, Owens & Minor, Inc., Paredes Institute for Women’s Imaging, Teri C. Pruitt, Martha Robertson, and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C.

Our Patrons of Hope were Susan Allen, Bard Biopsy Systems, Betsy and Jim Beamer, Bon Secours Richmond Every Woman’s Live, Susan Boze, Capitol One, CBS 6, Helga and Floyd Gottwald, Lynne and Norm Laskin, Dr. Sherrill Little, True Luck, Mammotome Inc., Dale and Clayton Mays, Carolyn Meares, Dr. Victor Paredes, Reynolds Holdings, L.L.C., Strategic Solutions of Virginia, SunTrust, Wells Fargo, and Vicki White.

The funds raised help to support the Foundation’s many educational programs for the public and for professionals as well as our free mammography screening program.

Art Show Benefits Foundation

By Lynne Laskin

Artist Jill Steenhuis (left) with Cynthia Haw and one of Jill’s painting

It is always a challenge to find new and exciting ways to get the word out about an organization such as ours. But challenge is just another word for opportunity when Carolyn Meares is involved. Carolyn is not only a Board member at the Foundation, but also more of a “Cheerleader-in-Chief”.

This past Spring Carolyn learned that her old friend and internationally respected Cezanne specialist, Jill Steenhuis, was planning a trip to America to sell some of her art collection to the public. After regaling all the good works of Dr. Ellen Paredes and the Foundation to Jill, it was soon agreed that Carolyn would host a reception in Jill’s honor at the Country Club of Virginia and that Jill would give a percentage of all sales of the evening to the Foundation. Now Carolyn really went into high gear. With less than 3 weeks to prepare, she made hundreds of phone calls, sent out invitations, arranged for a pianist, and even called on her good friend Carl Slayton to prepare the fabulous flower arrangements!

Once again, Carolyn turned a “fundraising challenge” into a “friendraising opportunity.”

Liza Vann Wows Attendees at Ellen’s Hope Luncheon

By Betty Booker

Carolyn Meares (left), R.J. Loderick, Liza Vann, and Rev. Dorothy White at the Ellen’s Hope Luncheon.

WTVR Co-anchor Stephanie Rochon (center) shops with Milagros Paredes at the Ellen’s Hope Luncheon. Milagros donated a percentage of her jewelry sales to the Foundation.

When New York actor Liza Vann was diagnosed with breast cancer 19 years ago she didn’t cry, she didn’t ask “why me?” and she didn’t deny or dawdle.

Instead, she quizzed her oncologist, questioned unclear terminology, and rejected his imperative to be operated on in four days. Then she researched the disease, surgical methods and post-op choices. Three weeks later she came out of surgery cancer-free. Her scar is so delicate that nurses remark upon it.

Her second bout with cancer in the other breast had similar positive results. She’s one tough cookie.

Vann took her story on the road, in a one-act play and in speeches like the one she delivered at the October 20th “Ellen’s Hope: Saving Lives through the Early Detection of Breast Cancer” event at The Commonwealth Club.

Three problems most patients encounter, she said, are a too-fast push to make treatment decisions, misunderstanding language used to describe cancer, and crippling fear.

In her speech and an interview, Vann said to avoid making “snap decisions until you’ve researched options. You’re not going to die in a week.”

When Vann called a friend who’d had a breast reduction, the friend’s plastic surgeon recommended an incision around the areola, the pigmented area around the nipple. Vann told her surgeon.

She made it clear she would manage every stage of her disease: “I said to every doctor, ‘I do not care about what you think about what I have to say, or feel about what I have to say.”

“You have to be your own best advocate. Common sense guides you as much as anything else. You can’t ask enough questions.”

“For each appointment, write down your questions. And leave space on the page for each answer.”

Vann’s first question for her physician was, “How do you know that this did not start in my foot and go to my breast?” “Whaaa?” he said, then laughed and started explaining.

She stopped him: “Speak in words of two syllables.”

“You have a no-brainer cancer. We know how it works, what it does and how to treat it,” he replied.

“Information is job one,” Vann advised, mirroring the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation’s maxim: “To know is to live.”

Set fear aside, Vann urged: “Cancer’s job is to kill you; your job is to stop it. It’s just business. Deal with it.”

She added, “find things to laugh about.” Her audience certainly did as she described her family and her cancer experience.

The annual luncheon, which includes a silent auction, is presented by the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation and is sponsored by Siemens Healthcare and generous donors.

The event raises funds for the Foundation, and includes providing free mammograms for those who can’t afford them. Each $60 donation pays for one mammogram, Dr. Ellen Paredes told the guests.

The luncheon was dedicated to the late Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Forbes, a Newport News physician, philanthropist, pioneer in women’s health and a founding member of the Foundation board.

Alice Shaw was named Volunteer of the Year. Norm Laskin was given special recognition for his development of the Foundation Web site, which he described as “a labor of love for a most worthy cause.” Honorees’ gifts were donated by Tiffany & Co. at Stony Point Fashion Park.

Joseph Walsh, director of the Virginia Lyric Opera, presented Katherine DeLoyht and Andrew Seigla who sang for luncheon attendees.

WTVR CBS-6 News co-anchor Stephanie Rochon served as master of ceremonies. The Rev. Dorothy White of St. Catherine’s School led the blessing. Dr. Tsz W. Ng, a Foundation fellow, described rewards of advanced specialty education.

At the end, in a what-it’s-all-about moment, loud applause and cheers went out for survivors in the room who stood for recognition.

For more information, visit www.lizavann.com.

Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation Aces for Awareness Luncheon

Lynn Holly, chair of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation “Aces for Awareness” Luncheon, talks with Dr. Ellen Paredes at the Event.

The Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation presented Dr. Ellen Paredes as its keynote speaker for VBCF’s Aces for Awareness Luncheon on May 6, 2011. This creative and fun event included a morning of tennis at three clubs in the Richmond area followed by a silent auction, luncheon, and Dr. Paredes’ address.

The luncheon took place at the Hilton Hotel and Spa in Short Pump and benefited the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating breast cancer through education and advocacy. The VBCF is focused on providing accurate information about breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, research, legislation, and survivorship. This year’s luncheon was part of the VBCF’s 20^th anniversary celebration.

Dr. Paredes spoke about emerging technologies in the early detection of breast cancer to the 140 guests in attendance.

“It was a pleasure to speak to such an informed group,” said Dr. Paredes. “The VBCF is an important partner with the Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation in advocating for the early detection of breast cancer. I was honored to be asked to speak at their event by Lynn Holly.”

For more information about the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, please see their website www.vbcf.org.

“To Know Is To Live” Golf Tournament

Beverly Presser, chair of the “To Know Is To Live” Golf Tournament, with her husband, Erich. The tournament raised $4000 for the Foundation.

Advisory Council member Beverly Presser followed up her inaugural “To Know Is To Live” Golf Tournament with another May golf tournament to benefit the Ellen Shaw de Paredes Breast Cancer Foundation.

“We had such a good time last year,” said Mrs. Presser, “that we couldn’t resist organizing another tournament at The Crossings. I need to single out Kim and Carl Filipowicz from The Crossings, whose great help made the tournament go so smoothly.”

With more than 60 people participating in the Captain’s Choice event, last year’s winning team, Little Caesars Pizza, defended their title and won for the second year in a row.

Bob Peery, captain of the Little Caesars team, spoke for all the participants when he said, “It was fun to compete, but the most important thing was to support a great cause. The early detection of breast cancer is an important health issue for not only women, but for their families as well. I’m glad Little Caesars could be a part of this successful tournament.”

The golf tournament raised $4,000 to benefit the Foundation, and all the participants had a great time at the tournament supper where almost everyone walked away with a raffle prize that had been donated by generous area businesses. Key volunteers who worked with Beverly Presser to help make the tournament possible included Dianne Cardea, Jane Etore, Kim Filipowicz, Clare Newbrand, Ellie Pappas, Patsy Rice, and Elsie Rose.