Susan G. Komen to reach Cape Fear area

Breast Cancer foundation, Susan G Komen for the Cure is in the process of establishing a presence in southeastern North Carolina that will include a nine-county expansion reaching New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties, said foundation officials.

The foundation, that is well-known for its fundraising races that have helped raise about $1.9 billion to fund breast cancer research and services, has been researching and planning to expand in the region for about two years, said Kathy Burns, interim executive director of the N.C. Triangle Affiliate for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The Raleigh office received verbal approval, but is awaiting written confirmation from the national office to be able to expand to serve Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Sampson and Wilson counties. She hopes a formal announcement about the expansion to the region will be made in April.

“We’re still getting to know the area, talking to service providers and talking to businesses and health providers,” Burns said. “A staff member on the ground in the area is critical.”

To meet that need, she has contracted local public relations consultant Leigh Muscle Johnson to be the regional development and communications manager. But, she does not expect to open a physical office here for another year.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has four affiliates in North Carolina: Charlotte, which was established in 1992; N.C. Triangle in Raleigh, which was established in 1996; N.C. Triad in Winston-Salem, which was established in 2000 and N.C. Foothills in Hickory. The national office has encouraged existing affiliates to expand rather than open new offices, Burns said.

The national office does not give affiliates money, she said.

“We’re a privately funded organization and we rely on donations from corporate sponsorships,” Burns said.

In the site selection process, the N.C. Triangle Affiliate conducted a community needs assessment and convened focus groups.

“It was a long analytical process. We looked at where all of the service providers are and what the economic demographics are,” she said.

Burns said they needed to know there was a need and a community willing to help fund services that would meet the need.

“There are some areas in the region that need some additional services,” she said. “We’re excited, but we want to be thoughtful. We want the community to welcome us.”

 

Thanks to the WIlmington Business Journal for this article

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