Why Komen?
The reason behind our ribbon.

Komen is special, though some of the public believes that all pink ribbons are the same.  As the global leader of the breast cancer movement, we’re dedicated to one thing only – breast cancer. Komen is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, and remains the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer across the globe.

Accomplishments & Programs

  • The Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the trusted, local organization for accurate information and resources regarding all aspects of breast cancer.
  • In 2010, Komen Oregon helped to fund mammograms for 8, 000 uninsured women throughout Oregon and SW Washington.  
  • Komen funds a statewide transportation program with the help of the American Cancer Society for rural and/or low-income women, removing barriers to screening and treatment.  
  • Komen’s Breast Cancer Issues™ Conference is the signature breast health conference in the Pacific Northwest, addressing topics on risk reduction, treatment options and survivorship.  
  • The Komen Portland Race for the Cure is consistently the largest Race for the Cure event on the West Coast, and among the top in participation across the Nation. Among the first in the US, there is also a new Eugene Race for the Cure.
  • Komen Oregon funds partnerships throughout Oregon and SW Washington to ensure all women, despite geographic, cultural and financial barriers, have access to breast health services.  For a list of our current grantees, please visit our grants page.
  • Komen-funded research has laid the groundwork for many promising treatments – tamoxifen, arimidex, and herceptin – as well as the discovery of the gene indicators BRCA1 and BRCA2 for inherited forms of breast cancer.
  • Every major advance in the fight against breast cancer has been touched by Susan G. Komen for the Cure research.

Awards & Recognition

  • For the fourth year in a row, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been awarded a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the premier independent charity evaluator that rates charities by evaluating financial health, organizational efficiency, and organizational capacity.
  • The 2010 rankings of nonprofits market research firm Harris Interactive ranked Komen for the Cure as the number one most valuable nonprofit brand and the charity people are most likely to donate to. Komen also ranked second among the most trusted nonprofit organizations in America.. 
  • In 2009, Christine M. McDonald, CEO of Komen Oregon, was named an Orchid Award recipient for outstanding executive female leadership by the Portland Business Journal.
  • In 2010, our Affiliate was named The Top Large Nonprofit to work for in Oregon for the second year in a row by Oregon Business Magazine.  

Click here to download the "Why Komen?" PDF