Susan G. Komen San Diego’s board of directors announced the election of Irene Oberbauer, of Point Loma, as the organization’s chair, Chantal Breyfogle as the grants committee chair and the appointment of four new board members Karyn Cerulli of Cox Media California, Larry Davis of San Diego Gas and Electric Co., Patricia M. Millican of Seragon and Robin Rady of METUGO. Their leadership will help Susan G. Komen San Diego continue to be the County’s largest provider of free breast cancer treatment, services and research.
“Irene has been a dedicated volunteer and fundraiser for Komen San Diego for the past five years and with her extensive background in business and leadership we know she will make a huge impact in our community as the new chair,” said Laura Farmer Sherman, executive director of Komen San Diego. “The diverse backgrounds of each of our new members will lead the way to fresh ideas that will allow us to provide countless more services to women throughout the county.”
Not only is Irene a breast cancer survivor, she is also a loyal supporter of Komen San Diego. Irene has raised more than $166,000, has the largest Race for the Cure fundraising team, IO It To Myself, and was named the honorary breast cancer survivor in 2010. In the same year that Irene was battling stage three breast cancer she lost her sister to a combination of breast, brain and lung cancer. Now she literally walks in her sister’s shoes every Race for the Cure and is unwavering in her dedication to support the women in San Diego battling this disease.
Komen San Diego is the only organization that provides qualified women free services for every step of the breast cancer journey, which includes education, outreach, free mammograms, financial assistance for living expenses, food assistance, transportation and more. Wherever there’s a gap, Komen fills it. In addition, next to the U.S. government, Komen is the largest funder of breast cancer research in the world.