Today the House unanimously passed H. Res. 708, a resolution authored by Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL), that honors Peoria native Ambassador Nancy Goodman Brinker, the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"Ambassador Nancy Brinker is a great women, a great leader and a global icon who has impacted millions through her advocacy efforts," said Schock. "Through her hard work and tenacity she has done more than just raise awareness of breast cancer through her work with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, she has also saved lives by raising nearly $1.5 billion for research, health services and education. The world is a better place because of Nancy Brinker and I wish her all the best as she continues her work towards finding a cure for breast cancer."
Ambassador Brinker is the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's leading breast cancer grass roots organization. Ambassador Brinker established the organization in memory of her sister, who passed away from breast cancer in 1980.
Through innovative events like Race for the Cure, the organization has given and invested nearly $1.5 billion for research, health services and education services since its founding in 1982 and developed a worldwide grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists who are working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures.
Ambassador Brinker has received several awards for her work, and has also served in government as Chair of the President's Cancer Panel (1990). U.S. Ambassador to Hungary (2001 -- 2003) and Chief of Protocol of the U.S. (2007 -- 2009). In May, Nancy Goodman Brinker was named the first-ever World Health Organization's Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control.