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Members of the Cooperatives for the Cure team, including dozens of NRECA staffers, gather before the start of the Komen National Race for the Cure, June 7.

Contact:
Tracy Warren, NRECA Communications
703-907-5746

Arlington, Virginia, June 13, 2008 – Under the “Cooperatives for the Cure” banner, employees of NRECA, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. joined forces with thousands of others from around the country to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure in the nation’s capital, June 7.

“We combined our efforts and the results were outstanding,” said Janet Bowers, one of two NRECA co-chairs of the co-op campaign.

The team raised more than $92,000 —surpassing the efforts of more than 1,500 other teams involved in Komen’s National Race event, which raised more than $3 million.

NRECA staffers have fielded a team for 10 years, and this year, the association donated $20,000 to help surpass its goal of $90,000.

“I am proud of the record-setting participation from NRECA and our sister organizations in Herndon, Va.,” said NRECA CEO Glenn English, who praised other co-ops, G&Ts and statewide organizations across the country for their long-term support of the Komen Foundation.

“The hard work of so many co-op employees across the country is making a positive difference in the battle against cancer,” English said.

Cooperatives for the Cure raised more money than any other team in the Washington race in the past four years, averaging $550 for each of its 166 members.

“This was an incredible fund-raising effort,” said Rebecca Gibson, a Komen Foundation national spokesperson.

“We started holding fundraising events back in early April, and we got every department involved,” said Cat Crozier, NRTC’s campaign chair.

The Washington event was one of 120 Race for the Cure events on Komen’s January through November calendar. Besides its U.S. events, Komen has also organized three races in Italy and one in Germany. Worldwide participation is expected to surpass 1.5 million this year. The Komen Foundation has provided $1.2 billion in grants for cancer research and prevention programs since 1982.

“Everyone’s been touched by cancer, and that’s why people think it’s so important to give,” said Mary Ann Harden, CFC’s campaign chair.

“Think Pink Week,” June 2-7 at NRECA, featured silent auctions, a staff spelling bee and other events to raise money. Participation was high.

“Having a common goal really made the difference,” said Jane Hoge, an NRECA campaign co-chair, and three-time breast cancer survivor. “People found exciting ways to make this the most successful Komen Race campaign we’ve had in 10 years.”

The 20th anniversary Washington event will be reflagged as the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, said Hoge. “People are already saying they can raise a lot more money next year. We’re sure going to try.”

Reprinted with permission from article by Derrill Holly published in Electric Co-op Today.

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