Susan G. Komen for the Cure Recognizes Houston-Area Activist for Leadership and Vision

Houston, TX – Ginny Thompson received Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Outstanding Volunteer Award at the 2007 Komen Affiliate Conference, held Feb. 9-10 in Dallas. Since she became an activist for Komen for the Cure in 2004, Ginny has demonstrated exceptional leadership and has pioneered an effective and comprehensive educational program to address breast cancer.

She leads the education committee of the Komen Houston Affiliate. Through this role, she has educated more than 17,000 individuals on breast health and trained new education volunteers. “Her unique passion and leadership dedication for ending breast cancer through education sets Ginny immeasurably apart,” says Lilian Alvarez, education and volunteer manager at Komen’s Houston Affiliate. “Her strength and expertise in collaborations has truly transformed the education committee and its future expectations.”

Ginny commits herself to serving and educating as many as possible in the Affiliate’s six-county service area. She is compelled to meet every community request for Komen representation at health fairs and conferences, taking time to attend many herself. She also has guided the development of tailored education materials specific to the diverse population in the area by getting Affiliate materials and presentations translated for the Hispanic population.

In addition to being an advocate for Komen’s cause, Ginny has professional experience as partnership program manager for the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service and as senior health education specialist for MD Anderson Cancer Center. Through these roles, she has led the revision of the Breast Health Resource Directory, a comprehensive directory for breast health. Ginny utilizes these positions and materials to provide the Komen Houston Affiliate’s area with a wealth of information about breast cancer and community resources, such as a listing of hospitals and clinics that provide screenings and treatments as well as a listing of places to purchase wigs and prostheses.

Ginny assisted with the 2006 Community Profile, which has provided an in-depth analysis of the Houston area and is used to guide appropriation of resources for areas with the greatest need. The Profile has also been used by the Grants Review Panel.

As a steering committee member for the 2005 Greater Houston Area Breast Health Summit, Ginny supported the need to close the gaps in breast health services and to combine resources to improve access to care. Through this work, Ginny lead the expansion of the Affiliate’s service area to include a seventh county in 2006—Liberty County. Liberty County is a large rural county with very limited medial resources that now has access to much-needed Komen resources, funds and hope.