SPECIAL EVENT
Celebrating Women Luncheon
Powerhouse duo , Ola Fojtasek and Amanda Shufeldt , lead this year ’ s effort .
4 hen Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation invited Ola Fojtasek to serve as the 2023
Celebrating Women Luncheon chair , she was quick to respond .
Ola replied , “ I have seen firsthand how we as a community can impact the fight against breast cancer and am honored to lead this year ’ s effort alongside my highly accomplished friend and 2023 Celebrating Women underwriting chair , Amanda Shufeldt .
“ So many of us have friends or family
who have faced , or are currently facing , a breast cancer diagnosis . I am so grateful for the impact that Celebrating Women has had in their journeys and for all the ways that Baylor Scott & White has been there for so many of our loved ones ,” said Ola . Presented by Tom Thumb and
Albertsons Companies Foundation , the
24th annual Celebrating Women Luncheon will be held on Monday , October 30 , 2023 , at the Hilton Anatole Hotel . Over the last
New Celebrating Women chairs Ola Fojtasek ( left ) and Amanda Shufeldt ( right ), with VP of Development Christina Goodman ( center )
23 years , Celebrating Women has raised more than $ 38 million to advance the fight against breast cancer in North Texas . Thanks to this generous community support , Baylor Scott & White Health has made a significant impact for women and
THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / SUMMER 2023 families facing a breast cancer diagnosis by investing in : Early Detection . With support from Celebrating Women , Baylor Scott & White launched the High-Risk Breast Screening Program to help women better understand their personal risk and provide recommendations regarding additional screening tests , monitoring and preventive measures . The program has expanded to all
BSW imaging centers across North Texas and has helped identify more than 11,000 women at high risk since it launched in 2020 . Patient Navigation . In 2022 , Celebrating Women funded a patient navigator to best support those who stay at the American Cancer Society Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge while receiving their cancer care . Donor support also helps fund our oncology patient navigation program , which provides those facing a cancer diagnosis with someone to walk hand in hand with them throughout their journey — identifying barriers , answering questions and offering support . Care for Underserved Communities . The Celebrating Women Gift of Life Fund was established to assist women in need of breast cancer services who are unable to afford their care . Donors have contributed more than $ 2 million to support this effort at Baylor Scott & White .
Generous donors to Celebrating Women have also advanced innovative research in the fight against breast cancer , including meaningful support from the Mary Kay Ash Foundation . Their most recent gift is creating hope for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer ( TNBC ) through a novel clinical trial focused on enhancing treatment options and outcomes . Enrolling patients in summer 2023 , this clinical trial aims to provide an innovative therapeutic strategy for TNBC patients who have chest wall recurrence that has been unsuccessfully treated with standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy , and for whom standard therapeutic options have been exhausted . TNBC accounts for 15 %– 20 % of breast cancers and is the most aggressive form of the disease . For patients battling metastatic chemotherapy-resistant
TNBC , there are very few effective therapeutic options and a short life span of approximately 12 months .
The hypothesis for this clinical trial was conceived by Celebrating Women Chair in Breast Cancer Research Joyce O ’ Shaughnessy , MD , after she analyzed outcomes from a trio of clinical trials — including a study funded by the Mary Kay Ash Foundation in 2020 .
“ There ’ s been huge progress over the last 20 years in our understanding of breast cancer , but we still have about 20 % of women for whom we don ’ t have answers . Trials like this bring us one step closer to finding them ,” said Dr . O ’ Shaughnessy . “ I believe we will see the next quantum leap in diagnosis and treatment options very soon , and I am grateful for the countless donors who invest in research to advance this fight .”
For more information on how you can sponsor or support this year ’ s effort , call 214.820.4500 or visit BSWHealth . com / CelebratingWomen .
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