History

Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and commitment to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer.

Though Susan lost her battle with the disease, her legacy lives on through the work of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the organization Nancy started in her honor. Komen for the Cure is the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1.9 billion since its inception in 1982. Komen’s promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.
Across the country, that promise is upheld by a network of 121 local Affiliate offices. At the heart of each Affiliate is a person or group of people who, like Susan, wanted to make a difference.

Los Angeles County Affiliate Story

Over 15 years, the Komen Los Angeles County Affiliate has raised $8.9 million to provide community-based grants to local organizations providing breast cancer screening, education, and treatment services and to help fund national breast cancer research programs. A major focus of the Komen Los Angeles County Affiliate is to help uninsured and underinsured women and men who have symptoms of breast cancer and are facing barriers to accessing health care, particularly women and men under 40. Of all breast cancer foundations, Komen is the only organization where 75% of the net proceeds stay in the communities where they are raised. The remaining 25% of the net funds raised support Komen’s National Grant Program, which is regarded as the most innovative and responsive grant program in breast cancer research.

Komen has been named a top-rated charity by Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities, for a second year in a row. Charity Navigator's award of four out of a possible four stars indicates that we excel in successfully managing our organizational finances in an efficient and effective manner.