What started as Nancy Brinker’s promise to her dying sister is now the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. Brinker will serve as the keynote speaker for the Women for Oklahoma State University Symposium on April 7 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center to share her passion for philanthropy and how it changed her life and empowered her to achieve success.

Brinker created Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1982 and has transformed the small living-room operation into a billion-dollar global network. After forming the organization, Brinker was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent aggressive treatment and is now a 20-plus-year survivor.

Her passion to end the shame, pain, fear and hopelessness caused by breast cancer has been the driving force behind her efforts to change the way the disease is discussed and treated. On April 7, Brinker will speak about “the power of one” — the ability of every individual to lead a fulfilling life of success and significance.

The annual Women for OSU Symposium educates women about philanthropic planning and empowers them to be difference-makers. Last year, 250 people attended the inaugural Women for OSU Symposium, hearing Olympic gold medalist and keynote speaker Jackie Joyner-Kersee share the impact charitable giving has on her life.

“Our goal is to educate women about the impact of philanthropy and motivate them to play a larger role in supporting those causes for which they feel passion,” said Pat Knaub, Women for OSU consultant.

At the symposium, alumna Lola Lehman will be honored as Philanthropist of the Year for her enduring generosity and dedication to OSU. Since graduating from the university in 1932, Lehman has helped hundreds of students earn a higher education degree through the several scholarship funds she created. In addition to this award, the 2010 Student Philanthropist of the Year will also be announced. This $2,000 scholarship is given to an OSU student who exhibits exceptional leadership and has contributed to the greater good of the university community and beyond.

Symposium tickets are now available for $80. For more information or to register for the event, please visit OSUgiving.com/women.

The mission of Women for OSU is to expand the critical impact of women as leaders and philanthropists in achieving OSU’s vision of becoming a premier land-grant university. Originally called Women in Philanthropy, the program was created within the College of Human Environmental Sciences in 1995 but was reorganized in 2008 to serve the entire university.  

The OSU Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach.  OSU has more than 32,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations.  Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world. 

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