In planning the launch party for this issue, I had the opportunity to sit down for a lunch meeting with Jane Brannon, director of the Knoxville Affiliate of the Komen Foundation, her special events coordinator, Amy Dunaway, Kim Olen, Cityview’s sales and marketing manager, and David Kiger, owner of the Orangery. The meeting would turn out quite differently than I had expected.

The idea for the article we ran in October 2008 entitled “It Will Never Happen To Me”1 was Kim’s brainchild, and it was in that article that Jane told her story of breast cancer for the first time publicly. Kim, a survivor of breast cancer herself, believed if she could get Jane to tell her story, people would really listen. In a word, she was right. So when Kim mentioned she was taking Jane to lunch with our editor, Colleen Oakley, I knew she was up to something. Although I inquired, it was clear I would have to wait to see just what they were up to.

When they returned from lunch, their enthusiasm was literally overwhelming. When they sat me down to tell me what they had in mind, I was instantly on board. These three are some of the very smartest women I have ever had the privilege of knowing, and when they all agree on something you can rest assured it will be a winner.

Jane is the executive director of the Knoxville Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and during our lunch meeting she took the opportunity to explain how the organization really works. She became a Komen board member in 2002, not long after experiencing a bilateral mastectomy. Many already know that the foundation funds breast health education and breast cancer screening projects for the medically underserved in our community. What many don’t know is that 75 percent of their net income stays in our local area. Thus far in this fiscal year, they have granted over half a million dollars to ten projects, and since inception, the Knoxville Affiliate alone has funded over $4.2 million to programs in this community. That’s quite an accomplishment for any non-profit these days.

What stands out to me about Jane is her passion about this cause. She has spent a great part of her life volunteering with organizations like The American Red Cross and the American Cancer Association, but her current role seems like the best fit.

This month we will have a launch party to honor Jane and the members of the Pink Tie Guys. The event is being generously hosted by the Orangery, and Coach Pearl and Hallerin Hill will speak at the event. If you would like to attend, please contact our office.

This year’s Race for the Cure is on October 30 at World’s Fair Park.  Hope to see you all there.

I would like to close out this month by welcoming a new member to the Cityview family and congratulating the new parents. Henry Hugh Tull was born July 17 at Mercy Hospital. The proud parents are none other than our wonderful editor, Colleen, and her husband, Fred. We wish them the best and hope Henry soon learns to sleep through the night.

–Nathan Sparks
Publisher