SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher Serves as Honorary Chair for 16th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher served as one of three honorary chairs for the 16^th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Saturday at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

“Race for the Cure is always an exciting event because the turnout is huge, the energy is powerful, and the benefits for the community are tremendous,” Chancellor Zimpher said. “It was an honor and a privilege to represent SUNY in this capacity and to have the opportunity to recognize the critical work that Komen for the Cure does to help support breast cancer patients, their families, and the scientific community, which, like the participants in this annual event, are racing to find a cure every day.”

Founded in 1982, Komen for the Cure® is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, united by the mission to “save lives, empower people, ensure quality care, and energize science.” Since 1995, the Northeastern New York Affiliate has invested more than $2 million is community breast cancer and breast health programs in its eleven-county service area, including Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Montgomery, Hamilton, Essex, Clinton, and Franklin counties.

Up to 75 percent of net proceeds from the Race for the Cure® are used locally, and the remaining 25 percent of net race revenues support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program, of which several SUNY campuses have been recipients over the years, including

• University at Albany – $572,066
• University at Buffalo – $1,380,978
• SUNY Downstate Medical Center – $745,857
• Stony Brook University – $1,726,033
• SUNY Upstate Medical Center – $180,000

“Komen for the Cure has a direct positive impact on SUNY research through the hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants that SUNY campuses have received over the years,” Chancellor Zimpher said. “SUNY was well represented Saturday by runners, walkers, and supporters, and I was thrilled to join them and be a part of it.”

Other honorary chairs for this year’s event include Rep. Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Benita Zahn of WNYT Channel 13. To learn more about Komen for the Cure, visit www.komenneny.org.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 465,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu 

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