HOW MY

SAVED MY LIFESHARSHERET LINK

PAGE 10Sharsheret’s Jewel Circle

PAGE 12Race With Us: Team Sharsheret

PAGE 8Sharsheret In Your Community

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This report is made possible in part by

2017 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

OUR PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. Dalia Shoretz Nagel, President Jonathan Blinken, Treasurer Lisa Farkovits Marla Mehlman Courtney Mizel Stacy Smollin Schwartz, Vice President Leslie Sidell Lauryn Weiser, Secretary Alissa Zagha Esther Zeidman JoAnn Zell

FOUNDING BOARD Rochelle L. Shoretz A”H, Founder Dr. Patricia D. Cayne Keith Mendelson Jonathan Mirsky Gail Propp Nikki Sausen Naomi Spira Lauryn Weiser

HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD Honorable Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD Deborah Axelrod, MD Karin Charnoff-Katz, MD Tessa Cigler, MD, MPH Sheldon Feldman, MD, FACS Karen Hurley, PhD Thomas Kolb, MD Daniel Lieber, MD Gila Leiter, MD Kenneth Offit, MD Ruth Oratz, MD Elizabeth A. Poynor, MD, PhD, FACOG Aviva Preminger, MD, MPH Elsa Reich, MS Allison Rosen, PhD Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS Jeanne Steiner, DO Kenneth Tercyak, PhD Ethan Wasserman, MD Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD

FLORIDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Jamie Gurvitch Arlene Lasko Tammie Purow Jenny Ohana Dr. Ryan Seidman Ashley Zayat Weiss Lisi Wolfson

CALIFORNIA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Lisa Hofheimer, Co-Chair Courtney Mizel, Co-Chair Sari Abrams Sarina Basch Dikla Benzeevi Sarah Blitzstein Linda Blumenfeld Abbi Hertz Dr. Amy Kusske Annie Spar

STAFF Elana Silber, MBA Executive Director

Cancer and Genetics Support Peggy Cottrell, MS, CGC Shera Dubitsky, MEd, MA Adina Fleischmann, LSW Shira Kravitz, LCSW Ariel Muskat-Brown, LMSW

Education and Outreach Jordana Altman Sarah Eagle Jenna Fields, MA, MSW Ellen Kleinhaus, EdM, MA Melissa K. Rosen, MA Aimee Sax, MSW Briana Schwarz Devorah Silverman, MA, MSW Carly Sturm, MSW

Development Dina Muskin Goldberg Nila Lazarus

Operations and Technology Jennifer Aranoff Adina David Mike Lowy Harriet Salk Sari Samuel, CPA Fran Weinberg

MESSAGE FROM

People often ask if Sharsheret is a sad place to work. After all, millions of new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the US this year, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, as well as 1 in 75 with ovarian cancer, and 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jews – men and women - carries a BRCA gene mutation, significantly increasing the risk for hereditary breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, skin and male breast cancer in Jewish families.

We have all been touched by these statistics. You or someone close to you may be living with cancer or may be a survivor. Maybe you don’t have a personal connection, but you care about the cause and are committed to helping others. And you might also know what we know, that being a part of Sharsheret does include sad moments, but overall, it is inspiring, motivational, and life-changing.

As you read this newsletter, you will be energized by the positive impact we have on college campuses and in local communities in all 50 states, you will learn about our critical work with major medical institutions and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and you will be moved by the incredible women and men of Sharsheret.

We are grateful for your continued and generous support that enables us to do what we do best– improve lives and save lives. As it says in the Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a: “When you save one life, it is as if you saved the entire world.” Sharsheret is here for you, and for every woman and family should you ever need us, today, tomorrow, and into the future. Together, we can ensure that no woman has to face breast or ovarian cancer alone.

Dalia Shoretz NagelPRESIDENT

Elana SilberEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS

B Y T H E N U M B E R SSHARSHERET

2,157NEW PEER SUPPORT

NETWORK PARTICIPANTS

257ATHLETESINVOLVED

2,698WOMEN & FAMILIES

SERVED

535GENETICSCONVERSATIONSFACILITATED

292YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

INVOLVED

620BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER

SURVIVORSHIP KITS

Our multi-year cooperative agreement DP14-1408 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

enabled us to deepen our focus on young breast cancer survivors.

32,647STUDENTS REACHED ON CAMPUS

221EDUCATIONAL

EVENTS

67SHARSHERET

LOCAL COMMUNITYPARTNERS

90SHARSHERET JEWELSESTABLISHED

410209

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

MIKVAH ATTENDANTS, CLERGY AND SHARSHERET

SUPPORTS PARTNERS

TRAINED THROUGH CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAININGS

AND

101,974EDUCATIONAL RESOURCESDISTRIBUTED

95TEAL/PINK SHABBAT®

PROGRAMS

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Pink Challah Bake, NYC

SHARSHERET IN YOUR C MMUNITY

SUMMER BARBEQUE, LONG ISLANDCALIFORNIA LAUNCH PARTY, LOS ANGELES

BAT MITZVAH BAKE SALE, TEANECK PAINT NIGHT, BROOKLYN

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This year, Sharsheret hosted over 200 educational and outreach events nationally. Launching our Los Angeles regional office expanded Sharsheret’s physical presence in the West Coast.

BRING SHARSHERET TO YOUR COMMUNITY: Contact Director of National Outreach Melissa Rosen at mrosen@sharsheret.org

TEMPLE BETH AM SISTERHOOD EVENT, PINECREST

PINK CHALLAH BAKE, NYC

PIES FOR PREVENTION, TEANECK

PARLOR MEETING, BOSTON

PINK CHALLAH BAKE, LOS ANGELES MAH JONGG EVENT, BOCA RATON

STEP UP WALK, AVENTURA

PINK SHABBAT, LOS ANGELES

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SUPP RT FOR SHARSHERET

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017 AT 10:30AM TEANECK MARRIOTT AT GLENPOINTE

Sara Olshin BENEFIT HONOREE

Rena Cole LISA ALTMAN VOLUNTEER AWARD

Alexis (Mayer) Goldstein Carly (Mayer) Fried

YOUNG LEADERSHIP AWARD

To make reservations online and to place your online journal ad, please visit www.sharsheret.org/benefit

SAVE THE DATEANNUAL BENEFIT

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016 ANNUAL BENEFIT

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SUPP RT FOR SHARSHERET

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016 FLORIDA ANNUAL GALA

LEADS THE GENETICS C O N V E R S A T I O N

SHARSHERET

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Sharsheret partnered with the Basser Center for BRCA to host 95 Sharsheret Teal/Pink Shabbat programs nationwide, educating over 9,000 women and men about the increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer among Jewish families.

Executive Director Elana Silber shares the Jewish woman’s perspective at Soroka Medical Center’s Think Tank of American, European, and Israeli breast cancer researchers as the group issued new BRCA genetic testing recommendations.

What a way to raise awareness! Sharsheret rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange with their partner Invitae, a genetics information company, in recognition of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer awareness week.

Sharsheret is leading the hereditary cancer conversation across the country. Sharsheret’s Genetics Program Coordinator, Peggy Cottrell, is ready to address your and your family’s questions about knowing your family history, BRCA genetics, and how it affects you.

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To have your personal questions answered, email genetics@sharsheret.org

Sharsheret’s continued growth depends on the personal commitment and active involvement of a select group of health care experts and professionals who embrace the opportunity to serve the Sharsheret community.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. JoAnn Zell to Sharsheret’s national board. Dr. Zell is a Rheumatologist in Denver, Colorado. She is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Denver Health Medical Center and University of Colorado Hospital.

Medical Advisory Board Ambassadors are key members of our team. We are pleased to welcome

our two newest members, Dr. Daniel Lieber and Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD.

Dr. Daniel Lieber is a well-known oncologist at The Angeles Clinic in Santa Monica, California, who will serve as an expert educator for our staff and the women and families whom we are privileged to serve.

Tanya has been revolutionizing the world of nutrition and weight loss as the CEO of F-Factor. She is already using her expertise in nutrition for women facing cancer to educate and enhance the lives of the women and families of Sharsheret.

MEET OUR NEWEST NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER AND MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD ADVOCATES

CANCER GENETICS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jews – men and women – carries a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.

1Everyone who carries a cancer gene mutation has a 50% chance of passing it on to the next generation.

Multi-gene panel testing can identify mutations in genes other than BRCA1 or BRCA2, such as CHEK2 or PALB2, that predispose you to a variety of cancers.

If results of genetic testing in a family are negative, it is still possible that the cancer in the family is inherited, resulting from genetic mutations that we do not yet know how to identify.

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From the moment I found out I was a BRCA gene carrier, I felt an overwhelming need for information and to connect with others in similar situations.

I was in my twenties, about to get married, and I needed

to know more. Thankfully, I was already getting medical and family support, but Sharsheret really gave me the help I needed to make the decision to undergo biannual screening to stay ‘one step ahead.’ As time went on, having undergone numerous biopsies and wanting to focus on growing my family, I had begun living a life consumed by fear. I decided to do what I hadn’t imagined I would ever consider, and underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy.

However, I have now come to feel a sense of pride, relief and confidence in my decision and the journey I went on as an individual, a young wife, and a mother. The more I shared, the more people opened up and I realized the importance of paying it forward. Everyone’s journey is different, but feeling like you are standing tall on love, support and generosity of spirit, I believe, is the best way to move forward, stay focused, and heal.

OUR VOICES: LIORA TENNENBAUM

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I chose a dream team of doctors and with the support of Sharsheret, I began this next journey. I maintained my privacy throughout that period of time, not putting my story out there for all to hear.

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Athletes make their miles meaningful by participating as members of Team Sharsheret in athletic events around the country. More than 250 athletes represented the women and families of Sharsheret facing breast cancer and ovarian cancer in walks, coveted races, triathlons, and in races of their choice.

Contact Director of Campus and Community Engagement Ellen Kleinhaus at ekleinhaus@sharsheret.org to learn how you can race with Team Sharsheret

TEAM SHARSHERETRACE WITH US:

PANASONIC NYC TRIATHLON

UNITED AIRLINES NYC HALF MARATHON

JERUSALEM MARATHON UNITED AIRLINES NYC HALF MARATHON

MAKING STRIDES WALK, NYC

RIDE AROUND LAKE MICHIGAN

TEAM SHARSHERET SLOTS AVAILABLE

2017 TCS NYC Marathon

Apply Today:

sharsheret.org/applynow

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“The kind of momentum she created helped get me to the finish line at the TCS New York City Marathon. Sharsheret goes the distance for all women facing breast and ovarian cancer and I was so proud to run for Team Sharsheret in Rochelle memory.”

SARAH TENENBAUM, ROCHELLE’S SISTER

OUR VOICES: SAMANTHA ZENLEA

As the youngest child in a stereotypical Jewish family, finding independence has always been a process for me. I may be 27, have a full time job, and rent an apartment in the city, but grandma still calls to check on my scraped knee.

Then last fall, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After spending my twenties trying to prove I could do things myself, I suddenly wanted nothing more than for my parents to live my life for me. What surgery do I get? What do I say at work?

When forced in a corner, you have two options: curl up into a ball and watch the entire Netflix catalogue (admittedly tempting), or be the best version of yourself in the short- and long-term.

I needed someone who would quench my thirst for information; listen to me alternately complain about or praise my family; and provide suggestions about how to maintain privacy in my supportive, but sometimes intrusive Jewish community.

Step two was to lean in to the love from my family and friends. You can be independent without going it alone. Whether it was daily gifts, group internet chats, or visits with Chinese food in hand, everyone in my life stepped up to the plate. They couldn’t actually go through recovery for me, but they made it less lonely.

Step three is simply learning to be myself again, not just physically in the short-term, but emotionally in the long-term. I’m still on step three. Since my surgery, I’ve gotten a new job with more responsibilities. I’m training for a half marathon. And I’m writing this article. Once you’ve put so much work into regaining physical independence, actively working to better yourself in other ways becomes more important— scraped knees be damned.

Step one was admitting I needed help, and finding the right format for that. For me, Sharsheret was the best choice.

RUNNING FOR ROCHELLE SHORETZ

“ My sister’s passion and drive for Sharsheret will forever propel the organization forward.”

The well-intentioned sentiment was supposed to be inspiring, but seeing as how the only journey I was taking at that time consisted solely of moving from my bed to a recliner and back again, the charm and its message were tragically ill-timed. To make matters worse, it came in a pretty little pink box with the breast cancer ribbon insignia on the cover.

I tell you this story because while you may know what Sharsheret does in theory, I have been on the side that has seen Sharsheret’s actual, boots-on-the-ground work. Sharsheret was not the place I went to for little pink boxes and cutesy charms. Sharsheret was a voice of reason when I was thrown into a world of chaos. A place that helped me navigate a dark time. And remarkably, in many ways Sharsheret saved my life.

I’m not speaking in hyperbole here. Months before I was handed the cancer card, I was fighting doctors and surgeons who told me that the large area of atypical cells they found in my breast increased my chances of one day developing breast cancer. I didn’t buy it. And I wasn’t about to jump into major surgery on a doctor’s “maybe” prediction. I had statistics on my side. The odds were in my favor. I figured at best, I would add kale to my diet. Keep up with my mammograms.

Two years ago, as I was recovering from surgery and measuring my days in Percocet doses and nightly ziti platters, a friend of mine dropped by with a present. It was a lovely necklace with an equally lovely charm that was engraved with swirly curly cheerful letters: “Enjoy the Journey.”

Sharsheret was a voice of reason when I was thrown

into a world of chaos. A place that helped me

navigate a dark time. And remarkably, in many ways

Sharsheret saved my life.

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HOW MYSHARSHERET LINKSAVED MY LIFE Adina Ciment

It was a video on the Sharsheret website that pushed me to undergo the surgery that eventually revealed the hidden invasive cancer which had not been caught on mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI. And when Gila, the woman in the video who later became my Sharsheret Link, spoke to me for the first time, I told her that she saved my life. That the story she shared about how her cancer was discovered – in the same backwards way as mine – was the cautionary tale I played out in my mind every time I went to a new doctor looking for someone to tell me I didn’t need surgery. I kept thinking, what if there really is cancer growing that no one can see? What if I am Gila? And apparently, I was.

So when I say Sharsheret saved my life, it started there.

But Sharsheret saves lives in more ways than that. Sometimes, saving a life is simply reaching out, letting someone know she is not alone. There are numerous breast cancer organizations but only

one that understands what it means to go to the mikvah (ritual bath) after a bilateral mastectomy. Or how to prepare for Pesach (Passover) when the medications and side effects have you more exhausted and nauseous than you ever thought possible. Or who understands how difficult it is to go to services on Rosh Hashana when the words of the prayer, “who will live and who will die,” are suddenly very real and close to home. Sharsheret knows how to speak to the woman who is crying into her tehillim (Psalms) as well as the woman who is raging at God, and Sharsheret knows that sometimes they are the same person.

Sharsheret is more than just a resource for women facing breast cancer. It is a vital part of the Jewish community. An organization that reminds us that we all are part of the chain – of the Sharsheret – linking each individual in the community.

We are all meant to be the chain. The support. The strength. We are meant to be a Sharsheret.

We are all meant to be the chain. The support. The strength. We are meant to be Sharsheret.

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Sharsheret’s Jewel Circle offers family and friends meaningful opportunities to recognize loved ones and support Sharsheret’s critical services. You can establish a Sharsheret Jewel – a generous annual gift in honor or in memory of loved ones. Jewels begin with a $5,000 gift, and can be earmarked for the program of your choice. Named gifts enable us to extend the reach of our support and education programs to Jewish women and families across the country.

Sharsheret hosted its annual Light up the Night Jewel Circle cocktail reception in November 2016. This private New York City event honored Sharsheret’s immediate past president, Dana Norris, and celebrated our Jewel families.

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CHAIN OF SUPPORTSHARSHERET

Join the Jewel Circle and learn about naming a Sharsheret program in honor or in memory of your loved one. Contact Director of Development Nila Lazarus at nlazarus@sharsheret.org

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Anonymous

Sherry and Neil Cohen

Karen and Mottie Guttmann, Tammy and Dr. David J. Katz, Shari and Nathan J. Lindenbaum, Aviva and Dr. Yitzy Jacobowitz

Cori and Brad Meltzer

Sharsheret Board of Directors

Anonymous

Dr. Tammy and Dr. Hillel Bryk

Cindy and Robert Citrone

Elefant Family

The Marcus Foundation

Sussman and Wieder Families

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Lewis Family Trust

Michael & Irene Ross Endowment Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles

The Erwin Rautenberg Foundation

The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Inc.

Tishman Speyer

The Gorlin Family Foundation

Benay and Steven Taub

The Terumah Foundation

Tova Weinstock, and Aviva and Yannai Segal

Botwinick - Wolfensohn Foundation

Rena Cole and Ephraim Bernstein

Ilana and Jason Cuttler

Dubitsky Family

Lisa and Doni Farkovits

The Herman Forbes Charitable Trust

Frenkel Benefits, LLC

Sura and Bert Fried

Avi Gilburt

Linda and Mark Gruenbaum

Terri and Andrew Herenstein

Arezoo and Sam Jesselson

Becky and Avi Katz

Vicki and Samuel Katz

The Lefkovits Family Foundation

Deborah Leipzig

Debra and David Magerman

Joan S. and Leon Meyers Foundation

Heather O’Neil and Arie Belok

Dr. Adena Osband and Evan Brand

Jane Overman

Batya and Nathan Paul

Dr. Aviva Preminger and Dr. David Hiltzik

Stacey and Steve Rauch

Marnie and Moe Rice

Aliza and Joshua Rosman

Elana and Marc Rothenberg

Segal and Joel Rothman

Melodie and Martin Scharf

Pearl Seiden

Leslie and Mark Sidell

Susan and Ari Spar

Robin and Warren Struhl

Rebecca Weisel

Dr. JoAnn Zell

Risa and Michael Zimmerman and Court Liquors

Chaye Zuckerman Shapot and Michael Shapot

FOUNDER’S JEWEL

PINK DIAMOND

DIAMOND

EMERALD

SHARSHERET JEWEL CIRCLE

Thank you to New York Times Bestselling author, Brad Meltzer and his wife, Cori, for making a $100,000 matching gift to Rochelle’s Dream, helping ensure that the legacy of their dear friend, Rochelle Shoretz A”H, Sharsheret’s Founder, will be carried on.

CELEBRITIES HELP RAISE AWARENESS FOR SHARSHERET!

We want to thank Emmy-nominated star Mayim Bialik, and Legally Blonde actress Selma Blair, for partnering with us and being the face of Sharsheret Public Service Announcements.

MAYIM BIALIK SELMA BLAIR BRAD MELTZER

Anonymous

Dana Post Adler and James Adler

Nicole and Raanan Agus

Vivian and Stanley Bernstein

Martin and Mary L. Boyer Foundation

Ciara Burnham

Dr. Patricia and James Cayne

Suzi Rudd Cohen and Philip H. Cohen

Rochelle and David Hirsch

Holzer Family Foundation

Sandy and Nathan Kahn

The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, Inc.

Benjamin and Irene Lowy z’l

Barbara and David Messer

Courtney Mizel

Dana Norris and Dr. Stanley Frankel

Orbach Family

Dr. Elana and Rafi Rosman

Judy and Dr. Lawrence Rosman

Kimberly Stenton and David Oshinsky

Alissa and Sammy Zagha

Esther and Dov Zeidman

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Amy and David Albalah

AT&T - Marissa Shorenstein

Sarina and Mendy Basch

Debra and Leon Black

Barbara and Jonathan Blinken

Ruthy and Joey Bodner

SAPPHIRE

RUBY

ROCHELLE’S DREAM

Rochelle’s Dream, our most meaningful and ambitious fundraising campaign, established last year in memory of our dear founder, Rochelle Shoretz A”H, is continuing to be made into a reality each day. Rochelle’s Dream ensures that every Jewish woman and family, major medical center, synagogue, temple, and college campus will benefit from Sharsheret’s critical cancer programs. Together with your help, we know we will make Rochelle proud as we secure Sharsheret’s future.

Special Thank You To Our Lead Gifts*

Amgen Oncology Anonymous Anonymous Dr. Tammy and Dr. Hillel Bryk Cindy and Rob Citrone Sherry and Neil Cohen The Elefant Family

Karen and Mottie Guttmann Tammy and Dr. David J. Katz Shari and Nathan J. Lindenbaum Aviva and Dr. Yitzy Jacobowitz Cori and Brad Meltzer Sharsheret Board of Directors

*Lead gifts: $50,000 - $150,000

To make your gift in support of Rochelle’s Dream, please contact Director of Development Nila Lazarus at nlazarus@sharsheret.org

Given her family’s strong history of breast cancer, Shari Lindenbaum attended one of the first Sharsheret parlor meetings over 14 years ago, at the time of the organization’s inception, and instantly became friends with Rochelle Shoretz A’H, Sharsheret’s Founder. It was at that time that Shari knew this was an organization with which she and her husband, Nathan, wanted to become involved, as they saw firsthand the impact Sharsheret was having on women and families who were facing breast cancer.

Karen, Tammy and Aviva joined their sister Shari, and together, the four Appleman sisters and their spouses Mottie, David, Yitzy and Nathan made a lead gift to Rochelle’s Dream, the campaign for Sharsheret’s future.

As part of Rochelle’s Dream, the four sisters and their families named Sharsheret’s educational resource series in honor of their parents, Florence and Joseph Appleman.

The Florence and Joseph Appleman Educational Resource Series is an integral components of Sharsheret’s programming and support services. The series consists of seven publications:

• Breast Cancer and the Ritual Bath: A Guide for Mikvah Attendants• Facing Breast Cancer as a Jewish Woman• Facing Cancer as a Frum Woman

• Facing Ovarian Cancer as a Jewish Woman• Our Voices: Inspiring Words from the Women of Sharsheret• Thriving Again: For Young Jewish Breast Cancer Survivors• Your Jewish Genes: Hereditary Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer

“Our parents have always led by example and epitomize in their daily lives what it means to give tzedakah and do chessed. Naming the Sharsheret educational booklet series in their honor is but a small token of acknowledgment that we have understood this lesson, and is such a fitting way to honor them. We know firsthand how important it is to know your family’s medical history and be diligent about testing. Our hope is that these educational resources will benefit many individuals and families and help them navigate through difficult times. Sharsheret is near and dear to our parents’ hearts, and our own, and we are so happy that we can help them play a role in helping women, men and families everywhere.”

KAREN GUTTMANN, TAMMY KATZ, SHARI LINDENBAUM AND AVIVA JACOBOWITZ

OUR VOICES: APPLEMAN SISTERS

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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER Contact Director of Navigation and Support Services Shera Dubitsky at sdubitsky@sharsheret.org

Sharsheret’s Young Professionals Circle (YPC) is a program for professional young adults. Through YPC, young professionals are empowered to raise community awareness about breast cancer and ovarian cancer and become involved with a national Jewish organization that educates their age group to be proactive about their health and save lives. YPC hosts events nationwide affording young professionals an opportunity to network within the context of exciting social events.

NYC YPC CASINO NIGHTBOSTON YPC MIXOLOGY MIAMI BEACH YPC PAINT NIGHT

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CIRCLESHARSHERET’S To be added to our YPC mailing

list, contact Outreach Program Coordinator Sarah Eagle at seagle@sharsheret.org

OUR VOICES: EMILY GRODBERG

I found out about my stage IV diagnosis during my boys’ first summer of sleepaway camp 8 years ago. Since then, I have had to take a deep breath and let them go to camp. This was difficult because I never knew how much time I had left.

This summer, I attended my last visiting day, not because I was too sick, but because my boys have moved on to being counselors. At the end of that day, I sat down under a beautiful shade tree. I began thinking about how grateful I felt that I was here for this day, healthy enough to enjoy it. And as I celebrated in my mind, I looked up at the trunk of this tree and saw a wooden plaque that read:

“Shira’s Shade - Neither the sun nor the stars have ever seen a friendship like ours. This tree and all of its shade is where the best friendships are made.”

Forget the shade. The sun shone right through. Of all the counselors at Sharsheret, the name of the counselor I have been talking to all these years is named Shera. And suddenly I smiled. She has been the friend I have been talking to when I needed advice on how to handle my emotions with cancer, my relationships with family and friends, the one who for some reason would reach out to me at the very moment I felt a need to talk. She was with me under that tree and I could literally feel her arms around me.

The fact that I have somewhere to go to share my stories and worries about treatment, to get help without cost, in private, at my own pace, to have the relief to know there is someone to talk to who gets me, is a gift beyond words. It is a virtual warm embrace. Sharsheret is the shade on a warm summer day when you need to cool down, and the sun on that same day when you are strong enough to bear the heat.

Sharsheret’s Embrace program helps take great care of me and by ripple effect, my loved ones.

Each year, Sharsheret On Campus focuses on raising breast cancer and ovarian cancer awareness among more than 32,000 students from 150 high schools, colleges and universities nationwide. Through partnerships with AEPhi Sorority, Chabad on Campus, Challah For Hunger, Hillel: The Foundation For Jewish Life, and Moishe House, young adults lead fundraising events, Sharsheret Pink Day and educational programs to educate their peers to safeguard their health and Have The Talk® with their families to learn about their cancer history.

SHARSHERET N CAMPUS

ADELPHI UNIVERSITY

BOSTON UNIVERSITY

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY/BARNARD COLLEGE

MOISHE HOUSE LA

YAVNEH ACADEMY

BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITYNEW YORK UNIVERSITY SAR HIGH SCHOOL THE FRISCH SCHOOL

AMERICAN UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD

University of Pennsylvania

16Have The Talk® is sponsored in part by the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey

The Beatrice Milberg Campus Program was made possible with support from Sherry and Neil Cohen.

BRING SHARSHERET TO YOUR CAMPUS: Contact Director of Campus and Community Engagement Ellen Kleinhaus at ekleinhaus@sharsheret.org

The countdown for Passover had begun. To prepare, I went to get a manicure-pedicure with my mother at her favorite place. When we finished our pampering, we got into the car.

My mother’s phone rang. She answered “Hi, honey, how are you?” I knew it was someone close to her but could not hear what the other person was saying. They must have said something terribly funny because of her laughter. I wanted to know what was so funny, so I pestered her. “What’s so funny, Mom?” She didn’t respond. “Samantha, enough,” she said. “It’s just something your father said.”

guide and help her, she would not have been able to do it. Sharsheret helped to comfort my mother and show her she was not alone. Her comfort was my comfort. Knowing my mother was being cared for and thought about helped her, but it helped my family and me even more. I’m so thankful that Sharsheret was the link that held our family together.

Over the following days I continued going about my routine. Something was off. On a Monday, when her eyes practically looked like they were bleeding from crying they were so red, I decided finally to ask: “Mommy what’s wrong?” “Nothing, Sammy, I just really don’t feel well.” And that was her answer every day after that.

We returned from Passover on a cold March day. My mother asked my brother, Andrew, and me to come into the kitchen and I thought we were going to get in huge trouble for fighting. We began to talk about my grandmother, who had passed away from breast cancer before I was born. The next four words out of my mother’s mouth were the worst words I have ever heard, “I have breast cancer.” Life shut down, the tears began to roll, numbness overtook my body. I never expected my mother, my best friend, to utter those words to me.

The next few weeks were a blur. While my life had been turned upside down I could not even imagine what my mother, the most amazing woman in the world was going through. She was an all-star mother, friend, orthodontist, wife, athlete and so much more. My mother had to make one of the biggest decisions in her life and without Sharsheret there to

The next four words out of my mother’s mouth were the worst words I have ever heard, “I have breast cancer.”

Every year, remarkable young adults nationwide make a huge impact by raising awareness and critical funds for Sharsheret as part of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah projects. Our B’nai Mitzvah ensure that Sharsheret is here for anyone whose life is touched by breast or ovarian cancer.

To learn more about sharing your celebration with us, contact Outreach Program Coordinator Sarah Eagle at seagle@sharsheret.org

Meital Hirschkorn TEANECK, NJ

Hannah Goldenberg WOODMERE, NY

Jared Klein OLD BETHPAGE, NY

Dasie Fisher TEANECK, NJ

Maya Galandauer TEANECK, NJ

Madison Dassa WELLINGTON, FL

Chava Nagel TEANECK, NJ

Emma Shore TEANECK, NJ

Russell Tendler NEW YORK, NY

Rina Weisel GREAT NECK, NY

Ryan Wunsch DANBURY, CT

Yakira Lynn Wolfson MIAMI BEACH, FL

B’NAI MITZVAH

17

OUR VOICES: SAMANTHA BRYK

Raquel Blatter, Great Neck, NY (Not Pictured)

Regional Office California

Regional Office Florida

National OfficeNew Jersey

WE ARE WHEREVER YOU ARE

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NATIONAL OFFICE 1086 Teaneck Road, Suite 2G Teaneck, New Jersey 07666

FLORIDA OFFICE 2410 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, Florida 33020

CALIFORNIA OFFICE 1631 Pontius Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90025

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This Report to the Community was made possible in part by a generous gift from Amgen Oncology, a biotechnology pioneer committed to improving people’s lives by unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illness including cancer. To learn more, please visit www.amgen.com.