People with Purpose – Honorees

2019

• Hope Award – Evelyn Paradis, Pacific West Gymnastics/Barb’s Pink Party
• Empowerment Award – Funda Dervisoglu, Annual Walk/Run fundraiser
• Renewal Award – Ming Kuan, M.D., Kaiser Permanente Hematology/Oncology Specialist
• The Harriet Despeaux Award (formerly Support Award) – Stephanie Sullivan, Giving Hope Coordinator for Premier Nissan of Fremont and Premier Subaru of Fremont

2018

• Hope Award – Joseph Alalay, Team District 10, Fundraiser
• Empowerment Award – Freska, KOIT Radio Host
• Renewal Award – Castlewood Women’s Golf Club
• The Harriet Despeaux Award (formerly Support Award) – Elizabeth Barron, Volunteer and Former HERS Board Member

2018

 

Hope Award

Joseph Alalay is the president of Team District 10, a group that organizes car shows throughout the Bay Area. For the past eight years, Team District 10 has held a car show fundraiser in Newark to raise money for HERS. Joseph chose HERS because funds raised are used to directly address the personal needs of breast cancer survivors. He is an active member of the Newark Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Directors. He was raised in San Francisco, enjoys his work at a phone specialty company, and is an avid bowler.

Empowerment Award

Freska is a popular radio host at KOIT, and loves being connected with local communities. She was born and raised in the San Francisco area and has family throughout the Bay Area. Four years ago, Freska faced a breast cancer diagnosis. Treatment was grueling, as it always is – but as a single mom, Freska had to deal with additional challenges. Her daughters were a great source of support and comfort, and now that she has recovered, Freska wants to share her story and raise awareness. She has participated in past HERS events and is now spreading the word about HERS services to her fans and social media followers. Freska recently recorded a fun video tour of HERS Fremont store and services. Check it out and share it with anyone who wants to know more about what we do.

Renewal Award

The Castlewood Women’s Golf Club, established in 1954, welcomes women for fun and competition through organized golf games. The group has a long tradition of giving back to local communities; they have been raising funds by hosting annual charity golf tournaments for over four decades. They held the first tournament to benefit HERS in 2004, and look forward to many years of raising awareness and funds in support of HERS programs and the women who seek help from them at a very difficult time in their lives.

Support Award

Elizabeth Barron is a San Francisco native who worked at Pac Bell as an engineer until her retirement. She’s been married to her husband for 37 years and has three children and seven grandchildren. Both Elizabeth and her mother faced breast cancer and have been survivors for over 20 years. She first became involved with HERS after her mother’s diagnosis; her own experience and work with HERS over the years confirmed her belief that women need compassionate care and help to fully recover from surgery and treatment. Elizabeth has been an integral part of HERS from the beginning, initially working with founder Trish McMahon. She served on the Board for more than eight years, including terms as Secretary and Board Chair. She was instrumental in creating bylaws, strategic plans, and fundraisers, including the first People with Purpose event. Elizabeth remains actively involved with the organization as a valued advisor and volunteer.

2017

• Hope Award – Friends of Faith, Nonprofit Organization in Oakland
• Empowerment Award – Denise Estrada, Manager, Women’s Imaging and Cancer Services, Stanford Health Care – ValleyCare
• Renewal Award – Paul Wotowic, M.D., Plastic Surgeon at San Ramon Regional Medical Center
• The Harriet Despeaux Award (formerly Support Award) – Janice Florence, Volunteer of HERS Breast Cancer Foundation

2016

• Hope Award – Stanley Rockson, M.D.
  Professor of Lymphatic Research and Medicine at Stanford University
  
• Empowerment Award – Adiba Barney
  CEO of Silicon Valley Forum & Breast Cancer Lifer/ Client
• Renewal Award – Rishi Sawhney, M.D.
  Oncologist at Valley Medical Oncology Consultants
• Support Award – Tri-Valley SOCKs
  Non-profit organization in Pleasanton, CA

2015

• Hope Award – Kim Hammer, Co-Founder of Have a Ball Foundation
• Empowerment Award – Tricia J. McMahon, D.Min, Co-Founder, HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, President, Soaring Spirits, Inc., Transformation Coach, Consultant, and Author
• Renewal Award – Laura Constantine, Certified Breast Health Navigator, RN, Clinical Coordinator of the Women’s Health Center at Washington Hospital
• Support Award – Susi Folks and Vicki Goss, ChemoCare Bag Ministry

2014

• Hope Award – Mark D. Pegram, M.D., Susy Yuan-Huey Hung Professor of Medical Oncology; Director, Stanford Breast Oncology Program; Co-Director, Molecular Therapeutics Program; Associate Director, Clinical Research ; Stanford Cancer Institute
• Empowerment Award – Ysabel Duron, Founder, CEO, Latinas Contra Cancer
• Renewal Award – To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation
• Support Award – Gene Mello, CEO, Mello Insurance Services, Inc.; Myers-Stevens-Mello & Company Insurance Services

2013

• Hope Award – Sandra Wing, Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation, Chairperson and Founder
• Empowerment Award – Jolly Rechenberg, CEO, American Breast Care (ABC)
• Renewal Award – Peggy McGuire, Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC), Executive Director
• Support Award – Steve Dukleth, Oakland Audio Visual Services, Inc. (OAVS), Co-President and General Manager

2012

• Hope Award – Pamela Priest Naeve, Cancer Prevention Institute of California ( CPIC) – Director, Community Education
• Empowerment Award – Ilene Scharlach, PhD, Cancer Support Community (CSC), Therapist Facilitator – East Bay
  
• Renewal Award – Kathryn Hesser, RN, CBPN-IC, Retired Washington Women’s Center Coordinator
• Support Award – Dutra Enterprises, Inc.

2011

• Hope Award – Susan Buseck, MSW, Breast Care Coordinator, Kaiser Permanente
• Empowerment Award – Vandana B. Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Oncologist, Valley Medical Oncology Consultants, Medical Director for the Washington Hospital Cancer Genetics Clinic
• Renewal Award – Rina Olea, Manager of Programs and Outreach, Breast Cancer Connections
• Support Award – Lisa Stambaugh, Information Architect, Collective Discovery, Inc.

2010

• Hope Award – William E. Dugoni, Jr., M.D., Director, Washington Hospital Healthcare System Women’s Center
• Empowerment Award – Bernie Dutra, Founder and President, OneChild Foundation
• Renewal Award – Harriet Despeaux, Community Volunteer Activist
• Support Award – Hattie Hyman Hughes, President, Fremont Bank Foundation