Andrea R. Martin Steps Down as Executive Director of The Breast Cancer Fund

Breast Cancer Fund
Monday, 17 September 2001

Deciding to Focus on Own Health, Founder Passes Torch to Jeanne Rizzo

San Francisco, CA -- Andrea R. Martin, Founder of the Breast Cancer Fund (The Fund or TBCF) announced today that she was stepping down from her role as Executive Director after almost ten years at the organization's helm. After being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May, Martin - who is also a two-time breast cancer survivor - said that she had decided to focus her time and energy on her health and family.

While undergoing treatment, Martin will continue to serve The Fund as a member of its Board of Directors. The Board has appointed Jeanne Rizzo, a close advisor and long-time breast cancer advocate, as the second Executive Director in the organization's history.

"I will always be a part of the Breast Cancer Fund, but for the time being I need to devote the majority of my time to exploring the cancer I have now," said Martin. "I don't pretend to understand or have any answers for why I have faced cancer three times, but my devotion is focused on being able to react to whatever befalls me, good or bad, in a balanced, grateful, peaceful way."

"I look forward to watching Jeanne lead the organization," Martin continued. "Jeanne brings an uncommon sense of determination, energy and devotion as well as a remarkable commitment to the issue. She has the brains and intelligence to identify how this organization can be effective and move it forward."

Rizzo is a seasoned business woman and long-time advocate on women's issues, public health and human rights. She has worked with The Fund for four years as a close advisor to Andrea and the Board and as producer of Climb Against the Odds, a film that documents the ascent by breast cancer survivors of Mount McKinley in Alaska. Rizzo was directing business development and marketing functions for TBCF when the Board appointed her as the Acting Executive Director during Andrea's leave. Prior to her role with The Fund, Rizzo co-founded the Great American Music Hall, where she served as C.E.O. for 20 years, before forming her own consulting and production company.

"This is a truly bittersweet moment for me. It is painful to know that I am in this role because of the new disease that Andrea must battle," said Rizzo. "But I am deeply honored to have been given the opportunity to move this organization forward and work to realize Andrea's vision of ending breast cancer in our daughters' lifetime. We must change the way people think and talk about this disease, and most of all, we must focus the spotlight on the causes of breast cancer so that we can begin to curb the epidemic. Prevention is the key to a safer future."

Martin founded the Breast Cancer Fund in 1992 after her own grueling fight against breast cancer resulted in a double mastectomy. She has grown the organization from a fledgling funding body to a $2.5 million force that has put breast cancer on the national agenda, scored concrete legislative victories and raised awareness and funds to combat the disease.

"Andrea is as passionate as ever about breast cancer and we will continue to rely on her vision and voice while she takes on a different role in the fight against breast cancer," said Suzy Cain, President of the Board of Directors. "We send her love and strength in her struggle against her own disease and are pleased that she will remain involved with the Fund."

Under Rizzo's leadership, The Fund, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2002, plans to focus its efforts on launching major initiatives to unearth and eliminate the preventable causes of breast cancer, particularly those in the environment. At the same time, the organization will continue its work to identify safe, reliable detection methods, support the development of non-toxic therapies, and secure access to care for all.

Breast cancer is attacking and killing our mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and friends in ever-increasing numbers. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and it is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Since World War II, breast cancer has become the #1 killer of women between the ages of 35 and 55.

For more information, or to contact Breast Cancer Fund, see their website at: www.breastcancerfund.org