Susan G. Komen honored Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia with the “Excellence in Fundraising Award” during its annual Komen Leadership Conference. This honor recognizes the Affiliate that has demonstrated innovation in furthering the Komen promise to save lives and end breast cancer.
 
‘It is a tremendous honor to have this unique program recognized. Thanks to the efforts of our Board, Board President Sarah Denmark, former Executive Director Beth Desloges, and our amazing BigWig community leaders, this creative idea became an incredibly fun way to raise funds that help save women’s lives in Coastal Georgia,’ shared Board President-Elect Suzanne Kirk.
 
‘Local fundraising helps us toward our vision of a world without breast cancer. Supporters such as BigWigs are motivated knowing that dollars contributed are raised here and stay here,’ added Board President Sarah Denmark. ‘Women in our community have better access to breast health care thanks to the efforts of our BigWigs.’
 
In 2014, Komen Coastal Georgia created an entirely new revenue source for Susan G. Komen when they launched the first “BigWigs” program—a six-week campaign directed at engaging corporate and community leaders in the fight against breast cancer. By equipping local leaders with bright pink wigs and presenting them with a fundraising challenge, Komen Coastal Georgia raised over $40,000 during their initial campaign and brought about tremendous awareness.
 
An instant success, the BigWigs campaign has since been replicated across the Komen Affiliate Network. During the 2016 fiscal year, 10 additional Affiliates launched their own BigWigs campaign and collectively raised $200,000 for their respective communities. The BigWigs campaign, as a whole, has expanded the organizations’ reach and funded research and community programs.
 
Komen Coastal Georgia continues to use its BigWigs campaign as a vehicle to educate the public about breast cancer and drive relationships with community leaders. The 2016 Class of BigWigs will be announced in mid-September for its campaign that will last from then until the end of October. BigWigs across the nation are more than just supporters wearing pink wigs; they are true champions in our mission to end breast cancer forever.