The SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo once again raised a record amount of money - $220,277 - through event proceeds and donations, all for the benefit of uninsured or underinsured women who need lifesaving mammograms and other breast health services.

Traditionally held in October, SmartWomen is an annual fundraiser for St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Telfair Mammography Fund, which provides mammograms and other breast care services for those who cannot afford those life-saving services.

The SmartWomen event has now raised $2,055,256 in the last 21 years.

“Every year we see hundreds of women who fear they can’t afford a mammogram and put it off. St. Joseph’s/Candler holds the SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo to help raise money to help those women get breast health services through the Telfair Mammography Fund,” said St. Joseph’s/Candler President & CEO Paul P. Hinchey. “The results of this year’s event show that the community knows the value of helping women obtain life-saving screenings.  We do not want any woman to skip a mammogram because she doesn’t have insurance or she can’t afford her co-pay. These funds will go a long way in helping many women get the care they need. I want to thank the entire community for coming together and supporting this event.” 

The SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo took place Oct. 27 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. About 1,400 people attended. The expo had 72 vendors and the event attracted 103 sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor Chatham Parkway Lexus and Hilton Head Lexus, Speaker Sponsor Savannah Chatham Imaging and Platinum sponsor Genentech. Healthfuse and Mingledorff’s were Diamond sponsors.

Marie Osmond was this year’s keynote speaker. She has spent over six iconic decades in the entertainment business performing as a successful singer, television performer and talk show host, dancer, actor, author, entrepreneur and public speaker. 

In our region, approximately 20 percent of the population is uninsured or underinsured. The goal of the Telfair Mammography Fund is to ensure that women have access to mammography and other breast health services, even if they have no insurance or high deductibles or copays. The SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Telfair Mammography Fund since its inception.

Past years’ luncheons have featured notable women such as Soledad O’Brien, Vicki Lawrence, Taya Kyle, Jane Seymour, Anne Burrell, Fran Drescher, Amy Grant, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Marilu Henner, Joan Lunden, Giuliana Rancic, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Olympia Dukakis, Ellen Burstyn, Peggy Fleming, Ivana Trump, Erin Brockovich, Suze Orman and author Mary Kay Andrews.