Legendary Actress And Breast Cancer Survivor Diahann Carroll To Speak At Baylor Foundation's 12th Annual Celebrating Women Luncheon

Fredye Factor and Sarah Losinger are Chairmen of Event

Legendary actress and breast cancer survivor Diahann Carroll will be the featured speaker at the 12th annual Baylor Health Care System Foundation Celebrating Women luncheon on Friday, Oct. 28, at 11:45 a.m. at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. The event, presented by Tom Thumb, benefits the fight against breast cancer throughout Baylor Health Care System.

"Over the years, Baylor Health Care System has treated thousands of women for breast cancer and provided countless positive outcomes," says Rowland K. Robinson, president of Baylor Health Care System Foundation. "Through initiatives made possible by supporters of the Celebrating Women luncheon, we are bringing hope to breast cancer patients and their families."

Since its inception, Celebrating Women has raised more than $16 million. Last year, the event funded a patient navigator program in addition to other initiatives. The patient navigator program assists breast cancer patients with their emotional and educational needs as well as coordinates their care throughout their breast cancer journey.

Fredye Factor and Sarah Losinger will chair the event, and the Joan and Andy Horner family have been named honorary chairmen. Kimber Hartmann, Angie Kadesky, Daffan Nettle, Cathy Coughlin and Sophia R. Johnson are this year’s underwriting chairmen.

The Wayne family will be honored with the Circle of Care Award. The award is given to those who have served as advocates, volunteers, educators or donors and have made a difference in the campaign against breast cancer.

Carroll, an award-winning actress, Academy Award Best Actress nominee, singer and entertainer who has starred on Broadway and in numerous movies and television shows, including the popular soap opera, "Dynasty," will speak about the vital importance of raising awareness about breast cancer education and prevention.

When Carroll was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, she was stunned.

"Having no family history of breast cancer, and having always been conscious about my diet and exercise, I had a false sense of security about cancer. ‘It won’t happen to me,’ I thought. Well, you know what? It did. And when I heard that horrific word, I was confused, angry and temporarily disconnected from the reality of it. I feared for my life, and then for my career."

Carroll received nine weeks of radiation treatments and learned how to conquer her fear.

"In the war against cancer, we have the ability to arm ourselves with knowledge. Education is a powerful tool. By taking action and doing something positive, fear is replaced with hope." Since her diagnosis, Carroll has become an advocate for early detection and prevention in the fight against breast cancer. She encourages women to get regular mammograms and speaks to audiences about her experience in order to demystify the disease.

For information about underwriting opportunities and tickets to Celebrating Women, call 214-820-4500 or email CelebratingWomen@BaylorHealth.edu.

CONTACT:
Julie Smith
214-820-7135
julie.smith2@baylorhealth.edu

About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com