Reflecting upcoming expansion, the organization announces 10 new members to its 2018 roster
NASHVILLE, TENN. – April 9, 2018 – Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, an affiliate of Cancer Support Community, announces the addition of 10 new members to its 2018 board of directors, reflecting the growth of the Nashville area as well as the expansion of the organization’s local affiliate.
Since opening in 1998, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee (formerly Gilda’s Club Nashville) has been providing free emotional and social support to those impacted by cancer, including family members and friends of those diagnosed. The Clubhouse in Midtown Nashville serves residents of Davidson Co. and the surrounding areas with a variety of program offerings – including support groups, healthy lifestyle workshops, mind-body classes, social activities, educational lectures, and community resource information.
The organization will soon provide even more convenience and offerings – when the affiliate’s second location opens in Williamson Co. on May 8, 2018. Commensurate with the business and population boom of Middle Tennessee, a need to serve a wider geographical area was recognized by the organization.
“This is an exciting time for our community,” said Sandy Obodzinski, president and CEO, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee. “We have been privileged to help Nashville-area residents for nearly 20 years, and we are honored to expand our services in the Middle Tennessee region – to serve even more. With the addition of our second location and our enhanced reach, we’re especially thrilled to welcome 10 new energetic, passionate, and committed community leaders to our 2018 board of directors.”
Joining the board this year are the following individuals:
• Michelle Drinkard Balfour – attorney, Frost Brown Todd
• Randy Goldstein – community leader
• Rachel Goodrich – corporate counsel, HCA
• Jody Mattison – community leader
• Shelby McFadden (Young Leaders Council intern) – VP and relationship manager, First Tennessee Bank
• Michael Moschel – shareholder/attorney, Littler
• Consra Rosales-Pacheco – partner, New York Life Insurance
• Micail Samiere – CEO, Urology Associates PC
• Carolyn Schneider – HR executive and community leader
• Sharon Turner-Friley – assistant dean of Special Programs, Meharry Medical College
The 10 new members join the following incumbents:
• Denise Alper – community leader
• Anthony Barton (Development Committee chair) – SVP of Consumer Marketing & Creative, CMT
• Jim Brown (Board of Directors chair) – Tennessee State Director, National Federation of Independent Business
• Jim Corum – VP of business development, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Kristen Daniels – project director, HCA Children’s Services
• Jeff Fisher (Finance Committee chair and treasurer) – EVP & CFO, Integrated Healing Technologies
•Caroline Hodgson (associate board president, ex-officio) – regional marketing manager, Christie Cookie Co.
• Harriet Karo (ex-officio) – community leader
• Keith Kraft – principal broker, Regency Company
• Helen H. Lane (Governance Committee chair) – EVP and partner, c3/consulting
• Wendy Miller – attorney, Ogletree Deakins
• Elizabeth Pace (secretary) – community leader and healthcare executive
• Flynn Tracy (Marketing Committee chair) – marketing director, Asurion
“With the growth of Nashville, this development in both our board and our locations feels like a natural evolution for us and a way to make ourselves even more accessible to those who seek our help,” continued Obodzinski. “We now offer about 60 support and networking groups and more than 50 educational workshops and lectures each month – all at no charge to participants. We are thrilled to reach even more Middle Tennessee residents in need of cancer support, and our staff, board of directors and program volunteers will help us make a meaningful impact in their lives.”
About Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee (formerly Gilda’s Club Nashville)
Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, an affiliate of Cancer Support Community, is dedicated to providing support, education and hope to all people impacted by cancer, including family members and friends of those diagnosed. Free of charge to everyone, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee provides a gathering place where people with cancer, as well as their families and friends, can join with others to actively involve themselves in building social and emotional support as a supplement to regular medical care. Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee’s mission is to ensure all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community. For more information, please visit https://gildasclubmiddletn.org
About Gilda’s Club Worldwide
Gilda’s Club was founded in New York City (GCNYC) in memory of the talented Saturday Night Live comedian, Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. Founded by Gene Wilder (Radner’s then husband), psychotherapist Joanna Bull, Mandy Patinkin, Joel Siegel, and other generous individuals, GCNYC opened its iconic Red Door in 1995 to provide a place where cancer patients and their families could find support, resources, and a community that cares. In 2000, the success of Gilda’s Club NYC gave birth to Gilda’s Club Worldwide, an organization dedicated to developing a national network of clubhouses. In 2009, Gilda’s Club Worldwide merged with The Wellness Community to form the Cancer Support Community (CSC), now the largest cancer support network in the country – with a network of more than 50 local affiliates and 100 satellite locations and online resources.
About Cancer Support Community
As the largest professionally-led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization includes an international network of affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355 or visit www.CancerSupportCommunity.org.
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