FEATURE

Suzanne Blackie and the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW of Washington State donates $11,162 to the Marsha Rivkin Center

Suzanne Blackie presenting check to Saul Rivkin, MD

The Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW of Washington State presented a check for $11,162 to Dr. Saul Rivkin at the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research. Members from the Ladies Auxiliary who attended the check presentation included the Washington State Department President, Tami Wagner, Secretary and Treasurer, Tony Martin and Suzanne Blackie who was awarded with the highest service honor during the National Convention in Kansas City, MO held earlier this year.

Suzanne's dedication to serving her community is endless. She focused her efforts with the Ladies Auxiliary to promote the prevention of women's cancers. She and her fellow members developed a full fledged campaign to spread the word about the importance of getting a mammogram to detect breast cancer early. Suzanne educated her fellow members and the community. She also developed simple but clever slips of paper that they handed out to women that read "Mammograms can Save Lives". From her efforts, she motivated other women to educate others and held fundraisers that included bunko and bingo parties to walk-a-thons.

This project was an overwhelming success. So much that the National Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW took notice and awarded Suzanne the highest service award recognition that included a generous check that she can donate to a non-profit of her choice.

Dr. Saul Rivkin states "We are so lucky to have community members such as Suzanne who understands the importance of spreading the word of cancer prevention. We thank her for selecting the Marsha Rivkin Center as the beneficiary of her prestigious award and gift."

About the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW

Since 1914 the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States has worked to ensure that America's veterans will not be forgotten and those who need assistance will get it. To help achieve those goals, each year donations are made to help make life better for active-duty military personnel, veterans and their families, and America's communities. With nearly 600,000 members in the United States, Guam and Panama, the Ladies Auxiliary VFW actively supports our troops as well as veterans and their families.

Since the War on Terror began, care packages have been sent to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar and other locations around the world. Members also donate to Operation Uplink which supplies free long-distance calling cards to active-duty military and hospitalized veterans to help them stay in touch with their families.