“Our popular Women Helping Women luncheon and Women of Hope Award are back for the 20th year,” said Kimerly Hinkelman, executive director of Pardee Hospital Foundation. “If you have a woman in your life who has courageously faced a health crisis, I encourage you to nominate her for our Women of Hope Award. At Pardee Hospital Foundation, we are honored to recognize the strength and hope of women in our community through this special award.”
This year’s Women Helping Women keynote speaker is Lee Woodruff, a popular speaker, journalist and author of three best-selling books. Whether she’s sharing wisdom about the health care journey and recovery, or speaking candidly about life and family, she draws on her experiences to connect with the audience. Her trademark humor and down-to-earth manner has made her a popular keynote speaker nationwide.
The Women Helping Women program began in 1998 primarily to help uninsured and under-insured women receive mammograms. The program has expanded over the years to include important screenings to prevent and treat all women’s cancers, heart disease, and other life-threatening medical conditions. As of 2016, Women Helping Women has raised more than $2 million in financial assistance for women in Henderson County. Each ticket sold provides a potentially lifesaving health screening to one woman who otherwise would be unable to afford it.