Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Honors Extraordinary Community Leaders

(Baton Rouge, La.) – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center recently recognized and presented several prestigious awards, named after individuals who made a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer. These awards honored Sandra Brown, PhD, the Gonzales Area Foundation and J. Gerald “Jerry” Jolly.

“On behalf of the boards, the Cancer Center leadership team, every volunteer and team member, and the patients and family members we serve, I offer my sincere gratitude to these honorees,” said Tom Adamek, chairman, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center board of directors. “Together, we are taking giant leaps forward in enhancing cancer care throughout the Gulf South. Much of this progress is made possible due to remarkable volunteerism and community support.”

The D. Jensen Holliday Memorial Community Service Award is presented annually to an individual whose vision and dedication has made a sustained and measurable difference in the fight against cancer. Adamek presented this year’s award to Dr. Sandra Brown for her contributions to the organization’s Prevention on the Go early detection program. Brown’s passion for improving the health of the community is evidenced by her 16 years of volunteerism with the Prevention on the Go program where she has performed breast exams on thousands of women and diagnosed more than 50 cancers. She has educated countless women on the importance of self-exams and taking personal responsibility for their health.

The Louis D. Curet Memorial Volunteer Fundraiser Award was presented by Curet’s daughter, Jeanne James, to the Gonzales Area Foundation. The award recognizes an individual, organization or foundation that has launched or led a significant philanthropic effort in support of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. The Gonzales Area Foundation has demonstrated its commitment to transform cancer care in Ascension Parish through prevention, research, survivorship, innovation and teamwork. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised over $713,000 to support Cancer Center initiatives in the Gonzales-area, including the annual free cancer screening event, Live Well Ascension, and the THRIVE survivorship program.

The Hillar C. Moore, Jr., Memorial Outstanding Leadership Award recognizes an individual whose service has made a significant and unique contribution to the Cancer Center’s philanthropic initiatives.  This year, the award was presented by Hillar Moore, III and Steven Moore, to J. Gerald “Jerry” Jolly. Jolly served on the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center board of directors from 1998-2013, including serving as board chair from 2009 – 2011. He currently serves on the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation board as Immediate Past Chair and has been instrumental in building a long-term endowment to support the fight against cancer. He and his wife, Donna, are members of the Lipsey Legacy Society and have made a planned gift to support the future of cancer care for generations to come.

“Mary Bird Perkins was built by the community for the community 50 years ago,” said Todd Stevens, president and CEO, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “It is because of volunteers and philanthropists that we have transformed cancer care and stayed true to our 100% focus on fighting this disease. These award recipients are a great representation of people coming together to advance the Cancer Center’s mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer.”

Holliday Award Pictured (l-r): Todd Stevens, Julie Crifasi, Dr. Sandra Brown, Matt Holliday, Tom Adamek

Curet Award Pictured (l-r): Todd Stevens, Bridget Hanna, Darla Rye, Debbie Babin, Jeanne James, Tonya Brown, DeEtte DeArmond, Michael Buturla, Karen Webre, Barker Dirmann, Sheree Gauthier, Ryland Percy

Moore Award Pictured (l-r): Hillar Moore III, Jerry Jolly, Steven Moore

About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 50 years. The cancer care organization provides care at nine centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma, Gonzales, Zachary and Natchez, Mississippi, and its service area encompasses southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi regions. Mary Bird Perkins has a strategic partnership with OneOncology and the largest radiation and medical oncology groups from across the area including exclusive partnerships with Southeastern Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group, which provides radiation therapy throughout Mary Bird Perkins’ service areas, Northshore Oncology Associates, serving St. Tammany and Washington Parishes, specifically the communities of Covington and Slidell and Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates, which services the Greater Baton Rouge area. For more information, please visit www.marybird.org.