Winners of the 2020 Power, Together Award Announced
29 October 2020 – Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen and Promise Fund of Florida and Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, President of Iceland (1980-1996) are recipients of 2020 POWER, TOGETHER AWARDS for their outstanding achievement of making the “Pink Ribbon” the globally recognised icon for breast cancer awareness. Today, the Pink Ribbon inspires unity through hope; hope that together, society can harness its power to increase the success of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer worldwide, creating a better future for all.
The POWER, TOGETHER AWARDS honour outstanding global initiatives that inspire people to Power, Together to create positive change in society. “The awards recognise women for their distinguished commitments to set aside differences and come together to ensure a better future, because no sustainable change can be reached in isolation.” says Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President & Founder of Women Political Leaders. The awards are delivered on the occasion of the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders held each November. This year the Forum will take place digitally on 9-11 November 2020.
The Pink Ribbon is a powerful symbol, known everywhere in the world. Wearing it is a strong statement of support for women with breast cancer, be it moral, emotional or financial. Nancy G. Brinker and Vigdís Finnbogadóttir have demonstrated the power of collective action, by channeling breast cancer awareness into a simple and globally used symbol. This establishes a sense of community, helps to provide access to health services and advance research for a cure.
Through her service as Founder of Susan G. Komen and the Promise Fund for Florida, Nancy G. Brinker built the global breast cancer movement combining science, education, and direct support to people facing breast cancer; increasing breast cancer awareness and advocacy; fostering research for a cure; and providing access to health services for people with the fewest resources. The Promise Fund for Florida, recently announced grants totaling $400,000 to six local healthcare organisations. Furthermore, she is a strong advocate of cancer awareness and research in developing countries as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control.
In 1980, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was elected President in Iceland, having recently become a survivor of breast cancer. Throughout her distinguished career, breast cancer awareness has been a priority. She is a leader of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Iceland and has become an international advocate for the movement and its research.
The 2020 POWER, TOGETHER AWARDS was presented through a digital ceremony held on 11 November in the presence of distinguished women leaders.
Notes to the Editors
About the POWER, TOGETHER. AWARDS
For the POWER, TOGETHER. AWARDS, Women Political Leaders awards and honours every year at the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders outstanding initiatives, where people join forces to effect great change. In 2019, our winners included the Nobel Women’s Initiative. The power to advance society – to change and move things in a positive way – comes from using our power, together. This is especially true when change is needed to increase the number and influence of women leaders. Together, women can make the changes necessary; together, women can create societies of better diversity; together, women can make sure the future holds as many opportunities for girls and women as for boys and men. More information at: https://reykjavikforum.global/
About The Reykjavík Global Forum
The Reykjavík Global Forum, previously the Women Leader Global Forum, was launched in November 2018, in Reykjavík, Iceland. The Reykjavík Global Forum is where women leaders discuss and share ideas and solutions on how to further advance society. This year the Forum gathers leaders from around the globe, including Presidents, Prime Ministers, other public figures, as well as leaders from business, academia, civil society, arts, media and more. This year will also see the launch of the Community of Actions, which will create measurable change. The Forum is annually co-hosted by Women Political Leaders (WPL) and the Government and Parliament of Iceland, under the heading Power, Together.