WITH 1 IN 8 WOMEN DIAGNOSED, MILWAUKEE MEDIA INVITED TO COVER ABCD’S SOLD-OUT EVENT HIGHLIGHTING THE URGENT NEED FOR BREAST CANCER SUPPORT
MEDIA ALERT
April 22, 2026
Contact: Megan Brown, CAE, at megan@abcdmentor.org or (414) 690-1893
What:
“A Night Out for ABCD,” the signature annual fundraiser for ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, is sold out and local media are invited to attend and cover this inspiring evening. The event will highlight the critical gap ABCD fills with its free, personalized emotional support services, ensuring no one faces breast cancer alone.
The program will feature a powerful connection story from ABCD Mentor Beth Gramz and Participant Megan Adams, young moms who were matched by ABCD based on their similar diagnosis, highlighting the life-changing impact of peer-to-peer support.
Versiti Blood Centers will also be honored with the Power of One-to-One Award to recognize an incredible partnership that has helped expand ABCD’s reach in Wisconsin and beyond. Gretchen Jameson, EdD, Versiti’s EVP and Chief Marketing Officer and a two-time breast cancer survivor, will accept the award. Gretchen will share how her personal cancer experience connects with the shared impact of ABCD’s and Versiti’s mission, as well as the critical role of blood donation in cancer care, with up to 90% of people with solid tumors needing blood during treatment.
When:
Friday, April 24, 2026
Doors open at 5:30 PM | Program begins at 7:45 PM | Dueling pianos performance starts at 8:30 PM
Where:
Downtown Kitchen at the US Bank Building, 4th Floor Galleria Level
777 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI
Why Cover This Event:
- One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, making it one of the most common cancers among women. Emotional support after diagnosis is critical. It can reduce anxiety, improve quality of life, and help individuals navigate the physical and emotional challenges of treatment and recovery.
- Founded as a local organization in 1999 by Melodie Wilson Oldenburg, ABCD is now a nationally recognized breast cancer organization that has helped 112,000 people in Wisconsin, around the country, and beyond.
- There will be 30 Mentors at the event who together have supported more than 400 breast cancer patients, people living with metastatic disease, people at high risk, and caregivers.
- In the past two years, demand has significantly increased. ABCD Mentors have provided over 8,200 hours of free support to more than 1,500 people impacted by the disease.
Media Opportunities Include:
- Interview availability with ABCD leadership, including Executive Director Ellen Friebert Schupper
- Beth Gramz and Megan Adams’ powerful Mentor-Participant connection story
- Gretchen Jameson’s remarks about her breast cancer experience and how cancer and blood donation are linked
- Captivating visuals of a sold-out crowd in an engaging atmosphere with dynamic live entertainment
For additional information and to arrange interviews, please contact: Megan Brown, CAE, at megan@abcdmentor.org or (414) 690-1893.
About ABCD
Founded by the late Emmy award-winning journalist Melodie Wilson Oldenburg in 1999, ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis offers FREE, personalized emotional support and information for anyone impacted by breast cancer. As a complement to medical care, ABCD matches people with a trained volunteer Mentor who has a similar lived experience, providing compassionate support based on diagnosis, treatment, age, and lifestyle. With a fully virtual platform, ABCD helps people worldwide, ensuring no one faces breast cancer alone.To learn more, visit ABCDBreastCancerSupport.org or call 1-800-977-4121.
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