ABCD: AFTER BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER KIM SOMENSKE, SHRM-CP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Megan Brown at megan@abcdmentor.org or (414) 690-1893
Somenske is the Director of HR Operations at Fiserv and has a personal connection to breast cancer.
Milwaukee, WI (September 23, 2024) – ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, a non-profit organization providing free and customized emotional support to anyone impacted by breast cancer, is pleased to announce its Board of Directors unanimously approved Kim Somenske, SHRM-CP, as a new Board member.
“Breast cancer doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed, it impacts their family and friends as well. I saw that firsthand when my mother was diagnosed,” says Somenske, the Director of HR Operations at Fiserv, a global leader in financial technology services. “I felt drawn to ABCD because they provide support not only to the person diagnosed, but to their family and friends. I believe that wholistic approach benefits everyone.”
Working as a complement to medical care, ABCD’s signature service is creating a unique match between someone who needs support and a volunteer ABCD Mentor who not only shares a similar diagnosis and treatment plan, but also has similar ages, common interests, personal characteristics, career paths, and family dynamics. This customized matching is possible because Mentors represent all stages, ages, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. All services are free, virtual, and available for any stage of breast cancer, including metastatic, with ABCD also supporting male breast cancer patients, younger patients, care partners, previvors, and underserved communities.
Somenske has nearly 20 years of HR experience, including working for other prominent Southeastern Wisconsin companies like SC Johnson and Kohl’s, along with past experience serving on the Eastbrook Academy Board of Directors. In addition to her professional achievements, she is passionate about giving back to the community, and her commitment to both business success and social responsibility is what led her to the ABCD Board of Directors.
“The ABCD Board is excited for the fresh perspective Kim will bring, especially as someone with a personal connection to breast cancer, and the entire ABCD staff team looks forward to working with her,” says Ellen Friebert Schupper, ABCD Executive Director.
About ABCD
Headquartered in Milwaukee, ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis provides FREE, one-to-one emotional support to anyone impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis—from patients, family, and friends, to survivors, previvors, and caregivers. With 250+ volunteer Mentors around the country and a virtual platform that makes it easy to request support from anywhere in the United States and beyond, ABCD can make truly personalized connections that make a tremendous difference. In 25 years, ABCD has proudly supported more than 109,000 people in Wisconsin and across the United States.
To request a Mentor, visit ABCDBreastCancerSupport.org/get-support, email info@abcdmentor.org, or call 1-800-977-4121.
ABCD’s Founding Vision
It was 1992 when Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist Melodie Wilson Oldenburg announced on live television she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. At a time when breast cancer was rarely discussed openly, Melodie chose to use her public position to speak out about her personal experience with the disease.
She started to receive letters and calls from people she had never met. They too had been diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted to provide hope and guidance by sharing their personal experience with her. Melodie quickly realized the benefits of emotional support but recognized a gap in care—too many people lacked resources and access to quality, personalized support.
Leaving her broadcast career in 1998, she brought together breast cancer patients, survivors, physicians, clinicians, and caregivers to launch ABCD on June 15, 1999, with the founding vision: “No one should go through breast cancer alone.”
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