MILWAUKEE MEDIA INVITED TO COVER SOLD OUT “A NIGHT OUT FOR ABCD: ILLUMINATE” AT THE BAIRD CENTER THAT WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR FREE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS

MEDIA ALERT
April 28, 2025
Contact: Megan Brown, CAE, at megan@abcdmentor.org or (414) 690-1893

What:
“A Night Out for ABCD: Illuminate”— the signature annual fundraising event for ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis — is officially sold out, and local media are invited to attend and cover this inspiring evening. It will highlight the critical gap ABCD fills with its emotional support services, while raising funds to keep these services free and accessible to ensure no one faces breast cancer alone. The event’s program will include a special on-stage storytelling moment featuring ABCD volunteer Mentor Monique Morris, who will share her breast cancer experience and why she became a Mentor. Diagnosed at age 32, Monique was recently featured on NPR, and her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of peer support after her breast cancer diagnosis as a young mother.

The Milwaukee Admirals and Traction Factory will also be honored with the Power of One-to-One Award for their outstanding partnership that has raised awareness and funds to support ABCD, including the ABCD-branded Zamboni that boldly states: “Facing it alone stinks more than hockey gear.”

When:
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Doors open at 5:30 PM | Program begins at 7:00 PM | Dueling pianos performance starts at 8:00 PM

Where:
Baird Center, Fourth Floor, Baird Ballroom
405 W. Kilbourn 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 111,000 people in Wisconsin, around the country, and beyond. 
• There will be more than 30 Mentors at the event who together have supported 373 breast cancer patients, people living with metastatic disease, people at high risk of developing breast cancer, and caregivers.
• In the past two years, demand has significantly increased. ABCD Mentors have provided over 6,000 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
• Capturing Monique Morris’s powerful breast cancer story
• 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 request a Mentor, visit ABCDBreastCancerSupport.org or call 1-800-977-4121.

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