Susan G. Komen® Missouri Pink Tie Guys

Do you have what it takes to be a Pink Tie Guy?
Do you know someone who is Pink Tie Guy worthy?
Complete the 2017 Pink Tie Guy application/nomination form.
Deadline is April 15, 2017.

The Susan G. Komen® Missouri Pink Tie Guys are partners in the Komen promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever. The Pink Tie Guys are leaders who attest to the powerful fact that breast cancer is a disease that knows no boundaries and who bring a male voice to the urgency of finding the cures. These men are not afraid to wear pink, for they know pink is a symbol of hope, courage, strength and survivorship.

Who: Each year, a select group of men in the Komen Missouri service area are invited to serve as Pink Tie Guys, outstanding ambassadors and advocates for breast health action and breast cancer awareness. The Komen Missouri Pink Tie Guys are leaders who can help mobilize, energize and engage individuals and groups in the breast cancer movement through their role within the community, within their companies and organizations, and through their personal involvement.

What: Pink Tie Guys bring personal stories that highlight how men's lives are touched by breast cancer. They help draw attention to the Komen promise and the work of Komen Missouri by wearing their signature Komen necktie and speaking out about the importance of doing everything possible to support breast cancer survivors and those affected by the disease, and to find the cures for breast cancer.

Where: Komen Missouri Pink Tie Guys live and/or work within the Komen Missouri 38-county Missouri/Illinois service area (Missouri counties: Adair, Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Franklin, Gasconade, Howard, Jefferson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Osage, Perry, Randolph, St. Charles, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis City, St. Louis, Warren, Washington; Illinois counties: Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair).

When: Pink Tie Guys attend and participate in Komen Missouri events and other related activities throughout the year, as their schedules allow. They speak out in their community about breast health and work to engage their friends, families and coworkers in the fight against breast cancer.

How: Each Pink Tie Guy is expected to represent Komen Missouri at local events and Komen Missouri events by wearing his Komen tie (provided by Komen Missouri) or other Komen apparel and advocating for Komen Missouri in an honest and informative manner. Each Pink Tie Guy is also asked to help with Komen Missouri fundraising efforts in some way, big or small.

Why: Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women and 1 in 1,000 men in the U.S. in their lifetime. In Komen Missouri's service area, 7 individuals are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. Pink Tie Guys help Komen Missouri fight this disease. Together, Pink Tie Guys and Komen Missouri work to inform, influence and inspire our community and raise funds to help end breast cancer forever.

Komen Missouri is committed to the mission of saving lives and ending breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

2016 Pink Tie Guys

Mike Colombo
Journalist
	Mike Colombo is an award-winning journalist. He was born and raised in St. Louis. "I'm passionate about fighting breast cancer and I hope to use this platform to do so. My aunt beat breast cancer. I've also enjoyed working with the Komen folks as emcee of the first two Trivia Nights."
Damon U. Green
Community Events Coordinator, Missouri Foundation for Health
	Damon Green joined Missouri Foundation for Health in 2003. "My grandmother had breast cancer several decades ago. I have witnessed the effects of this terrible disease in my family and have seen the recent advances in treatment. I have six breast cancer survivors in my family."
Jeffrey Hallazgo, MD
Attending Physician, Urgent Care Centers, St. Anthony's Medical Center; Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Des Peres Hospital; On-Air Personality and Board of Directors Member, KDHX
	Dr. Jeffrey Hallazgo was born and raised in St. Louis. He graduated from the UMKC School of Medicine and trained in Internal Medicine at Jewish Hospital/Washington University. "I would like to stress the importance of breast health from a medical point of view but also to help increase awareness of the disease with emphasis on early detection. My aunt was diagnosed with and eventually succumbed to breast cancer. I have also worked with several nurses who have been treated for breast cancer."
David Rath
Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
	David Rath, a former estate planning attorney, is a financial advisor with the Simmons Group at Merrill Lynch. An avid runner, David has participated in the Komen Greater St. Louis Race for the Cure and currently serves as president of the Komen Missouri Young Professionals.
Jeffrey Sass
Art Teacher, Rockwood School District
	Jeffrey Sass was named the 2012 Rockwood School District Middle School Teacher of the Year. He earned his MA in education at Lindenwood University and has taught for 14 years. His art has been exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. "Artists are communicators. I can add a unique point of view to explain the importance of eradicating this disease. My mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor."
Floyd Simms
President & CEO, Simms Building Group
	With a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from University of Missouri, Floyd Simms began a general contracting corporation in 2003 that has gone on to build new and renovate commercial projects in the greater St. Louis area. "My mother-in-law and several dear friends of mine are currently battling breast cancer. Thanks to prayer and advanced treatments thus far all of them are doing well. As a Deacon at Shalom Church, which hosts a large annual health fair, I am able to reach a large audience and advocate for the Komen cause."
Frank Tucci
Financial Aid Counselor, Saint Louis University
	Frank Tucci earned an MA in higher education at Saint Louis University. To show support for breast cancer awareness, Frank wears a pink button-down shirt to work every Friday. Frank and his daughter have run the Komen Greater St. Louis Race for the Cure for the past five years to show support for the organization and the cause. They have run the Race in memory of Frank's mother (and his daughter's grandmother), who they lost to cancer. Frank has three coworkers who have either had breast cancer or are currently fighting breast cancer. Frank is recognized throughout the local running community as "the man with the pink hat."
Mark Walshauser, MD, FACP
Physician, Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois; Medical Director, Oncology and Cancer Physician Liaison, St. Elizabeth's Hospital
	Dr. Mark Walshauser is a breast cancer specialist with a Bachelor of Science from Cleveland College and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Ross University. "I see all of the great things patients receive from Komen Missouri funding and how Komen changes the lives of breast cancer survivors. I treat patients with breast cancer and do NCI-funded research in breast cancer."

2015 Pink Tie Guys - representing our community

2014 Pink Tie Guys - representing the St. Louis Cardinals organization

John Mozeliak – Senior Vice President and General Manager, St. Louis Cardinals
Bill DeWitt III – President, St. Louis Cardinals
Fredbird – Mascot, St. Louis Cardinals
Mike Claiborne – Broadcaster, St. Louis Cardinals
Rick Horton – Broadcaster, St. Louis Cardinals
Al Hrabosky – Broadcaster, St. Louis Cardinals
Dan McLaughlin – Broadcaster, St. Louis Cardinals
John Rooney – Broadcaster, St. Louis Cardinals
Mike Shannon – Broadcaster, St. Louis Cardinals

2013 Pink Tie Guys - representing organizations that have sponsored the Susan G. Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure since the inaugural Race in 1999, plus the six-time local presenting sponsor of the Komen St. Louis Race

Ron Bose, PhD – Breast cancer specialist and researcher, Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
Gaspare Calvaruso – President, SSM St. Joseph Health Center
Art Holliday – Anchor and reporter, KSDK NewsChannel 5
Timothy Lu – Import/Export Logistics Manager, Anheuser-Busch
John Parker – Executive Vice President and President of Business Services Group, Wells Fargo Advisors
Todd Schnuck – President and Chief Operating Officer, Schnuck Markets, Inc.
Donn Sorensen – President, Mercy East Communities, Mercy
Randy Weller – Vice President of Community Development, Citi (and two-time Pink Tie Guy!)

2011-2012 Pink Tie Guys - "The Medical Class"

Darrell M. Ballinger, MD – Chairperson of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Southern Illinois Healthcare Center
Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, FACS – Director and Olin Distinguished Professor, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University Medical Center
Robert C. Frazier, MD – Division Chief, Department of Radiology, Division of Radiation Oncology, Mercy Hospital
Joshua Glaser, MD – General and Vascular Surgeon, SSM DePaul Health Center
Geoffrey Hamill, MD – Section Chief of Mammography and Breast Imaging, Breast HealthCare Center at Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Joshua E. “Jay” Jensen, MD – Chief of Surgery, Christian Hospital
Theodore L. Vander Velde, MD – Radiologist, Alton Memorial Hospital
Mark Varvares, MD, FACS – Director, Saint Louis University Cancer Center

2010-2011 Pink Tie Guys

 Mike Bush – Anchor, KSDK NewsChannel 5
Ralph Butler – Performer
Kevin Demoff – Executive Vice President of Football Operations & Chief Operating Officer, St. Louis Rams
Doug Elgin – Commissioner, Missouri Valley Conference
Todd George – Spinnaker St. Louis
Tim Metz – Co-Owner, Pickles Deli
Davis Payne – Head Coach, St. Louis Blues
Wiley Price – Photojournalist, St. Louis American Newspaper
Randy Weller – Vice President of Community Development, Citi

2009-2010 Inaugural Class of Pink Tie Guys

Frank Bates – First Vice President, Wells Fargo Advisors
Joseph P. Castellano – Business and Personal Development Advisor
Cornbread – Host of The Cornbread Morning Show, 92.3 WIL
Robert I. (“Rik”) Knopf – Retired Business Owner
Rene Knott – Sports Director, KSDK NewsChannel 5
Scott Komen – District Sales Manager, Ecolab
Tom Miller – Web Developer, SSM Health Care
Mark Reardon – Host, Mark Reardon Show and Total Information PM, KMOX NewsRadio 1120